Moving Along

I haven't spent much time in the garage in the last few weeks. I have taken on a temporary work position and have been traveling, getting training and project orientation so once again the Triumph has fallen to a lower priority in my life.

I got the drain spigot replaced (the one received from Moss has a broken handle) and a new water pump gasket (the other was really brittle and split when I took it out of the package. I viewed the $500 chassis I have been offered that has all the components I need to put the spare chassis back together. I am going to make the decision this weekend and get moving on it.

Yesterday I extracted my camper van from the ice in my driveway. The front left tire was flat and it took a while for the engine to fire up. My battery charge of a month ago or so did not last long enough to get the engine firing so I had to boost the battery. I commissioned my compressor and blew up the tire and moved the van back and chipped out a lot of the ice after it had warmed up for a while. I had to move the van and remove the ice so I can extract the chassis and mount the engine in the driveway because I don't have enough room in my garage to do it there.

My wife and I were at a dinner party last night and my TR3 project came up for discussion through an innocent question asked by a friend. My wife lamented the trading of our beloved MGB for a car that didn't run and that required excessive work and how she doubted the Triumph would ever be finished? A friend spoke up and asked her if she spent any time in the garage helping out and that comment garnered no response other than a shrug and a "no" .  I am sure I am not the only old car hobby guy that experiences an ongoing "critique" by a loved one but I cringe whenever the subject comes up because I often find myself having to defend my hobby and my intent and often it is not comfortable to do so. I have met people in the old car hobby where female partners have as much enthusiasm for the cars and working in the garage as the man does. Hmmmm....