Chuck,
Ah, someone that understands. If you were a women I'd ask you to marry
me. Seriously, I've got a whole new appreciation of all those people I see in
British Car Magazine and Moss Motoring with their before and after pictures.
I'm still no "expert", but I feel qualified to help out any beginner that just
starting down the path.
Mike
Charles Christ wrote:
> 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@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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