sentimental?.....yup! and after you have all of the connections for parts a
second car looks so much more practical than ever before. after this car is
completed you will begin to miss "the hunt" for odds and ends at swap meets.
and miss the visit to other enthusiasts homes or busines's rummaging through
boxes or piles of aleged junk for that special bracket evryone threw out
20-30-40 years ago because it was annoying to work around on the car. late
night clandestine meetings at interstate intersections or rest stops to meet
the guy who you have spoken with who has the piece you need who is traveling
through your aerea on vacation with family or on his way to a race cross
country with his race car in tow.
i have experienced all of thesee wierd or odd meetings hunting for elusive
bits and pieces. it is not just about your car. it is also about who you
are. most people throw away a car because it leaks oil, or burns too much
oil, or has a rust hole in the body somewhere. there is a very unique few
that choose to take a car in a deteriorated condition be it mechanical or
physically(rust) and find and repair it's flaws back to a running
functioning vehicle again. many aspire to do this and only a small
handfull of them get past the "i dismantled it" stage. the search for
knowledge and parts takes a certain type of person who has a vision of the
completed project almost from it's inception. the most amazing part ofthat
vision is that it never fades in spite of all of the well wishers surounding
you who keep asking "will it ever get put back together" and " how do you
remember where evrything goes". in spite of being told there are none of
something left in the entire universe you continue to search and find one
for your project. that is determination! that kind of drive is usually
un-noticed by most but admired by your peers. it will rarely be ever
discussed. but congratulations in seeing light at the end of the
probverbial project tunnel!
chuck.
(looking out into the back yard)" how do you supose all those cars got
there?" hhhmmmmmm.
----- Original Message -----
From Mike Maclean <macleans at earthlink.net>
To: <froggi@cdsnet.net>
Cc: <spridgets@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2000 2:47 PM
Subject: Re: NOS Slave Cylinder! Kinda long.
> Herb,
> Thanks for the words of encouragement. The driveshaft problem has
been
> solved already as well as the clutch lever rubber boot and a correct
clutch
> slave cylinder is on order. I painted the engine and installed the
instument
> panel (instruments already installed) and started wiring the car
yesterday. At
> the end of the day I stood back to look over what was accomplished and
started
> to get emotional, big lug that I am. It's kind of sad when you think
about the
> car nearing completion. I've had tons of fun searching out parts and
child
> like joy when I found a hard to get part at a swap meet. You experience
> immense satisfaction working on the car when a job comes out right you
didn't
> think you were capable of. I've been through a career change and have
retired
> from the Air Force Reserve during the course of this restoration. A lot
of
> things have happened since I started this car in 1994.
> But, through all that, when it is finished I know I'd start all over
again
> and plan to do just that with a big Healey.
> Mike MacLean-60 Sprite
>
> WFO wrote:
>
> > Mike,
> >
> > Hang in there, it gets better. All your efforts will pay off in time.
And
> > that "happy Spridgeteer" smile on your face and memories will last a
> > lifetime.
> >
> > WFO Herb
> > Keep the sticky side down!
> >
> > Mike Maclean wrote:
> >
> > > Tomorrow I start my annual vacation! No train whistles. No
weird
> > > hours. No management threatening me with my job if I screw up.
Through
> > > a scheduling screw up and misunderstanding about the kids "off track"
> > > dates, I will be home alone with just myself and my Bugeye.
> > > YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
> > > Actually, Sunday is the regular day off for the job I'm on now
with
> > > the railroad. That could change by the time I get back to work. But,
I
> > > worked all day on my car. I intend to assemble enough of the car to
at
> > > least get a test run around the block before I start back to the salt
> > > mines. I still have to install the wiring and drive train for that to
> > > happen. I also have to install the gas tank, radiator, make a new
fuel
> > > line, etc., etc. Today I painted the transmission with the Moss
Sprite
> > > Midget green paint so I could install it first tomorrow before the
> > > engine. As this was a basket case, I guess I didn't notice that the
> > > Lockheed clutch slave cylinder that was in one of the boxes (brand new
> > > in the box since 1976!) was a 1 inch bore. My car needs a 7/8ths bore
> > > slave cylinder. So, tomorrow a call to the regular suspects and get
the
> > > right one. Anyone on the list need an NOS 1 inch slave cylinder?
I'll
> > > send it if you send me postage money. It turns out that the small
> > > rubber boot that slides over the clutch fork had somehow become
brittle
> > > and just split in pieces when I tried to force it over the end of the
> > > fork. I also tried to slide the drive shaft on the end of my rebuilt
> > > transmission prior to installing it in the car it. It wouldn't go. I
> > > got a small flashlight to see what was keeping it from sliding in
place
> > > and found rust and corrosion in the female splines of the drive shaft.
> > > It's toast. So tomorrow, more time out to find a new yoke for that
end
> > > of the drive shaft. Wow, what's next? Maybe I was being too
optimistic
> > > about the 2 week deadline. You always have to take 2 steps backward
to
> > > take one step forward with these cars.
> > > So tomorrow, I'll have to start some other job on the car while
the
> > > drive shaft saga plays out. I know, I'll paint the engine with the
> > > other can of Moss green paint so I can find out something wrong that
> > > will have to be fixed before it is installed!
> > > Mike MacLean-60 Sprite
>
>
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