Speedy2222
Active member
Wow it's incredible how much you accomplished in a year. So now that thing project is nearing the end of it's completion what is next after this? Back to refurbishing old equipment or getting the cars ready for some racing?
Above 1200 Sq/FT Restored 1930's Auto Shop
- Thread starter BB767
- Start date
Wokspaces above 1200 squarefeet.
I've got a 1962 Impala SS with 31,000 original miles that needs some minor attention.
I'd like to replace the road draft tube with a PCV set up which was optional in 1962.
Anyone who has owned a car with one knows the road draft tube makes a mess under the car.
Gus is scheduled to be finished with the rewiring Lou and I started last year. Lou and I are going to tackle that when he comes for a visit this summer.
Last year we did everything from the firewall forward so this year we''l rewire the dash and all the instruments.
Since it was originally a 6 volt system, now a 12 volt, the gauges will need ballast resistors to make them operate properly. The taillights need new wires too as does the fuel tank sending unit. There are some other tweaks that Gus will receive at the same time.
With luck I'll be able to do some practice "test and tune" runs in the Chevy II this year before the racing season kicks off.
But first I've got to finish seeding the lawn!!!!
Making progress Thomas
Terrick down Under
Well-known member
Thomas, just finished reading the "Beltsville Shell", thankyou for the opportunity to read it, it is absolutely inspiring.
I started a 55 Chevy Nomad 22 years ago, as soon as the house is built, and I can actually fit a car into my garage, that's the next project. The book will be on its way to Grumblebum shortly.
Thanks again
I started a 55 Chevy Nomad 22 years ago, as soon as the house is built, and I can actually fit a car into my garage, that's the next project. The book will be on its way to Grumblebum shortly.
Thanks again
Terrick down Under
Well-known member
Well JR that gave me a good laugh, thanks
BBChevro
Well-known member
Great work on the site grading Thomas. 
But you do realize that I mainly come here for the cars
...
I had a '63 Impala that had PCV - from memory (so it could be a bit foggy) there was an inverted conical shaped fitting towards the rear of the intake manifold (or possibly on the rear top edge of the block???) that it was housed in (as opposed to the common day placement in the rocker covers).
Is that what the '62 set-up is like?
Edit:- I just remembered, it wasn't the '63 - it was one of the '64 Impala wagons that I had.
(I did warn that my memory could be a bit foggy).
But you do realize that I mainly come here for the cars
...
I'd like to replace the road draft tube with a PCV set up which was optional in 1962.
...
I had a '63 Impala that had PCV - from memory (so it could be a bit foggy) there was an inverted conical shaped fitting towards the rear of the intake manifold (or possibly on the rear top edge of the block???) that it was housed in (as opposed to the common day placement in the rocker covers).
Is that what the '62 set-up is like?
Edit:- I just remembered, it wasn't the '63 - it was one of the '64 Impala wagons that I had.
(I did warn that my memory could be a bit foggy).
Last edited:
Thomas, just finished reading the "Beltsville Shell", thankyou for the opportunity to read it, it is absolutely inspiring.
I started a 55 Chevy Nomad 22 years ago, as soon as the house is built, and I can actually fit a car into my garage, that's the next project. The book will be on its way to Grumblebum shortly.
Thanks again
Good news that you enjoyed it. I believe we're 100% on everyone liking the book. It's that great a story and well told with fantastic pictures. Grumblebum is the last reader before Lyndon packs it up and mails it to New Zealand, assuming Mr Hamilton has contacted him. Nice job fellows moving the book along.
Wow, nice post Joe, many thanks for that! Looks like he was using about a 3/4" open end wrench. I think I'll wander out to the barn tomorrow and see if I can replicate that sound on Mr Johnson's anvil. Report to follow.
Great work on the site grading Thomas.
But you do realize that I mainly come here for the cars
I had a '63 Impala that had PCV - from memory (so it could be a bit foggy) there was an inverted conical shaped fitting towards the rear of the intake manifold (or possibly on the rear top edge of the block???) that it was housed in (as opposed to the common day placement in the rocker covers).
Is that what the '62 set-up is like?
Edit:- I just remembered, it wasn't the '63 - it was one of the '64 Impala wagons that I had.
(I did warn that my memory could be a bit foggy).
You are indeed remembering correctly. I'll post a picture or two of that PCV material. I have a little more time to do that now...
...since I got all the seed spread, raked in and straw spread. The numbers were: 175 lbs of seed and 20 bales of straw. Best part is today, the day after I finished, it started to rain for hours and hours and is suppose to keep raining for the next 6 days! That's a great start with temperatures in the high 60's low 70's....perfect. Like I always say, I'd rather be lucky than good!
As for cars...
...yeah, I'm getting back to them...
...including the TR 4.
Thomas
realvc
Well-known member
Back in the day some used car lots would run a hose from the breather pipe up to the air cleaner to hide the blow by on worn engines. When pcv systems first came out I thought they were trying to do the same thing which I guess in way they were.
MG David
Well-known member
Thomas, laying straw over freshly seeded ground is a new one on me. Is this as some kind of mulch or is it to stop the birds and other creatures eating any exposed seed?
Thanks,
David
Thanks,
David
stillp
Well-known member
...including the TR 4.
Thomas
Just blinged-up mine with a new set of chrome 60 spoke wire wheels! My excuse to the Financial Manager was that the tyres needed changing, some truth in that 'cos they were 30 years old...
Pete
donnie
Well-known member
The straw the water from evaporating so fast and holds the water to keep the seeds and dirt wet. And protects the seeds a little bit.
David, I've been spreading straw on new grass seed for 20 years or more. The pictures below were from our farm next to the shop when we bought it 5 years ago.
I removed all the wild bushes and "shrubbery!!!!"
...next to the hedge row and planted grass seed instead with satisfactory results.
Using straw does several things. Yes, it does minimize birds from helping themselves to the new, tasty seed, it provides a partial seed bed for those seeds that haven't yet worked into the ground. It helps maintain moisture in the soil, preventing it from drying out too quickly, it helps stabilize the soil, preventing erosion until the seed can sprout and get established and it helps reflect sunlight and provide some partial shade on really hot days to prevent the young grass seedlings from getting "cooked" in the direct sunlight. Eventually it will break down and as it decays, it provides natural nutrients for the soil.
One drawback might be that spreading straw can spread hay seeds into your new grass but if the hay seeds do germinate, they will die out after 1 season. I've never had a problem with that.
Spreading straw is one additional step and expense but I've found it's well worth the effort.
Thomas
Rag Roc
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I'm amazed at the amount and quality of all your projects, and thoroughly enjoy all your updates. Thanks for taking us along for the ride!
APEowner
Well-known member
Wait! TR4? Where did that come from?
stillp
Well-known member
Coventry!
Pete
Pete
C_F
ALLIANCE MEMBER
bimmer1980
Well-known member
Re: Material Lift In Use......Finally!!!!
Nice work is an understatement for this thread! It's wonderful when a plan comes together.
Regarding the lift platform--
Interesting joint at the top of the lifting platform, but it looks like it works well.
I would suggest a few pieces of polyethylene or similar to use as guide rails on the basement walls. There are a few derivatives of that type of plastic (UHMWP) that would be perfect for this case.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra-high-molecular-weight_polyethylene
Get a few strips about 4 to 6" wide and 1/2" thick and run up the walls. Then bore some counterbored and countersunk holes to with some tapcon screws to the wall. You want to recess the head a bit to account for minimal wear of the plastic over time.
This will probably help to keep the powdercoating from getting nicked on the lift platform in the future as well....
Regardless, I have enjoyed following along on this thread. Many fantastic ideas brought out in this thread.
Nice work is an understatement for this thread! It's wonderful when a plan comes together.
Regarding the lift platform--
Interesting joint at the top of the lifting platform, but it looks like it works well.
I would suggest a few pieces of polyethylene or similar to use as guide rails on the basement walls. There are a few derivatives of that type of plastic (UHMWP) that would be perfect for this case.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra-high-molecular-weight_polyethylene
Get a few strips about 4 to 6" wide and 1/2" thick and run up the walls. Then bore some counterbored and countersunk holes to with some tapcon screws to the wall. You want to recess the head a bit to account for minimal wear of the plastic over time.
This will probably help to keep the powdercoating from getting nicked on the lift platform in the future as well....
Regardless, I have enjoyed following along on this thread. Many fantastic ideas brought out in this thread.
realvc
Well-known member
Thomas I could not wait to get on the internet and let you know that I just left some parts to be powder coated.
I have a 62 Chevy truck that I'm updating with 82 Chevy disc./power brakes and power steering and V8.
I decided to have the control arms and coil springs sand blasted so I could paint them. The shop I took them to also does powder coating and made me deal to do the cross member along with my control arms and springs cheaper than I could have painted them.
Of course I thought of you and all the powder coating at the Center of the Universe.
I'm pumped to be a member of the PC crowd now.
I have a 62 Chevy truck that I'm updating with 82 Chevy disc./power brakes and power steering and V8.
I decided to have the control arms and coil springs sand blasted so I could paint them. The shop I took them to also does powder coating and made me deal to do the cross member along with my control arms and springs cheaper than I could have painted them.
Of course I thought of you and all the powder coating at the Center of the Universe.
I'm pumped to be a member of the PC crowd now.
APEowner
Well-known member
MG David
Well-known member
Thomas, thanks for the answers about the straw. The grass under the trees looks great.
SCMW
Member
I've owned several rolling products that were manufactured in Coventry: Spits, GT6's, TR4A, and two TR6's. While growing up, I knew a man in our neighborhood whose driveway was chock full of Triumphs. He had all of the TR variants except the wedges. He was a straight six type of guy. No V's and no four bangers. But man were those TR's gorgeous!!!
Terry
stillp
Well-known member
No trace of the factories left now, most of the site is occupied by a supermarket
Pete
Pete
SCMW
Member
Blasphemy! Coventry made some wonderful vehicles over the years!
Terry
Terry
stillp
Well-known member
So did Abingdon, and Detroit!
Pete
Pete
dpljmurphy
Well-known member
Thomas I guess it falls to me to thank you for the Life of Brian reference! Being born in Stockport England my British "sense of humor" came over on the plane when my family emigrated so dad could work for Boeing. So thank you for that, it made my day!
stillp
Well-known member
And some are fancy!Hey, some of those cars are planes!
Pete
stillp
Well-known member
Hope the twisters missed you Thomas & Chris - were they a lot further south?
Pete
Pete
You are most welcome dpljmurphy. When I first visited the UK in 1971 I'd never heard of Monty Python before. While there, the friends I stayed with were watching Monty Python's Flying Circus after dinner and that was my introduction. We had nothing like that here in the States and I was hooked! In Search of the Holy Grail is one of their movies I was especially taken with. There are so many memorable quotes or scenes from that film...
"It's just s flesh wound", "The Holy Hand Grenade", "What is the airspeed of an unladen swallow", "I'm not dead yet!", "the French taunting"(my personal favorite), "She's a witch!" and more, but that's just my warped sense of humor. Chris thinks it's funny........NOT.
Hey, some of those cars are planes!
Pete
Very keen eyes you have there Pete.
The really nasty weather was much further south than here. We did get almost 4" (10 cm) of rain in 4 days however. Great timing with my newly planted grass seed all around the property.
You can see where a lot of the straw was blow away by high winds, but...
...with all that rain it's just starting to sprout in spots about a week after I planted it.
Yup, I'd rather be lucky than good.
Thomas
Last edited:
BBChevro
Well-known member
red
Well-known member
Thanks been my go-to phrase since the 1980's.
Of course as a manager once pointed out it's much easier to "get" lucky when you're good or prepared.
Brian R
Well-known member
Or as the sublime Larry Bird said -
"It seems the harder I work the luckier I get."
"It seems the harder I work the luckier I get."
Thirdyfivepickup
Well-known member
Damn, I never did click on that damn link.
Im guessing there will be all sorts of Python references now...
NI!
Now what in the world makes you think that:
Thomas
Bob Heine
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Classic! 
[Sorry, I couldn't find a Silly Walk emogi!]
[Sorry, I couldn't find a Silly Walk emogi!]
Last edited:
stillp
Well-known member
I'm waiting for "And now, something completely different".
Pete
Pete
realvc
Well-known member
Look what was sitting on the Kroger's parking lot in Benton, Arkansas this afternoon. Reminded of a drag car from the Center of the Universe kinda sorta.
I picked up my powdered coated parts the other day. Now all I have to do is finish the rest of my project truck.
I picked up my powdered coated parts the other day. Now all I have to do is finish the rest of my project truck.
Attachments
Darned if you weren't right realvc.
Sharp eyes there.
That looks remarkably like my grocery getter too!
BTW, if you don't already, you're going to love powder coating!
Many thanks for the post.
Thomas