Messages

make it a kick start!

KB that is why I started to outfit my shop years before I retired . Even if I dont use the equipment ,  just having it to use if I want to is a good feeling . I started in the machining trade 42 years ago and have had at least one project car on the go for longer than that . I am nearing the end of my bucket list builds . That list started over30 years ago when I sold a car that I had built for me that I never really missed when gone (63 Acadian ). Thats when I decided that  I would only build cars I had always wanted to own .

I have a bowflex treadmill in the basement that you can change the speed on with a 1 1/2 hp motor . I am thinking it might work good as a drive for a metal belt sander I have in the shop . It was a home built machine I got from an estate . It has three 1/2hp electric motors on it now and when I tried it out this summer it was making the plug in cord warm ! I am no electrician but it seems a bit too much banjo engineering going on there . Not sure how much  fab work I am going to be doing in the future so not sure if it will be worth the effort . If I have small jobs to grind I can always go back to the school I retired from , the guys there are great about letting me in to use the tools . If I start needing to  do a lot of grinding I might have to do this grinder at home as I dont want to wear out my  welcome at the school.

I have heard of the treadmill motor being used that way before . I contemplated it with my mill to avoid 3 phase .  Just the other day I started thinking the treadmill in the basement might make a great belt sander .

I saw the jeggs price when looking after I posted . I think Brians counter man who I am sure is an expert with ricers and turbos probably saw one of those offset keys for advancing the cam and thats where the price came from . those  keys are pricey and converted to cdn dollars are ridiculous . Our dollaris taking a dive since Trump warned of 25% tariffs on cdn and mexican goods to US . Likely will not be planning  any purchases cross border with a weak dollar .

went to a speed shop today  to get a woodruff key for the crank sprocket for a timing chain on a sbc . WOW $45 . Did not buy it as I will make sure I dont already have one . Speed shop owner was surprized at the price too . Have known him for years . we looked it up and similar pricing at summit. Makes me think sbc is considered obsolete?

SNOW today. I have a battery powered snow thrower. Did most of the property 2x and then it quit . Recharging and hoping I dont need to use it a 3rd time today

Put a fake light switch  over it

Gas gage in my truck has simmered down quite a bit.  I spent some time today putting up a shelf above my lathe . Lathe is a foot away from the wall so the shelf comes out flush with the back splash  on the lathe and about 8" above . Made a tray for oils and oil cans , then a metal plate screwed to shelf for mag based dial indicators also room for all my tool holders and tool posts . Lastly at the tailstock end I drilled holes to put live centers and drill chucks. I think it should allow me to work at the lathe without having to walk  anywhere for tooling . All my drill bits are on a shelf 2' from the tailstock end of the lathe next to my cabinet of threading taps. I am literally within 6' of all my lathe equipment when standing at the machine. Once the mill is up and running  I will have to organize all of that tooling as it is in a set of drawers next to the mill but kind of hap hazard organized. I may put 4' fluorescent lights over the lathe and mill as well. 

got the fuel tank back in my 97 sierra. Reman injectors , new distributor , wires ,plugs,fuel filter and a new fuel pump . Old fuel pump would not hold pressure ,as it ends up, there was a crack in the line from pump out to injectors inside the tank . Had to replace all the hardware in the pump assembly. Runs good now but the fuel gage swings wildly while driving and calms down after  you stop for a while. Oh well at least its running nice.

I thought all the outlets should have that 'shocked ' look . maybe its a last chance OHS warning 

yes . I thank you for the freedoms i enjoy.

Wonder what that chevy would look like if it drove through a deep puddle at speed?  . Kind of creative as I have never seen anything like it before .

Handy tip , thanks

Got the truck to run. It has a hard time getting the fuel pressure up and when you shut it off it loses pressure fast. 50-55 psi when running . Put a scan tool on and no misfiring at all and air/fuel is at 14.7 as it  should be. Injectors was a good call . I think the pump is bad so hopefully that will do it . This pump has pumped a total of 1 tank of fuel .