Like the windmills of my mind

While I have some time before the brake "problem" can be resolved, I turned to, well turning.

I also thought that removing the front axel and its components would make the installation of the engine easier. This way I could put the rolling floor jack in the engine compartment and use it to move the engine into position! The theory is interresting, but I will let you know how that went after it is done.

There were a couple of steering items that needed attention. Both were rods, and both were bent. I was able to straighten them back. Everything else was removed, cleaned, painted and greased reassembled. No problems until I notices that I had attached everything backwards! This was a simple fix. I just removed the king pins, flipped the axel around, and the problem was solved.

The steering column was also removed. I figured that the more stuff out of the way of the engine installation the better. Things here too were in pretty good shape! I carefully disassembled the business end, cleaned and painted what needed to be, and voila!

I have to wait until a bushing arrives (crank - transmission) before I tackle the engine. Even so, there is the ring gear to put on the flywheel. THAT will be interesting..

WHOA is me...

Well I have hit a snag, and what a snag it is!

I brought my brake shoes to be relined and they came back... well most of them came back. The first problem I noticed was with the pins on each shoe. They protrude from the edge of the shoe and along with serving as attach points for various springs and such. Seems that all were ground down, almost as if someone using a giant sanding device was attempting to even out the edge of the new linings and did not notice that the pins were there.

Had that been the only problem, I would have been satisfied that new pins could be made to replace the "new" short versions. However, it would seem that the same giant sanding device operator was working with one shoe off since NONE of the edges of the shoes were straight! In several cases he was so zealous in his attempt to make everything flush that he ground through severel of the rivet holes!

Needless to say I was not satisfied with their work on the shoes.

The four cast drums, that I had also left with them to turn, came out perfect!

The shop is very sorry for their mistake. They have promised to make things right, but I fear that they do not know the difficult road ahead in finding new (used) shoes!

So the search is on.

Any leads or ideas would be gratefully accepted at paul_bouchard@yahoo.com

Movement... well the possibility of some!

Things have been progressing since my last post. I think that I took off more pieces than I wanted to at one time so the space in the garage has been slowly disappearing. Consequently, I have stuff piled on stuff next to stuff! That and the engine that is still on its stand. I could make some space by installing it, but I want to do a few other things first.

My latest achievement is the differential. Again, I only wanted to do the essentials. Funny how looking at a perfectly serviceable differential soon escalated into removing it, cleaning it up and painting it. Easy to say, three days to do, and during that time nothing else is getting done (including cutting the grass).
Since I had removed the brake back plated (and the axles), some of the work had already been done. There was a sufficient supply of grease to keep the majority of the rust away, but getting it all off took another type of grease... the elbow kind. Once that was done, a good cleaning with soap and water followed by a wipe down with an acid etchant to give some "bite" for the paint.

The same treatment was also given to the propeller shaft.

Everything was given a coat of Por 15. I picked up a can of gloss black at the Hudson show. Funny how you remember people and they remember you. The gentleman at the Por 15 booth remembered me and the works I was doing on my Roadster. That was over two years ago! One thing about Por 15: it sticks but good. It also sticks to clothes and skin. I was doing some late-night painting and with parts hanging all over the place, I brushed up against some and now I have a few black streaks on my arms that will have to, well, wear off.

With the paint dry, it was just a case of putting it all back together. I will come back later when all the bits are attached to touch up the paint and paint the nuts and bolts.

Stop! In the name of love...

Brakes, gotta love 'em! The main idea is to get the Ten on the road. To do so requires it to pass a safety inspection. They are not concerned about how pretty a car is, only that it is safe.

To that end, I need to concentrate on making the car move (engine & gearbox) Making the car stop (brakes) making the car seen (lights/electrics). In addition, there can be no leaks from any shock or tank nor from the exhaust. Tires (or tyres) must also be in good shape.

Wit the temporary engine (9HP) well under way, time to turn to the Ten and its systems. First job was to get the brakes taken care of.

I started with the brakes. I removed everything having to do with the braking system. Not being familiar with them I took copious amount of photos plus in the case where any parts were "sided", I stamped them "R" or "L". These would provide me with references when it came time to reassemble everything. I must admit that things have gone quite well so far. I cleaned, blasted and packaged and labled each sub system. I did notr want to get too far ahead and forget where everything went! The cylinders looked pretty good. Some pitting, but nothing to get too worried about. I will get some rebuild kits this week and have the hoses redone. The shoes will have to be relined. Half are passible, but the others are finished. Better to get them all done now.

I could not just end with the brakes themselves. I removed the brake lines as well as the hand brake levers. Too bad they are nor bronze... they would have polished up nicely! I was amazed to see how original everything was. It was nice to see all the various clips intact and in very good shape.

Now I just have to wait until the stores open to get the rebuild kits!

Blast from the Past

Just got an email with some photos of the Super Ten being loaded up for transport to the docks! Thanks to John Osborne for the photos and for thinking of sending them to me.