The rewrite of my TR3a pages got me thinking about my MGA and how it came to be so, I added added some material there.
I intended to rewrite my Truimph pages and got started with that but somehow got sidetracked into a discussion of "Parts Fathers".
That Harley has turned out to be a big time waster. Every time I get cranked up to work on something, that damn thing winkles me in to riding it around the block or going out for a snack or .... and, there went the afternoon. However, I did put in a page or two about the Healey I own that got muddled up with reminiscences about machine gun oil, electromagnetically actuated torque converters and "good/cheap" paintjobs.
Well, it's been a while. A little more about the Porsches. Sold the MGC/GT. I never did get around to that car so, sold it to some guy who might. But the big news is that I (along with a lot of other old coots) bought a big Harley. It's all in here so, read on.
Experiences with the 930. Porschemania may be fading.
Now I have gone and bought a 930. Contrary to what I said a year ago, I don't think my affair with Porsches is over yet.
Bought another 911. God, I don't know. I think I'll talk about something else for a while.
Wrapping up my Porsche discussion. Surprisingly, most E-Mail has been of the "Been there-done that" variety. Guess these things are recognized money pits.
Several people have asked me how to tune-up these Brit cars, so I have written out how I go about it in Tuneup and, since I never can remember what kind of sparkplugs go in which car, also added some detail on plug types, timing settings, valve lash and other tune-up data.
I really have no idea why I am taking the time to write all of this stuff but have added a substantial monologue regarding painting a car Restoration Tips and then have gone on and on about my first English sports car a Jaguar XK120.
I have received quite a bit of E-Mail in the last few weeks about my pages and writing and most of it has been complimentary so, I guess, as long as people find my stuff of some value, I'll continue to write it. As expected however, there has been some snivel mail from the Porsche crowd.
Well, it has been a while. That property has taken quite a bit of my time. Since I am now a "country gentleman", I, of course, had to buy a truck. Seems like everyone out here has a pickup. I just couldn't go and buy one. No-no that would be too easy. Had to buy an old 1972 Ford F-250 with no engine or tranny and then dunk a 460 Lincoln engine and tranny in it. Works pretty well. Of course, in order to move that lump of an engine around, I had to build an "A" frame hoist and, in order to do that, I had to buy a bunch of steel pipe. Since bigger is better, I bought oversize pipe and built an "A" frame that could lift the truck as well as the engine.
Wired the garage and installed a nice two stage air compressor. Ran air lines throughout the garage and welded up some steps to get to the lofts which I use for storage. Built a dozen workbenches and cleaned up the weeds in the yard.
All of the above took the rest of 1997.
Then I bought a Porsche in the Fall of 1998 and that takes us to the present. Turned out to be a disaster.
After years of working on cars in garages that aren't big enough to swing a cat in, I finally bought property having a real "garage". This property is located close to town but in the country and consists of four acres of land and a single-wide mobile home(ho-hum). However, the big news is that the property has a 3,600 square foot shop building on it. The buillding has never seriously been used. The previous owner was going to start a boat repair business but illness(terminal) prevented him from much more than getting the building constructed, a 400 amp., three phase service put in and plumbing it for hot and cold water. He also built lofts on either end of the garage, presumably for storage or perhaps, an upstairs apartment.
The mind boggles. Visions of a "proper" spray booth, commercial grade welding and compressing equipment, four post hoists and travelling engine lifts are clouding my brain. Air lines will be plumbed in and mondo lights of course. It would be cool to finish one of the lofts off as an apartment. Then I could sit there overlooking my cars and projects while sipping my morning coffee.
I could use your help. Help me design the shop. I have questions regarding heating, lighting, equipment and layout. Any suggestions you have, drop me a line.
Here's a couple of pictures of the property to get you started thinking/drooling.
