Here's something frm the Datusn Roadster group which folks here might
enjoy. It seems to have more LBC content than one might first suspect!
By the way, I don't understand that part about a garage being "extremely
neat", guess I'll have to look up this odd word "neat".
mjb.
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Date: Mon, 20 Apr 92 09:39:51 PDT
Sent By: bit!thomas (Thomas Walter)
To: datsun-roadsters@hoosier
Subject: Interesting weekend tour of a garage!
Good Morning All!
Had a good weekend of it! Joined the Austin Healey Club of Oregon for
a tour of a members house, and one of their meetings. THE AH Club puts
out a really nice MONTHLY Newsletter, something that helps them maintain
a 250 member club! Great fun, and a really nice group... darn, now I want
a 100/6! (I still hold a very fond spot for the "big" Healeys).
Was fun, when asked what "type" do I drive? I just mumbled something
about a "funny AUSTIN derivative"... then explained it was a JAPANESE
edition! Very few of the AH Club have any idea of the tie between Post
War Nissan and Austin. Funnier yet was someone asking what size engine
a "2000" ran... as a 2000 out ran his "prep'd" AH3000 at the historic
races!
The "workshop" tour was of Jim Friedman's home/garage. Jim is well known
as an auto restorer, great sense of humor, and a very gracious host. While
no roadsters are in his collection, he does have a few AH 3000's, some
British pre-war AC's, and other "intertesting" cars.
His garage had some four AC's sitting in it at the moment. Sorry I can't
recall the model numbers, but two sedans, one of which was a "drop head"
(convertible); a two seater AC (1933); and an AC Bristol that was being
finished for a client.
His garage is a low ceiling, room for four cars, and extremely neat. Painted
floors! Strings of 4' lights from one end to the other, and metal racks
of NOS parts on one side of the garage. The other side of the garage has
metal racks with "chassis numbers" labels on the shelves. The parts on the
shelves were for another AC that was out at the "panel beaters", belonging
to Leon Mondrel (spelling? - the editor of Autoweek).
The "back room" holds the "messy stuff" in the way of the sand blaster,
air compressor, parts washers, and all the little racks of chemicals. There
is a small area, with an exhaust fan, to spray parts in.
While he restores cars, it is interesting to note he does not paint; nor
upholster; nor rebuild engines! He farms all that out, selecting the
best people to do the work. He had a very good point of "knowing your
limitations" and where you can "get the most return for your time". Admitted
when you are being "paid" to do this work, you want to take your time, but
not waste it!
The back wall had his desk, and reference materials. Small TV and VCR was
also in there, obviously a place you would feel comfortable in spending
many hours of time. (strange, no 'frig nor bathroom in the garage!)
It was an informative afternoon, time well spent. While I've done almost every
thing to a car from welding, body work, painting, rebuilding engines and
gears boxes... etc. I have to acknowledge that I am not proficient in all
area's. I love doing the mechanical portions of the work, but loath
body and paint. While there is an immense satisfaction in doing body and
paint, and looking at you work when finished, it really needs to be done
somewhere other than my garage!
A really good point was the hazard of incandescent light bulbs. Hadn't thought
about it, but dripping gasoline on a hot bulb is enough to shatter the bulb,
igniting the gasoline in the process! The only drop lights he uses are the
florescent tubes, while they still get warm, there are not hot enough to melt
the steering wheel!
Time to get fired up and get the garage cleaned up to enjoy working out
there... then again I would not mind having the extra room out there!
Cheers,
Tom Walter bit!thomas@cse.ogi.edu
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