Passing the Time

Earlier this week I was able to finally get the aluminum panels off to the painter.  As I'll discuss later, this is the most critical step I had to complete to keep the project moving.  First, I had to get the body off the frame in order to get some of the panels off.  It just so happened that we had guys working here this week to fix our air conditioning (certainly now was not the best time for it to break, but as they reminded me, not too many air conditioners break in the winter).   Anyway, they were showing interest in the car so I "offered" to let them help me take the body off.  They were glad to help and now after doing for the second time, it came off very easily.

I had originally told the painter I'd have about 10 panels, but this is what I ended up bringing.

There are 20 panels, some trim pieces I made for the interior and three sets of hinges (doors, trunk and hood).  I'm sure I'll later think of something else I would have wanted painted, but the shop wanted to do everything at once.  Fortunately, he was pretty good about doing all the extra parts.  They'll be ready in two weeks. 

I won't be able to do too much until I get these panels back because I have to install some of them before I can finish the brake lines, fuel lines and clutch line.  And I have to finish the brakes, fuel system and clutch before I can get the car rolling under its own power.  I'm really looking forward to that.  Sometimes I feel like I'm playing a complicated game of dominos where each step has to happen before the next.  Right now, I can see about 10 steps that have to happen in a certain order to get to the next milestone.  Maybe when this is over, I should write an instruction manual for the next guy (naw, that'd be no fun for me or him -- much better to figure it out the hard way).

As mentioned in the last post, I have a problem with how the exhaust lines-up with the body.  I called the company who supplied the exhaust and they basically told me not to worry about it.  They were sure it would all line-up when I did the final assembly.  I didn't really believe it so I put the whole exhaust back together to take some more measurements with the body off.  Right now, my conclusion is that I can probably get it all to fit, but it won't be perfect.  Any of you who come to look at the car will have to promise me that you won't use a ruler on anything and you can only look at one side of the car at a time.  With those two conditions, not many people will notice to slight differences.  After awhile, I may even forget about them too.

Since the exhaust was back on, I thought I'd pass the time by doing some more engine tuning.  It starts right up and is running more smoothly.  Here's another good reason why I want to get the car moving on it's own.  The first couple times I started it, I rolled the car out of the garage so any fire wouldn't take the house with it.  After that risk seemed to subside, it was still good to be outside so the exhaust could dissipate.  Well, the only problem is that the car has gotten too heavy to roll up the apron back into the garage.  It takes three people and usually I don't have others around to help.  So I've taken to starting the car in the garage for short periods.  Yes, it smells and the carbon monoxide is definitely a problem (although I'm going to start using it as an excuse when I do stupid things!).  When I get the car moving, I'll be able to pull it out and back in as I work on it.

I'll finish this post with a short video I took tonight of the engine running.  Until next time.