2022: What are you doing today?

[idrivejunk]

A 55 Nomad with the roof cut off at the B pillar and fitted with 64-5 looking Camino back window area... and one Safari door... came in today.

El Nomado?

Today I finished up a Super Bee fender, tore down M-1 inner fenders for blasting, and am finishing up mud work on a 65-6 Impala door. Roof tomorrow.

[kb426]

I spent the majority of the day watching webinairs from the Engine Performance Expo. Some of the segments are real interesting. Ben from EFI University was showing his microscope that has a live feed into a computer monitor or tv screen. he was enlarging pics to 50 times. It was amazing what I saw. It is possible to do a screen capture and email the pic to someone. That deal wasn't pocket change but he did say that even if you had a hobby shop microscope and inspected parts before installing them, you would be surprised at how much info you would find. Several comments were made through out the day as to how much better parts are now than even 10 years ago. The cnc usage and better materials have made better parts. They discussed modern coatings and machining processes which have virtually eliminated break in time. With modern tech., they are able to replicate the finish on a broke in part on a new one which removes most of the need for break in. Most of the info pertains to hipo engines but if we are building a hot street engine, a lot of it can be carried over. One of the discussions was about valve train and the way pushrod length affects rocker arm ratio. It was mentioned how many NHRA stock class racers change pushrod length to tune their engines. If you're not an engine guy, this could be boring but I'm very interested in where technology is taking the art of engine building and making it better to achieve the desired end result. If you use yesterday's methods, you should get yesterday's results. One of the cnc cylinder head people mentioned something I hadn't heard before. When they flow a port, if the air flow is quiet, they know they have a good design. If there is noise, there is turbulence somewhere that is causing a problem. I thought as volume went up, so would noise. You can tell I have spent very little time with a bench. It got up to 62 degrees here so after the webinair finished, I fired up the dr650 and went to get the mail. It's easier to keep the battery charged on a warm day.  

[chimp koose]

KB have you ever spent time on speed talk ? I used to years ago . Some pretty interesting conversations.

[kb426]

C.K., no I haven't. I have had to limit the amount of computer time or be satisfied with getting little accomplished. I still spend too much time but usually that's in the colder months when I don't play outside.

[idrivejunk]

If a hacked Nomad doesn't get a rise out of a soul, I question whether theres a rodding pulse.

Yesterday I finished up a tag teamed Imp body, getting what was left ready to prime today. It will go home in primer. Super Bee is set aside for now. Today I sand Merc truck new fenders. This will be the first time I have worked on brand new freshly manufactured parts that have bondo on them. Under the primer. We are 3 guys down from last week, two are gone for good.

I would love to soak up engine webinars all day but my snoring might annoy those wanting to pay attention. Once I heard that diamond dust is used on something about the Hellcat balancer washer or something... and that some con rod caps and such are broken castings... I checked out. Boost is good though, I've learned that.

Took a few years but through the web I developed a theory about the how the perplexing polygonal masonry seen around the world was accomplished. Now that felt enlightening. Still bothers me that they teach kids you can work granite with bronze.

Been working on my drawing more. The 68 is tripping me up. That body shape always have but it sure is a favorite.

[idrivejunk]

I edited that once, for spelling, within five minutes, and it got branded as edited. Thats unusual.

[58 Yeoman]

Matt, I once commented to a smart friend of mine, years ago, that I had thought about making an El Camino out of my 2 door Yeoman.  DUH!  First thing he said is that I would need to make one out of a 4 door wagon, as my doors are too long. It would've been a different car to see, though. I guess I could've used the upper tail gate for the rear window on the 'cab.'

Any more pix on the rear window setup on that Nomad?

[kb426]

New fenders with bondo. That's not a comforting thought. I wonder if those might have been freight damaged and then repaired before being sold?

[chimp koose]

that early elky looks like a good project. i have seen similar on the HAMB

[idrivejunk]

New fenders with bondo. That's not a comforting thought. I wonder if those might have been freight damaged and then repaired before being sold?

I'm gonna sound like Sgt Shultz now that I blabbed stuff. But via shotgun approach I stoked you guys up. 

Evidence indicates the final silver coat was applied only once. Very thin and matches the rest of these and the 51 fenders when new. Underneath, a light grey primer-filler spot exists over bodyfiller with an orange tint. Then e-coat. I didn't have to go deep or expose filler to just put a scratch for spray bondo down. But a hand underneath, yow. Um dentyish. Up top a hand finds Lowspot Pond. Right where the non fillered 51 fenders were so flat. On top. On both, supporting the curtain theory below.

To speculate, perhaps yes damaged and returned, repaired and resold as such. Equally possible is the discounted buy theory. Lurking behind the theory curtain is the they can't QC them overseas but can do this after they are here theory. I just know nothing. Reply-bait statement it was, sir

[idrivejunk]

Phil, I do. Contemplating whut you said. Collective assessments of us bodymen are evolving as we soak it in firsthand. We agree how to fix the look. Looks to us like maybe there was a C-10 donor involved. But the...

Oh I better go research before speaking. I did just get dipped in handyman wheel lip school recently. I'll return to this subject. Its hard not to be curious about or ponder on.

I keep wanting to work on my ex-ride pic though. Sounds like snow / ice dead ahead for us here. Relatively light I'm sure. That means an artportunity. I did wonder how a small or big window tri five truck roof rear section might swap over...  

[idrivejunk]

Aha! Nothing new under the sun. Pic from web:

[kb426]

^^^^
Looking at the date on the pic re-enforces the thought that to do something that hasn't been done before is difficult.
I spent another day with the Engine Performance Expo. Many good moments. Listening to Billy Godbold about valve train is eye opening. Things have progressed so much since I quit racing in 96 that there are eye opening moments when they would talk about a problem that I may have encountered and the solution they found was no where the rest of us looked for. The modern measuring and inspection tech have allowed exploratory to see problems before they failed. I'm thinking I may have to build one more engine.

[58 Yeoman]

The '55 Camino looks good, factory look. Now, he needs to find a topper to put on so he keeps his stuff dry and away from prying eyes.

[WZ JUNK]

The HIROHATA Mercury goes on the auction block tomorrow at the Mecum Auction in Florida.  It should sell late morning or around noon.  My opinion is that this car is the top of line in customs.  I will be watching to see how it goes.  My guess is $3,500,000.