Thanks Scott. Actually, it was my wife's idea to drive around the neighborhood to practice shifting. I'm pretty sure I was gonna do it anyway, but nice to have her suggest it first. So, yeah, I'll be able to use that one for a while. She's agreed to shoot the video while I'm driving, since I am not coordinated enough to do both.

 

Thank you sir.

It's an amazing feeling! And she's been "ready" to drive for weeks, but I didn't want to chance driving without registration and insurance where I live. The fine would probably cost as much as the registration and insurance...

 

I ordered the shoulder belts from Classic Haulers this morning. They'll be here next Tuesday. I hope they don't forget my Tootsie Rolls...

 

Congratulations Joe,
I am not far behind you myself. It is good feeling.

 

Thanks Kevin. What all do you have left to do?

I thought I'd be driving her in September for my birthday, but then replacing the brakes kept dragging on and on and on. So I got her on the road for Christmas! It's a great present that I've given myself... I just won't be putting her under the tree.

 

Congrats, Joe!
I sure hope you didn't scratch my tire bar when the spare fell off.

 

Thanks Wayne. It's a sure sign of how happy I was to be driving Betsy... I didn't really mind backing up to throw the wheel onto the frame so I could drive it home. I thought I might put it in the passenger side of the cab, but I couldn't lift the danged thing that high! And I don't really think it would have fit anyway. Would not have been able to shift!

I don't know if anybody saw me struggling to pick that thing up, but it must've looked funny.

And no, the tie rod was nowhere near the falling wheel...

 

I gotta do my punch list of small items. Mainly replacing bulbs. I have one headlight that is burnt out on highbeam. One tail light that is weak on normal and under braking. Thanks to Ross and his spare motor(made one out of two) I was able to get my wipers working. Got the new sending unit for the gas tank replaced and wired in yesterday. Waiting on my heater switch to arrive. the biggest hiccup I conquered yesterday also. I had to replace an emergency brake cable and got those adjusted. I have it in grey primer. I wanted to drive it for awhile before I spent money on the finish coat. I don't have any bed wood in it yet. Gotta get it legal so I can drive it to the exhaust shop and get a permament exhaust installed. After that it will the modern safety stuff like seat belts and turn signals. New glass and weather stripping. I guess I need to amend this and say it won't ever be truly done.

 

Our Albatross still has a loose nut behind the wheel. For that matter, probably always will. She passed yesterday and I drove it home.
Had to pop a bleeder and loosen star adjusters on one wheel because the pedal locked and one rear brake started to smoke. Seems fine now. Maybe the wheel cylinder piston jammed in the bore?
Anyway, congratulations! It's sure a nice ride, isn't it? You should have seen the crowd at my son's school that stopped to ogle today!

 

Congrats Joe!
Did you sleep last night? I would have been bouncing off the walls.

 

Hey Joe,
We need more gear grinding video! (I've never had to drive a double clutch).

Ben in Austin
1950 F1

 

I agree with your idea. I also want to drive it for a while before body work and paint. And I don't think they're ever really done. But it sounds like you're really close to driving your truck.

 

Thanks! And congratulations right back at you!

So what does Texas require you to have inspected? I was surprised that I didn't have to have a DMV safety inspection before getting Betsy registered in CA.

 

Thanks Joe. Yes, I did sleep well last night. I guess it's because I know I can drive Betsy again today if I want to. As a matter of fact, I plan to!

Must be like the Eagles said... a Peaceful, Easy Feeling.

 

OK Ben, you asked for it! I can no longer post video in my threads for some reason (which I'm working to correct with admin). But here's a YouTube link for you.

Everyone says "drive it and it'll tell you what it needs"... Well, Betsy has a few needs...

I found a problem which I think is the master cylinder locking the brakes. Time to get a new one...

And the speedo doesn't work, so I probably need another cable. But it was a fun drive none the less.

http://www.youtube.com/Betsy