Gentlemen, and ladies

Here it is again, Friday afternoon. We've had all week to sit around grumbling, groaning, wishing, and thinking about what we are going to do, have done, want to do, will try to do, what others have done, what we wish we could afford, etc, etc, etc.

As for me, I finally managed to get my X-mas present up and running (a new 60 gallon verticle compressor) so I think I will fire it off and see how it powers my die grinder so I can do a bit of smoothing, etc to my fabbed up tailgate.
I also want to weld in some temporary bracing inside my bed so that I can cut out my front bed panel in preperation for fabbing the new one.

Hopefully I can do all of this with the garage door closed as Its supposes to be cold and nasty all weekend. Here is a quick blurb from our local news;

Since Dec. 1, more than twice as much snow has fallen in Albuquerque than has fallen in Minneapolis. And this weekend’s weather will only widen that gap.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>

The storm is expected to drop at least a couple of inches of snow over Albuquerque over the weekend, adding to the 21.2 inches of snow that’s fallen since Dec. 1.<o></o>

Forecasts call for only a trace of snow for Minneapolis, Minn., not adding much to its 8.5 inches since Dec. 1.

Basically, we are finally getting a winter down here in the desert.

Here's hoping everyone has a great weekend!!
Bobby

 

I envy you guys who have a garage to work in. My 53 is sitting outside in the rain, which is what it has done here the last 3 weekends and the forecast is for more of it this weekend too . If I don't get a break soon, I'll forget what working on the truck was like.

 

Hey, Bobby!

Well, the weather in SoCal hasn't been that bad, but it has been very cold and windy, (32-40 degrees with 25-40 mph winds) which made working with the garage door open very problematic. I haven't been able to start work before 10:30 or so because I found out that 45 degrees is the min temp I can handle before my fingers freeze. Even at that, I have to take regular breaks to warm up. This weekend is supposed to be warmer (maybe 60+), so I'm hopeful of getting some serious truck time.

Over the past few weeks, I have been been plugging away at the bodywork. The going is slow, but I like the results so far. It is kinda like eating a whale...one bite at a time. And it is really a love-hate thing. It is hard, but rewarding work and, like everything else I have done on this truck, I have no previous experience doing it. I still don't really know how long it will all take to finish, but I keep biting off a chunk every weekend.

This weekend, I'll trial fit the grill and punch some new holes thru the back of the headlight buckets and air dams to route the headlight wires. (I'm not running the stock park lights anymore). Then, I'll finish and prime the back of the cab so I can set the bed back on temporarily (I'm running out of garage space).

The beat goes on. "Film at eleven..."

 

We're looking at another weekend of snow/cold front. This is getting VERY tiresome. Poor Old Horse hasn't even SEEN the outside of the garage in a month, now.

Ah well, maybe next weekend.

 

I am just about to take a ride to my house from work to see if the gaskets have arrived. If they are there I will put the rest of my engine together. If not I will finish the dash work and paint it. I also have started the last few spots on the front clip. i would like to finish it up this weekend as well. It's off to the house to see if my parts arrived. will be back shortly to let everyone know which direction I have to take.

Kevin

 

Well, I'm back. The rope gasket did not come again. I am beginning to not like Kanter very much. I was told tuesday they were direct shipping them to me from their supplier. I did go to NAPA though and pickup my new points, condensor, coil, cap, rotor, wires, and water pump. I will have to pickup my fuel pump on Monday. The parts guy at napa asked me why I did not go to electronic ignition. I guess I did not know I could. He said someone makes a kit to elimiate the points and condensor. Does anyone know where I can get an electronic ignitiion for a 51 226 6cyl.?

Thanks Kevin

 

Kevin,
Sorry to hear that your seal didn't make it again. I'm betting its the supplier and not Kanter thats dropping the ball. I've always heard good things about Kanter. NAPA doesn't have the rope seal? or maybe an older machine shop in town?

I think he is probably refering to Pertronix (http://www.pertronix.com/). They seem to make an electronic ignition system for most applications maybe they have one for the old 6.

Its almost quitting time, I'm going to stop on the way home and get my a 12 pack of frosty cold beverages and try and work in the garage tonight.
Bobby

 

Bobby's right, the guy was probably thinking of Pertronix, but they're not the only one. You should be able to retrofit a Ford 300ci electronic dizzy to your engine, if you can get someone to do some lathe work. Otherwise I would check to see who makes a dizzy with centrifugal advance and vacuum advance, like the MSD's. The Load-A-Matics are junk for performance and economy. I assume that's what you have?

 

Well here it is Friday night in the big town. They say we will get 6 to 10 inches of snow tonight and on Sat. That's just what I wanted to go with the 3 inches of ice we already have. Don't look like I'll get my donor car home this weekend either. Sure would like to get started on pullin the motor and tranny out of it. Still havent found a wiring diagram for it but i'm still lookin. RUSTY

 

well,tomorrow,sat.i have a all day electrical side job.then on sunday,i hope to start putting my spring's back in.

 

We have had 10-11 days of below freezing temps with snow. I go out to the garage and then come right back in. My 56 body is outside and covered. the drivetrain is inside and waiting for paint, but again, even if I heat the garage up-forget it-will have to wait until the weather warms up. I am spending what little time watcing football and cleaning and puting away tools-good "project"!

 

For me it's that one weekend of the year where I park **** in front of the tube ALL WEEKEND and don't feel guilty or lazy cause it's Barrett-Jackson weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Since it's too darn cold again, and going to snow, I'm not junkyarding again this weekend. Nuthin, I havn't been able to check out that yard in Canon yet, and I forgot to say thanks for the lead. The garage is 45 degrees right now, too cold for primer, but not for bondo. I keep the bondo in the house where it's warm, then bring parts into the living room to warm up. Wtih everything at the proper temp, run, don't walk to the garage and spread it before everythings cold. Pretty sad, huh?

 

better than holding a propane torch to the panel your about to fill, lol. My weekend consists of ordering Covell videos. On a side note, the roof sheathing is up on the new place, so I might get my garage back.(contractor's currently using for storage)

 

WOOHOOO!!
So far so good. Here it is Friday evening, weather is cold and nasty (not snowing yet, but it should be by morning) house is freezing because I'm a tightwad and won't let the heat get turned up past 64 degrees (the kids can either be warm or have food...lol) and I've accomplished a couple of my goals.

1. procured frosty beverages and restocked old soda machine in garage
2. sampled said frosty beverages to verify quality and temperature
3. fired up the cut off wheel and proceeded to slice through numerous welds (and I use that term loosley) holding the front panel of my bed in place.
4. indulged in previously quality checked frosty beverage in celebration of job well done

Hopefully tomorrow and sunday will go as smooth and I can get a template made and figure out how in the world I'm going to cut, bend, and otherwise convince my donor steel to fit into place

Bobby