unimogjohn

Still Monday, but PM. We have been invaded and have lost the war. The stink bugs are back with a vengeance. Must be thousands on the side of the house, on the cars, on us, etc. They have been building over the last couple of weeks, but now they are out in full force. We are going crazy with the vacuums trying to keep most of them picked up inside the house. I have been sealing wherever I see them coming in. However, when most of the house to include the roof supports are grooved, then we have lots of paths for them to get in. They only need a crack to make it in. They have the ability to flatten themselves to squeeze through almost any opening. In spite of the bug wars, I did manage to bleed the brakes of the Avanti. I have a nice firm pedal. I have not taken it out as the dog has been watching me like a hawk wanting to hitch a ride. He has been in the creek most of the day and is wet and stinky so I do not want him in the car. I did take it around the front lane so at least I know it stops. Will take it out tomorrow. Just in case you forgot what she looks like, here are pics after a bath. Tomorrow I plan on putting the front bumper back on. Progress, a bit at a time. But I must admit that I like the look of her without the bumper. I don't know if I will put the grill back on either. I like it without it. Oh well, decisions, decisions.

Pat, surely you can add a Jag to your livery. Still Monday, late morning. Before I could start on the Avanti I had to do a wipe down on the Jaguar. Our next meet is in two weeks so I just wanted to go a bug removal while they were a fresh kill. Then I noticed a problem in the paint. It looks like the paint is delaminating from the body and the roof. I had seen a little spot before, but now they are growing. Here are a couple of pics. If anyone has an idea as to what I should or can do in the short term let me know. Wayne dropped by in his 64 Buick convertible yesterday to say hi. He wanted to know if I wanted to go to the Fall Carisle swap meet on Friday. I said sure, so it looks like we will head up on Friday morning early to spend the day. A boy's day out. I am also planning to go to Hershey for a day the following week too unless something else comes up. I really do not need anything, but it is always fun to do a walk about and look at the mass of junk.

It is Monday, September 30th, AM. Today is my Avanti day, promise. But fence lines are almost painted, only five sections to go. And I did get the new windshield washer bottle installed the the Suburban. This is the fifth time I have played with the thing trying to get it from stop leaking. It takes some time to do as you have to remove the battery and battery tray and then get the inner fender loose. Everything takes time. Oh well, it is done and does not seem to leak, yet! Also put in a new AC low pressure switch to see if a miracle occurred and the AC fixed itself. Nope, that was not it. So next week it goes in for it annual safety inspection and now, an AC fix. But Greg is making good progress on his projects. In fact he has a new day project. He old me that the company is going to start reproducing and repairing early Curtiss Jenny airplanes. They have done some restorations in the past, but demand is now picking up for some more running and flying examples. I look forward to following along. Here is Greg's report. "This past week went by like a bolt of lightning . Plenty got done, but hard to recall. It was that busy. Day job always interesting and got more so, changing hats from Wright Brothers to Glenn Curtiss. We've a need for some working OX-5 V8 types, so the Wright V8-60 rods are on back burner and I'm getting reacquainted with the slightly later Curtiss eights as manufactured for the JN-4D Jenny WWI trainer. As for after hours, the Matheson project continues. The fuel pump has been overhauled, it was in good shape except for a corroded check ball and needed cleaning. With no 1/4" bearing balls on hand , one option was to order a package of 100 to get one. It seemed to me that I might have seen some at the local hardware store, but when that proved false, it dawned on me that since bicycles used loose balls once upon a time, to check the bike shop. BINGO! That allowed me to reasemble the pump and get it off the shelf and back in place. The next link in the chain was to spend some time on the pump drive gear and connecting rod. The gear has an eccentric cam for the connecting rod which reciprocates the pump piston. Disassembled for cleaning, the gear is waiting for gray paint and the rod is in line for buffing. I've also found some time this weekend to spend on Avanti 5054. While searching for something else, Barb found the elusive windshield stainless trim so I got it sanded, buffed and hung in place. Ditto for the stainless rain gutters and drip mouldings. Even found the tiny little transition pieces. Check, check and check. The bad news is that my old friend died. The Sony floppy disc camera. It captured such vivid photos, and it was so easy to transfer the images to email, so user friendly. Now I'm trying to figure out new technology. So far I'm disappointed with the result. I guess it's a fact of life: as things evolve in the name of progress, they don't necessarily get easier or better. Otherwise, countdown to Hershey. Nine days?!" Note: I found a Wikepedia bio on the OX-5 engine. Here is the link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_OX-5 And here is a link to the Curtiss JN-4 trainer. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_JN-4

It is Saturday, September 28th. Have done nothing on the Avanti. Still there just looking at me. Tomorrow, tomorrow. I have been putting in most of my time painting fence lines. Paint will not dry if it is raining so making hay as the sun shines, in this case, painting. But we did take the Jaguar on the tour today. A total of about 120 miles through the mountains of Virginia. Got up to about 4,000 ft in one of the passes. Not high by the Cascades in Washington or other mountain ranges. We had a dozen Jaguars. Of course our was the oldest by at least ten years. We did have four XKEs attend, which is great. All the rest were newer cars, I call them modern. We had a great drive, stopped at many overlooks in the park, and had fun running in a group. We had a lot of folks come over when we stopped and of course, Alice had them all sit in the car. We left at about 9:30 AM and we were back home about 3 PM. This included a nice stop for lunch when we exited the park. It was a great little run. And to top it off, the car ran great. Here are some pics.

Chris, Roger is right on. Greg told me the same thing. I used silver Rustoleum for mine. Speaking of paint, have they given you a date when they think it will be ready for color? They look like they should be getting close. Maybe end of the week or early next week for sure. You must be starting to get excited.

Frank, I have never seen a painted top on a actual touring car that folds. I use a "top coat" type paint on my solid roof that has a fabric top but it does not fold. This top coat product is still available and you can find it on several Model A Ford vendor sites. I think that any painted top coat will crack if the top is folded. The plastic window material is available from any boat upholstery shop. Many will sew the new stuff in for you too as you need an industrial sewing machine to tackle that job. Re your top, you might want to send a private message to David Coco, trimacar on this forum, with your question. David is our master top maker of the teens and 20s cars.

It is Wednesday, September 25th. I promise to bleed the brakes on the Avanti today! Yesterday I just did not get around to it. I did get the tractor all ready for winter with new oil and filter and a general check. Then I had to take a five gallon of black paint and do some fence painting. We paid a neighbor kid to paint the fence line, but he missed a few spots so had to clean them up. Also he seems to have missed a couple of sections so have to do them today. I don't mind the finish painting, at least it will be all done and I did not have to do 95% of it. And Greg has a final Greenfield Village report for us. "The Conclusion. Greenfield Chapter 3 Part 2 So tonight we find our heroes aboard the cab of "Old Number One" the Edison. Engineer Dave takes a moment to open the firebox door and toss in a shovel of coal. Picture Barbara seated on the fireman's seat being consumed by a cloud of coal dust. Wait a minute, if she's in the fireman's position, why isn't SHE shoveling the coal? Anyway, two shorts on the whistle and we proceed to the coal pile. Bring it to a halt, one short blast and Dave dismounts to climb onboard a front end loader. Two buckets of coal spilled into the tender and of course two clouds of coal dust. Back in the saddle, we get three shorts (backing up) and he reverses to the tower where Dave scrambles across the tender to fill the tender with water. Prevailing wind carrying coal dust into the cab...... Then maybe another throwing of the switch, I forget, but anyway what happen next is amazing. Dave pulls the locomotive onto the turntable. He explains to us that he must balance the locomotive . By watching the end of the table, he can tell when all is right with the world. Glenn asks if perhaps there's a mark somewhere for each engine. Answer is no, each time it's a guessing game depending on the particular loading of water and coal. So then the unexpected. We follow Dave out and down leaving Barb to watch the boiler. On each end of the turntable is a steel bar protruding. That's what powers the turntable. A twenty-two ton locomotive and God knows what the turntable weighs and one man can walk the thing around in a circle. And I've exerted more effort trying to push a Pierce Arrow with a flat tire. Just incredible. When we're lined up with the proper doorway, the engine is driven in. It's over a grease pit so that Dave can work beneath it before returning it to be staged for the next day's run. So our trip to the Old Car Festival was a real blast. We crammed as much into it as we could and also fell heir to the unexpected. One other coincidence unexpected. As we were leaving the museum complex, we got turned around. Stopped in a church parking lot, I thought I'd consult the atlas. Barb was trying to get the GPS in gear. Since Rob had suggested an alternate route back to Va, I'd give him a call back home for details. With him on the line I ask. He wants to know where I was. Gave him a general idea. He tells me to take the nearby highway to a town about fifteen minutes away and park at a certain restaurant . He and his Mother were there having dinner with friends. Nothing like a map with salsa on it. I've said it before. If there's anything that I've done right in my life, it's collect some awesome friends. That's what made this whole adventure very special. Thanks to you all. Photos of: *Tender loaded with coal *Dave filling the tender with water. *Locomotive pulled onto the turntable *Glenn and Dave rotating the turntable *Looks like Barbara is enjoying herself Now back to real time. Tending to Matheson parts being depainted." . =

I would give Juan all the time he needs. Remember, painting a car is 95% prep, and a good prep job will make the painter look like a hero. I think that you will owe Juan a case of beer for all the work he has to do. He is probably swearing at himself for taking the job. The car is looking very good. Before you know it, it will be done.

The hubcap without the Buick logo is from a 1923 McLaughlin Buick. I do not know if McLaughlin used this style in other years.

It is September 24th, Tuesday morning, and we have a Greg report. "Tonight was dismantle the Matheson spark advance linkage night. Looks like it only requires cleaning and renewing of the painted components. Photo when I've got more space available. Greenfield Village Meet, Chapter 3 Part 1 So back to the Dave Liepelt story. Loyal supporter of the Willys - Overland- Knight automobile registry, he of course showed up for the event well armed. The Patina'd Willys coupe and his '12 Overland. We've already seen his transporter and unloading drill. By the way, he did correct me on the make of his pickup. "It's not a Chevy, It's a Ford. I'll not make that mistake again....." When the Overland was offloaded, he graciously offered it for a quick spin which Barbara and I accepted. Although a little newer than my '10 with different shift and throttle controls, it sure sounded the same. Makes me anxious to get back to work on mine. Later, during the show I saw Dave tooling around without any passengers onboard. I hailed him as he drove by and on it I jumped (you don't sit IN something like this). We rolled along in the Village traffic until he bypassed the turnaround. Knowing his way around the place, he turned to a gravel road and off we went. Mario Spaghetti would have been proud. Wind in our faces and gravel flying, he approached a zigzag in a four wheel drift and came out of it by glancing off a nearby grassy knoll. Gives new definition to the term "bank shot". So let's resume the story when I received the call to be at the roundhouse at five.... We of course were there on time. Glenn too. Dave explained that he happened to be "late man" and was responsible for servicing the steam locomotive for the next day's service hauling passengers around the Village. We were going to help. After a insider's tour of the roundhouse, we walked the tracks to where the "Edison" was parked. Invited to climb aboard, this is when Barb took one look at the situation and faced with the realization that she had to negotiate a steep climb and wade ankle deep in coal.... that's when she said "I'll wait here". Right. Leave her standing on the train track. (Might make a good scene in a silent film....) Glenn and I helped her up and the engineer then began his work. Dave explained various things (two toots of the whistle means locomotive proceeding forward) while we began rolling. That's when I asked him if he intended to keep this one on the track..... Photos of : * Dave Liepelt * Dave explaining things to us and his Dad . * All aboard! To be continued.

Still Monday, but PM. Got the Avanti rear brakes bled, or so we thought. Alice said that she had a firm pedal. So put the wheels back on, filled the master cylinder, started the engine and did my test. Yes, we have a full pedal, all the way to the floor. So my initial bleeding job was not successful. So will jack it up tomorrow and try again. I also decided to order new door seals, but only a partial. So I will get the ones that go around the door, but not up around the window. My window rubber is in good shape. The door rubber is rock hard and big chunks are missing. Got them from Studebaker Intl. for $48 and two tubes of 3M adhesive for $20. I think that the total bill was about $80. Also cleaned the leather seats on the Suburban to complete my car jobs for today. Got word from Rock Auto that the AC low pressure switch and the water bottle are on their way too. I don't remember if I mentioned that we will be going on a tour on Saturday with the Jag. Up into the mountains with other older Jags. Weather looks like it will cooperate.

It is Monday, September 23rd, AM. Going to get the Avanti brakes bled today with the help of Alice. Hope to have her back on her wheels by noon. And Greg has another quick report for us too. "And a good weekend it's been. Yesterday saw some Avanti progress even though it was raining, sometimes heavily. Today, more check marks on the big list of things to do. Since the forecast was right, a nice sunny day, I could get some buffing done. Our buffer is in an outside shed and like painting, you can never have enough light. Since the doorpost upholstery glue was drying, it was time to hang the stainless trim. Sanding and buffing, sanding and buffing, even though they weren't too scratched and dented, it still takes time. And with both of them looking pretty good, they then went to the tin barn to be reunited with 5054. Before I glued and screwed them in place, I couldn't help but update them. Inside them I found I'd signed and dated in 1973 from the first time I gave the car a once-over. I hope this will be the last time I put these things on. Of course it might take another forty years for me to find the windshield post trim which I've carefully put away. Somewhere. And all progress wasn't just Avanti. Since I was in the nasty buffing department, I pulled the Matheson fuel pump out of it's box and began it's restoration. This is the earliest instance that I've seen for an engine mounted fuel pump. A complicated and unusual fuel delivery system, this supplies a carburetor that has no float and needle valve, the pump keeps a chamber filled and any excess drains back to the fuel tank. The pump is also working in concert with a hand pump for starting. Should the carburetor chamber be empty, you can fill it manually. Or you can also use the hand pump to prime the carburetor. I found the pump in good condition other than being clogged with a waxy substance and the little check ball corroded and stuck. I'll get another ball coming along with some black delrin rod to reproduce some cracked insulators for the magneto. Apply all this to Barbara's company and a special dinner of corn chowder and barbecue, about as good a weekend as it can get here at Hyde Manor. Tomorrow I'll resume the Greenfield event by beginning the final chapter. I'll just mention that it begins with a phone call from Dave Liepelt while I was standing in the Henry Ford Museum. It went something like: "Hello?" "Where are you?" "By 999 in the museum" "Be at the railroad roundhouse at five o'clock"." PS Here is a note that Greg received as a result of his post. Its an Avanti story so thought I would post it. From: glen] Subject: Re: Studebaker Saturday. To: gregcone Speaking of Studebaker-- great story. This weekend was the Orphan Car Show in Ypsilanti (about 10 miles from home). Saturday was the Orphan Car Tour. 23 cars ranging from Dave Liepelts '11 Overland to a Avanti II, what ever year they are. A '28 Overland was leading the tour, running about 38mph. Midway through the tour at one of the stops, a driver came to Jerry, and complained that the tour leader was going too fast for everyone to keep up. Yup, it was the Avanti II driver. Drove the EMF, ran pretty well on the way there. Ran like crap on the way home. Time to pull the carb, and give it a good soaking and cleaning of all orifices. Hershey draws near... Glenn =

Chris, it is not difficult. You have to take off the two short arms that go to the fenders, and then you take out the four bolts, two each side, on the frame. Then the two side arms come off and you then pull the bumper straight out with the long arms still attached. If they have it up in the air it should only take fifteen to thirty minutes to do.

It is Saturday, PM, September 21st. My green Avanti's brakes are back on the car. I still need to bleed them and put the wheels back on. I intended to do that today, but getting the farm ready for winter is taking priority. And Greg reported that the AC in the Suburban went kaput on the way home from his trip. I put some more Freon in it, and it is fine. But it continues to cycle on and off quickly. Everything that I have read says the low pressure sensor is bad. So I ordered one. It should be an easy install as you do not have to recharge the system. There is a schrader valve under it so when you remove it the little valve closes so you do not lose any gas. Also ordered a new washer bottle. The one in the car continues to leak, I have tried numerous times to fix it with little luck. So bought a new one. But Greg has been pressing ahead on his black Avanti. Here is his Saturday report for us. "I'll interrupt the Harvester saga with some Avanti progress. I've blasted, primed and painted the cooling fan. The fan clutch has been cleaned and prepped and took time this rainy Saturday to install the fan assembly and pulley. It also seemed the time to get the headliners into position. Looking for more items to get off the shelf, two pieces of vinyl turned up. They cover the door posts. Cleaned, redyed and now re-glued in position. Little steps but in the right direction." =

It is Friday, September 20th. Boy, this month is flying by. Hope to get the Avanti's brakes on and bled today, anyway that is the plan. But before I can start I have to read Greg's report. So here it is. "Where was I ? Chapter 2 Part 2. Another of Glenn's accomplishments was overseeing the study of the original 1901 Sweepstakes racer, it's restoration and duplication. We'd seen the restored artifact on display in the museum, now a copy of it available for demonstration on the street outside. As promised, I got my turn to experience it. Not the most comfortable of rides, with no seatbacks, the driver holds onto the steering wheel, the passenger precariously hangs onto a drawer pull screwed onto the side of the seat box and hooks his legs on anything he can. There's also a running board where during competition the mechanician crouched to balance the machine in turns and he probably maintained things within reach and vital. Neat trick at seventy miles per. Meanwhile, there's another of the Village people to mention. Dave Liepelt it's your turn. I first met Dave during a previous trip to the HFM. A contemporary of mutual friends, graduates of McPherson College where they studied automotive history and restoration. Some of today's finest in the restoration trade studied there. At that time Dave was involved with the maintenance and upkeep of the fleet of vintage vehicles in service at the Village. Since then he's been transferred to become "Railroad Specialist". He's the guy who stopped by to see me the other weekend. Out for a spin in his Willys Knight engined sedan, he'd been to an Willys-Overland-Knight car meet in Virginia and was on his way home. I think he said it was two or three thousand miles he put on the thing . In other words, a true enthusiast. So as Barb and I arrived at the HFM parking lot to meet Glenn, in roars this Chevy truck with an old car on it's back and a towing a car on a trailer. It's Dave. Then the fun began. He pulls the trailer ramps in place, starts the very much patina'd Willys coupe and backs it off and parks nearby. Then another set of ramps are set from the truck bed to the trailer. The '11 Overland is started and then backed down onto the trailer, then off the trailer to the asphalt. This wouldn't be the last we'd see of Dave or the Overland. Tonight's photos: *Glenn and Dan starting the Sweepstakes. *Glenn and Jeannie departing on a functional test ride. *The Dave Liepelt Willys coupe that arrived on the trailer. *Dave unloading the Overland."

Chris, count to ten and breathe deep. This too shall pass. At least you know that they want to keep your business and will do a good job. I would not jump the gun here, you may have trouble finding someone who will do the job right at your price. Be patient.

Still Thursday, but PM. The postman showed up this afternoon with Avanti parts. Two new brake cylinders and four new adjusters. Here are the pics. They will go on tomorrow. I will save the old parts. Never know when you might need them. Will clean them up before storage. The Avanti cylinders are now very expensive, like $85 each, and are becoming relatively rare. At that price point it is worth it to send them to White Post Restorations to have them sleeved with stainless steel. May do that a bit down the road.

It is Thursday, September 19th. And we have a report from Greg. "Greenfield Village Chapter 2 Part 1 I've heard of the Old Car Festival for a long time. Being so distant, I've not had the opportunity to take it in. Rob Burchill, being from that area, considers it an "old home" event. He went last year and took his REO since the meet is geared towards the older antiques. The Dearborn to Lansing run in your car is a highlight, a two day event. Rob tried it and the REO decided it was a one day event. The car still apart for repairs so Rob didn't go this year. In walks Glenn Miller. He and Jeannie his wife were visiting and while we were kicking tires at Rob's, Glenn decided that I should bring something to the '13 OCF. Without other plans, the trip was on. Glenn, retired from Ford's Power Train Development, is a mainstay for this event. Responsible for operating some of the museum's vehicles, he's also an announcer as the cars pass in review . And Jeannie probably wouldn't want me to put a number on the years she's been on the museum's staff. Considerable. Even son Dan is crew on some of the museum's equipment. Truly a Henry Ford family. A fine host, Glenn and Dan made sure I got a couple very special rides as well as a driving lesson in their 1908 Cadillac. Photos for tonight: *The HFM reproduction 1886 Benz. *Passing in review, Glenn announces and Derek Moore chauffers Jeannie Miller. Derek was on the museum staff but has moved over to the Crawford collection in Cleveland. Derek returning to demonstrate the Benz. *Bird's eye view of Glenn restarting the Benz when it stalled during my turn. *Not every ride had wheels, Barb on the Merry-Go-Round. Lots more to come. Meanwhile back to Matheson time: Tonight was more fitting of new and reconditioned hardware, securing the stator armature in position with it's tapered key.

Still Wednesday, but PM. Not much car stuff today. And no Avanti parts either. But I did get out to the trailer and check on the Jaguar. Made sure that all the fluids and oil was OK as we are taking it to a big wedding on Saturday and then to the Cars and Coffee in Fairfax, VA on Sunday. A group is organizing a Jaguar section and they expect over twenty cars. Should be fun. And did I tell you that it was cold this morning, 36 degrees. And the house was cold and convinced Alice to let me light off the pellet stove. And since it is so cold, the pool is down to 60 degrees too. So spent a couple of hours and put it to sleep for the winter. I do remove the pump and motor and store it inside the house. Here is our first fire.

It is Wednesday, September 18th, AM. Cold here this morning, 36 degrees F. Alice relented and let me start the pellet stove. First fire of the season. And for your morning coffee, we have a Greg report. And he is back working on the Matheson engine. I did ask him if he was getting close to finishing it. He said in a stern voice, "NO!" Here is Greg's report. "Our trip to Greenfield Village had to include a visit to the Henry Ford Museum (now known as the Henry Ford). Although we didn't have a lot of time to kill, I did get to pay my respects to some historic machines. *Ford's original 1901 Sweepstakes racer. Two cylinders and seventy miles per hour. A car that got him started in his empire. More about this one later. *Ford's 1902 999 racer. Four cylinders, eighty horsepower and ninety miles per. This is the car that defined Ford as a businessman. It also served to debut Berna Eli Oldfield (Barney). The 999 made both men stars in their professions. *"Old Pacific" the Packard that made the first transcontinental crossing. *"Old 16" Locomobile. This was the first American built car to best foreign machines in competition. And very much in unrestored condition. Also on display in the HFM was a modern artifact. The reproduction 1903 Wright Flyer that I'm very familiar with. Built for the 2003 Kitty Hawk Anniversary Flight, I was personally responsible for it's engine and operation (once started it was my airplane until I gave the pilot the thumbs up), the last time I'd seen the thing was when I had to crawl under it to retrieve it from a failed flight attempt and it splashed down in about two feet of cold North Carolina rainwater. I like it much better hanging indoors where the ignition can't get shorted out when wet. Another thing that I really admire about the HFM is the personnel that I've gotten to know. They seem to consider themselves "family" and that they are caretakers of the artifacts. To the degree that some have found their way to other institutions but yet will return for events, even operate the equipment. Really neat and I'll introduce you to some of them. Matheson shop: Tonight I began the reassembly of the Bosch low tension magneto (a generator). Might call it the Magneto Family Reunion. Fitting it together , I'm always amazed at the close tolerances and fine machine work of the early magneto industry here and abroad. A lot of tonight's effort was the substitution of new hardware in the magnets. Oval head screws like the originals, I had to hand fit them by adjuting their lengths. More of it to go. =

Still Tuesday, PM. Done for the day. Got back to the brakes and cleaned up the backing plate. Took about 30 minutes of scrubbing with a wire brush and a full can of brake cleaner. I also found the old brake shoes. They look OK so am going to use them. I also cleaned and inspected the drum, and it looks very good too. I did order the little adjusters to manually adjust the shoes to snug them up to the brake drum. The ones on the car now are all mangled. Dave Tbow had them.

Still Tuesday, mid AM. Boy, there was a nip to the morning air at 8:30, but decided I better tackle the rear brakes on the Avanti. I had to move cars around, which meant that I had to put the wheels back on the Avanti to move it back where I had room to work. After everything was somewhat organized I started to dissemble the passenger side rear brake. Really, everything was uneventful except that a couple of the bolts were really tight. The drum popped off with a few really solid hits with the mallet on the puller. Everything was really wet with brake fluid. The linings are toast, soaked through and through. I have another used set so will take a look at them to make sure they will be OK. If not I will call Dave Tbow and order a set. Time from start to finish was two hours. Here are a few pics. This afternoon I will do a clean up of the backing plate and have everything ready to go when the new cylinders arrive. I am going to do the driver's side brakes also, but will not tear into them until I have this side done. One thing at a time.

An educated estimate would be in the $75 to $100 range.

It is Tuesday morning, September 17th. We have another show and work report from Greg for your morning coffee. "Been out of touch with a downed internet, so tonight I'll finish the beauty shots I took of cars at the Greenfield Village event. I've had some feedback about the size of the photos and all I can say is that we chose a minor setting for the camera, I'll reduce it further next time. On our trip to Indianapolis/Springfield a couple years ago we took photos / videos on a low setting and the result was postage stamp sized images. Didn't want that . Avanti 5054: I've officially finished my "Summer plan" by successfully installing the rear window. It took four tries for the maroon Avanti, ,Seabiscuit installation, got this one first time. So as of now, any work done on the black one will be minor "in shop" projects until warm weather returns next Spring. It's now Matheson Engine Time. Old Car Festival Chapter 1 Part 3 Tonight's photos: *1910 Hupmobile Runabout *A personal favorite, a couple shots of a St. Louis. HIndsight, should have gotten a photo of it in front of the Wright Cycle Shop. They were dealers for St. Louis cars. * Miller's newly finished EMF *Bicycle Row, some of the cycles we had to dodge. Tomorrow's installment we'll see a few cars during our brief visit to the Henry Ford Museum." =

Still Monday and braking news. Dave Tbow called and said that everything has been shipped and should be here Wednesday, Thursday at the latest. So tomorrow I think I will pull the drums and brakes. Should be able to do all including clean-up in a couple of hours. This is all my fault as I was in a hurry to get the brakes working. When I bought the car, it had no working brakes. So I did a quick refurb of the rear setup. I did not put in new cylinders, but decided just to clean them up, hone the cylinders and put in new rubber. Everything worked great, but that was almost four years ago. So I guess that I was somewhat successful. The fronts are a Turner disc brake system, and I did put in a new master cylinder and SS lines. So everything else should be good to go. I will take pics tomorrow of the disassemble process. One good thing is that I do have the drum puller.