I have the VERY enviable task of driving with a friend to St. Louis to
pick up an old Willy's jeep. Now I know you all are wondering what could be
more
exciting than driving 15-20 hours to pick up a friend's new project car . . .
Would it be possible to convince the St. Louis area Sol'ers to go out on
Saturday night? I like to put the names and faces together. Perhaps something
simple like hitting a local pub about 9 or 10 pm? I guess this pretty short
notice, but thats the story of my life.
Obligatory LBC content. The Healey restoration is progressing very
well. I
have managed to schedule myself. I work two hours a night at least 4 nights a
week.
This seems to do two things for me, it keeps me going during the dull stuff and
prevents me from working too much at other times. I have the car pretty much
stripped. I have yet to pull the suspension components and the dash. In
hindsight, I think I should have pulled the dash out first. I removed the
engine
and trans together, it sure has to come out out at a pretty steep angle (45
deg.).
The engine and trans look monstrous sitting on the floor. Once the engine
was removed, I put the car on my trolley. It is at a really comfortable
working
height. Also it is very convenient to be able to move the car around the garage
on the trolley casters (in fact I can spin it in a circle with one hand). I
hope
to have the basic structure of the car stripped at a redi-strip place in
Chicago.
The guy I spoke with has done Healeys before and said I would be looking at
350.00
dollars. If I had the fenders and doors done it might be as high as 700. I was
surprised at how reasonable the price seems. I'm going to check out
his shop this weekend to see if it looks reputable. I have also found a guy in
Taylorville Illinois (through a Hemmings ad) who will do the structural repair.
I
also plan to investigate his shop this weekend. I spoke with the shop owner on
the
phone and was impressed with him. He is a car nut, like the rest of us, plus
he
drives an old Jag.
I have been taking a class in tig and mig welding at a local community
college. I remember quite a bit of discussion about welders on this list, I
might
be able to answer some more questions about both. I am learning gas and arc
welding
too. (apparently it is unusual to get people in class with IQs above 10 or
so...)
Tig welding is pretty amazing, but it takes a fair amount of coordination. You
have
to control the arc torch with one hand and add the filler rod with the other
while
controlling the current with a foot pedal. Eventually you get sort of a rhythm
going.
woodruff@caen.engin.umich.edu
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