unimogjohn

and still more.

and here are some more neat cars.

And here is some more. Wayne took his 64 blue/silver Corvette and 64 Buick Skylark convertible, and Jon took is green 1937 Hudson convertible.

It is Father's Day! Big car show in our little village of Warrenton, VA. We must have had almost three hundred cars. Wayne, Jon, and I arrived early, and still Main Street was full. No problem as we park on a side street anyway, which is under some large trees. This gives us some shade, everything else was in the sun and by the end of the day many folks were cooked. Here are some pics for your enjoyment. Of course we took the Jaguar. It was given first place in the British car class.

However, if it is torn and hanging, I would attempt to re-glue it together and make sure that it is reattached. It should appear functional.

Curt, the fuel pump is bad. The diaphragm has ruptured and allowed fuel into the oil. A common problem with any car that has a mechanical fuel pump. The Studebaker Avanti vendors have ethanol resistance that you can use to rebuild your own pump, or they have new pumps to replace your old one. I just bought one from Dave "Tbow". The kit is about $50 and a new pump is about $180. Both dollar amounts include shipping. Here is a link to Dave's web site. http://www.studebaker-info.org/vendors/tbow/tbow0513b.html

It is Tuesday, June 10th. Graduation day for our grand daughter Allie. Big day for the family. And here is a report from Greg. "I've been proceeding on the black Avanti 5054 as weather permits. Seems we're in the midst of the monsoon season. Over the weekend I was able to make up and install the ignition cables. 7mm silicone solid wire core. A fresh set of Champion J-10Y spark plugs were scored from Northwestern Auto Supply. I won't put them in until I've run the engine a while, startup will be on the used and low mileage set of J-12's from Seabiscuit. We'd encountered a phenomenon at White Post when I worked there that remains unexplained to this day. An engine with a fresh overhaul would be reunited with the car's restored chassis, the engine plumbed and wired for an operational check to make sure it didn't lose oil pressure, rattle , knock or spew any vital fluids. Warmed up and shut off. Then the restoration of the vehicle completed, however long that would take. Come the day to do the initial road test, the cars wouldn't start. After checking for obvious problems, the new spark plugs would be blast cleaned and reinstalled. Still a no start. Change to a new set of plugs and it runs. Sunday I began the installation of the carburetor. I'm trying a Thibeault overhaul this time. It looks great. Tonight I spent bending fresh tubing to replace the dingy old fuel lines. It took a bit of searching to locate a parts house with some old stock zinc coated 5/16 steel tubing. Seems black oxide finish is the new vogue. I've gotten the plumbing semi formed, but with the pouring rain and ponding water, I guess that will wait until another day." =

Bill, have a great time. Give us updates and pics. Go Avanti!!!!

Now PM. Got on the Cub Cadet mower to finish the fourth acre. Got her done and headed back to the barn. Got half way up the hill and the transmission drive belt shredded. I am not having much luck with the mowers. Now I am fresh out until I can get one repaired. I do have a big belly mower for the Kubota tractor and may have to put that on. But on the good side the fuel pump for the Avanti came in today. Here are a couple of pics. It is a Carter pump. It was not made specifically for the Avanti so Dave Tbow has to bend the arm to be used on the Studebaker 289.

Scott, I just have much to do, I cannot get everything I want to. As an example, this morning I had to move the Jag from the garage to the trailer, of course Shadow and I went on a twenty mile drive. I had to level and put jacks under all four corners of the trailer before I could load. And it was uphill too so had to take a little run up into the trailer. Brakes, don't fail me now. Made it. Cleaned it up too so it is ready for the Father's Day show. Opps, better start mowing before it gets hot. Let's use the JD. One acre, two acres, three acres, starting on four. Bang. Broke a big idler spring on the mower. Done for the duration. The JD and I head for the barn. Found the parts I need on the net and ordered them. Since the deck has to come off again I might as well replace the blades and the mower belt. Now it is just too hot to work outside, so watching the Deadliest Catch. Better start packing for a week long trip to Seattle to see family and friends. Here is the spring. You can see the broken tab, it should look like the other end.

It is Wednesday, AM, June 4th. Up early before the heat sets in. Took the opportunity to install the new seat on the John Deere. Looks good and certainly much better than the crusty original seat. Then again it lasted 19 years. I hope the new one lasts half that long. The John Deere tractor project is done. Now it can get to work. Steve picked up the top 30 trophy for the Avanti. He works in Leesburg, VA, and it gave him the opportunity to talk to some car guys involved in the show and to see their collections. Steve talked quite a bit with Paul Rose, the owner of Vintage Motorcar Company of Inwood, WV when we were at the Leesburg show. Steve has the blue SS 350 67 Camaro that received a frame off restoration about ten years ago. He is unhappy with the fit of the doors, the hood and some paint work. I think he is going to give Paul his business. We have to make a visit to the shop so Steve can make a final decision. The next show is the annual Father's Day Car Show in Warrenton, VA. It is a local show and all the locals come ou in force. We have about half a dozen cars from the hood going. We have signed up the Jag. It is usually the only Jag and British car there.

Still Tuesday, but PM. Got hot today again, 90 degrees. I worked inside today. Gutted my bathroom in preparation for the make over. About killed me getting all the tile and backer board up. I had put in the tile floor 16 years ago. I cemented the backer board to the subfloor and then put in a thousand screws. Now I had to get it all out. At the end today I was laying down trying to finish up. Got it done. But I did get a couple of presents. The vanity for the bathroom arrived. I had to go to the property next door as they are on the flat part of the road. We are on a hill and not good for off loading a 30 ft trailer. So we lined up the arms of the little Kubota with the back of the trailer and slid it off. Strapped it down and I headed home. And UPS delivered the new JD tractor seat. It will go on tomorrow. Too pooped to do it now.

Gary, from what I have been told the fuel back in the 20s was much lower in quality than we have today. The flapper valve connected to the carb made sure that the carb body was warm enough to help vaporize the fuel. With modern fuels of today you do not need that exhaust. Most have been removed and capped off to make the carb cooler. On my 23 I removed the flapper completely. She runs much so much better without the restriction. I still kept the rod to the exhaust so it moves the shaft sans flapper.

It is Tuesday morning, June 3rd. Up early. Have to head into the tool rental place to pick up a hammer chisel to remove the floor tile and cement board in my bathroom. We are deconstructing it to do a full make over. Sure glad that it is small, only a 5x5 feet of tile to rip out. To make it larger we are taking out half of the closet next to it. That will became a walk in shower. It will have a heated floor too. Looks like Greg had a great weekend. Here is his report. " This week has flown by. Not a lot of Studebaker progress, the Overland rods are still out for fresh babbitt, some parts ordered for the black Avanti 5054, a few more enjoyable miles on the maroon Avanti 'biscuit", and tried to slow the water pump leak with some fresh packing for the old Dodge.....stuff like that. And Saturday was a little different. The '14 IHC was called into service for a delivery. I'll bet that 's the first time it has hauled a load of straw in many years, let alone a bridal party. Asked to favor a Hyde family wedding, it performed well. The day and festivities very nice."

Paul, it was an un-restored, original Morgan +4+. It is a rare car. Here is what Wiki says. "A version of the +4, designated the +4+, was made from 1964 to 1967 with a contemporary fibreglass coupe body. The light weight and reduced drag characteristics improved the performance of the +4+ over the regular +4 in every aspect. However, the traditional Morgan enthusiasts did not embrace this departure from Morgan custom, and mainstream enthusiasts did not embrace the seemingly archaic +4 chassis. Only 26 +4+ cars were built. Called up Dave "Tbow" this morning and ordered a new fuel pump for the Avanti. It was not built specifically for the Avanti R2 engine, but Dave modifies it with more bend in the pump arm and puts in a fitting for the vacuum relief as on the original fuel pump. He has a rebuild kit for the original carb, but needs a number off of it. I will rebuild the pump at some point. And I got a call from the event organizers of the Leesburg car show. He said to come pick up my award for the Avanti. What! The Avanti was presented with a top 30 award. Wow, now that is quite an honor. Now that Jay Leno is retired, he does a lot of fun stuff. Now he get to play with a XK120 in Italy.

Chuck, well I guess these things just happen. There was the gray Jaguar XK 120 OTS that was in the show. Freshly restored to an almost councours level. Still the pastel green Jag took home the honors. Maybe we garner more votes as we let folks get into the car. Monday, June 2nd AM. I feel much better today. I think the sun finally got to me yesterday. We had a great time at the show yesterday. The weather was great and the show field was only muddy down by the ponds. Only the food vendor's truck got stuck. He got mad and left the show before we arrived. So there was very limited food for the participants. Not a good thing. Lots of cars, maybe 200 or so. Some unique stuff too. If you wanted to see the various models of MG or Triumph this was the place to see all the models. As usual, the Jag ran great. Put the Avanti back in the barn this morning. I check why the front seat is loose. The metal L type clip that holds the seat assembly to the floor separated from the seat rail. I will have to pull the entire seat and she how it is attached. Not a big job to take out the seat, but who know yet on how I will fix it. I am ordering a new fuel pump this morning. Will be about $160 and with seals that are happy with modern fuel.

the final series of pics.

and more pics.

and more pics.

It is Sunday, June 1st. PM. Just got home from the Lilypons car show. Had a great time. Lots of neat British cars, but it was very sunny and hot by the time the awards were given out. I am sure I will have more comments tomorrow, but right now my mind is mush. Here are pics of some of the cars. The Jaguar was given a first place in class.

John, the orange/blue car is badged as a Lister Jaguar. There seems to be a couple of them in the area. They are certainly a go fast car. I am sure that it is a "kit" type of car, but it is sure nice. The quality, fit and finish of the body and mechanicals are top notch. I don't know the history on the Daytona Ford race car. I know that it was the pace car for all the vintage races that I attended a few weeks ago. Could it be real?

The last of the pics. There will be more from the British show tomorrow PM.

and more pics. Steve and Peg in their 67 Camaro, SS 350 went with us. Great going together for support and great conversation. Steve's boss came by to say hello too.

It is Saturday, late PM, May 31st. Just got home from the Leesburg, old town, VA, car show. Lots of neat cars. But I sure do not like driving home in the dark on all the country back roads. Oh well. Lots of interest and great comments on the Avanti. She certainly showed well. And she was the only Studebaker and Avanti there. The Avanti struggled a bit. It still has a slight stumble at almost all speeds, and she died twice and would not refire for several minutes at the show fields. Paul Rose was there. He owns a vintage repair shop in WV. We talked a bit about the issue, and he said that my fuel pump was going. So as soon as we got home I ordered a new one. I rebuilt the one in the car in early 2010 using a rebuild kit I found in the trunk of the car. Who know how old that was and I am sure the modern gas we are forced to use took a toll on it. I will put the new one in and rebuild the old one. Probably good to carry a spare anyway. Well, here are a few pics. We are off tomorrow morning for an all British show in MD. No rest for us.

and if you need upholstery. http://www.lebaronbonney.com/