| Date | |||
| 5/1/09 | Picked up chassis from Tom Foster and moved it into my shop. My mom and I rolled it off of the trailer and right into the shop on 4 flat tires. | ||
| 5/2/09 | Started the process of identifying the parts and figuring out the best way to dissamble, one section at a time. I labeled everything I took off and sorted it into bins. My friend Brandon Buckley came and helped me. We will be working on this for quite some time. Some parts were extremely hard to get off. Worked about 10 hours and didn't want to quit. Put together the sandblaster and spent some time getting it set up. | ||
| 5/4/09 | Monday. Went to Ray Williamson's place--amazing. Asked some questions and got some great advice on parts, sandblasting, powder coating and painting, among other things. Looked at Ray's incredible restorations and left with Les Andrew's book. Went straight back to my shop and did some more organizing and spent some time with the sandblaster getting a nozzle unclogged. Had to go home around 8:30 pm for school next day. | ||
| 5/14/09 | I have been so busy with school and band that I haven't been able to go to my shop. So, I put together the Model A restorations guidelines notebook and have been reading up on assembly and parts in the Andrew's book. The exploded illustrations blow me away and are a bit intimidating. I will be with the Bush band in Dallas this weekend so will miss the club's Sat. meeting (again) but will get to work in the shop on Sunday. More sandblasting and I think I will start making lists of what parts I have and what I need. A nice man named Roy Garza has been emailing me about some books for me but I am at the mercy of my mom to get things picked up so I hope he is patient. | ||
| 5/15-16 | Couldn't go to the Sat. breakfast because it was the only time I had to work in the shop this weekend. Surprise visitor! Ray Williamson dropped in! What an honor. I also couldn't go to the monthly meeting on Sun. because my dad wanted to take me cycling. We were doing a 50 mile route on our road bikes when guess what passed by?? Model A's. I assume on their way to the lake for the meeting. So if you were in that group and saw 2 cyclists going faster than you (just kidding) that was me and my dad. Hope to make a meeting when school is out and there are no weekend obligations. | ||
| 5/21 | Lots of action. On Sat. Ray W. came over and helped me used the rear hub puller to pop off the rear brake drums. Thanks Ray!Disassembled steering and front end and everything holding the frame onto the leaf springs. Lifted the frame off and further dissambled smaller parts. About 8 hours of work with my friend Brandon Buckley. Thanks Brandon! Got an impact wrench and it was awesome. Next step is to take off the leaf springs. | ||
| 5/27 |
Monday – Ray came over for awhile (a real treat) and we took the brakes apart. Will take to SA Brake and Clutch to be reworked and true up the drums. Took apart the transmission. All gears are no good and will be replaced. Ordering new ones. Took off leaf springs with Ray’s spring compressor, and disassembled the rear end. We decided I needed a new front cross member. I had an email from a Ken Parker somewhere in Texas so I gave him a call. He had 3!! So I bought one and that takes care of that. He was a really helpful—says he has a barn full of parts--in case anyone is looking for something. Wed. – took apart front brakes. It just looks like a million parts everywhere. My sandblaster will be here next week and I will get started on that. |
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| 5/30 | Pressed off bearings from rear end using Ray's shop press. Glad the pinion gears were usable--saved some money there! Had expert advice--there's Ray in the photo with me at his shop. We were taking off the adjusting nut on the pinion gear. | ||
| 6/15/09 | The sandblaster is here! see photos in the gallery. It is heavy duty and works like a charm. Anyone needing sandblasting give me a call. So now I am blasting away, and also got a paint sprayer so I can start priming. First attempt used maybe a bit too much reducer. Talked to Ray W. about it and got some points so will be working on that all this week. | ||
| 6/20-6/26 | Working daily now that school is out. I try to spend at least 6 hours a day at the shop working. Took some really nasty looking brake shoes and drums to SA Brake and Clutch and got them back looking new! Took out rivets on front crrossmember and removed the front crossmember (the old "new" one from Ken Parker). Put rivets back in using rivet hammer (borrowed from Ray W.)Sandblasting, sandblasting, sandblasting in 100 degree heat--frame done! Borrowed Ray's blast pot until I finally got my own. Differential also done. Next step: priming and painting. Have bought very expensive paint (or is it all expensive?), Nason base coat/clear coat. Got a bundle of replacement parts thanks to Ray W. Now am looking for wheels. | ||
| 7/1 | Rebuilt the transmission | ||
| 8/12 | Have been out of town so here is a long update on everything I did in July. Took apart my engine with Ray and found it to have a cracked head so no good! Have an extra one with the car I bought from Joe so will look at that one next. Did a lot of body work--it is very time consuming. The entire rear end is finished and connect to the frame. Still finishing the front end. |
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| 8/19 | Engine, Engine, Engine! 3 days with Ray in the heat working on the engine. It looks like new! Today we are assembling and will test it soon. Cross your fingers it works and I will save a bunch of money. Actually I loved working on the engine and would like to do more of them. It is not nearly as complicated as people think. | ||
| 9/20-10/1/09 | Chassis work: reglazed chassis, welded up small stress cracks, straightend bent top rail, primed and painted. I used a PPG Concept DC900 series non sanding black primer and single stage black. Ray worked with me in his paint booth so we got a perfect finish. Wet sanded the differential with 500 grit and shot PPG concept 900 single stage. Repainted the leaf springs. Sandblasted and painted all steering and brake components. Assembled all brake components. Preadjusted the front and rear brakes. Right now I am working on finishing the steering. Am looking for 2 more wheels--30-31 19" if anyone knows of any out there. | ||
| 11/1/09 | I am now in search of a good body. My chassis is finished. I rebuilt the steering column this weekend. Still need to do some work on my wheels. | ||
| 12/31/09 | Last day of 2009. Ray and I spent the entire week---all day every day---working on the body. I would have easily given up but Ray is just so awesome. So I have ordered tires and Ray and I dropped off my wheels at the powder coating place. He took a sample wheel in "straw" color to make sure we matched the color right, and we found the exact shade. Can't wait to get them back. I will be posting new photos very soon. | ||