addiction is the word. Carl E.
Bruce Woodward wrote:
> Robert Weeks wrote:
>
> >Man am I ever sore and tired. If it takes up all of your spare time and
> >money is it still called a hobby??
>
> > ;-)
>
> > Robert
>
> Driving up to visit Ron Hahneman of Spridgetech in Michigan a coupla weeks
> ago, my fourteen year old son read my Craftsman Tool Catalogue from cover to
> cover, spending over three hours engrossed into toolboxes and tools.
> Questions were asked and I answered to best of my ability, but then again,
> at 43 I'm still learning too.
>
> coming home after visiting the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn that same trip
> and seeing "exploded" cars and the MG-TD on the floor there, I asked my son
> if he wanted to use some tools. He asked what could we do? to which I
> replied," we can pull the motor & tranny out of the Midget!"
>
> his response? "COOL!"
>
> we pulled that motor the next day. he had no qualms about crawling
> underneath (on jackstands all way round), and he verified he had his safety
> glasses on. He drain the tranny and sump, unbolted the tranny mount bolts,
> grounding strap, then came up and undid the motor mounts and shifter shaft
> while I took care of wiring, fuel line and radiator.
>
> As we pulled the motor with a rented hydraulic lift ($16 overnite rate), he
> watched closely for any appendages getting snagged, and we discussed what
> the various peripherals on the motor were.
>
> Not a cuss word nor a "crap" was heard out of him, and you all should have
> seen his eyes light up when I gave him the air ratchet to remove the motor
> mount bolts.
>
> Since that day, his school locker has been covered with Spridget photos and
> he talks of his efforts on the car and calls or checks in every day to see
> what I'm getting accomplished (he lives with his mom & stepdad). He tells
> all his buddies about his Dad with the BRG '65 Midget and what a blast it is
> to ride in and work on.
>
> Well, the motor rec'd new oil pump, gaskets all the way around (had been
> sitting for eight years), degreased, new rubber hoses, painted, engine
> compartment painted and spiffed up. My son came over to help me get it back
> in. It went smoothly and was done in a matter of 2 1/2 leisurely hours. He
> even took the time after installing the shift lever to grab ahold of the
> steering wheel and do the obligatory "Vroom, vroom". Our only regret is
> that I'm waiting on a new exhaust manifold, and we could not fire it up,
> even if just on the jackstands.
>
> I believe my son is an LBC'er. My first indication was picking him up after
> he celebrated his 14th birthday while in Switzerland on a Boy Scout Trip
> (why didn't we do that when I was a kid?) As I pulled in the drive of his
> mothers home with my new acquisition, he said "this is the part where you
> say 'Happy Birthday, Son'"
>
> An LBC'er? I think so.
>
> brucewoodward@kconline.com
> '65 BRG Midget, renewed
> one palmeranian that thinks it's a cat
> always looking to flatten cats with a Ford Explorer
> ( hate em, best cat is a dead cat)
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