Schedule Review and Priorities

Time spent in garage: 2 hours

Tasks: tool clean up/moved parts from carboard box to plastic tote. Put away tool boxes and sorted through some items on my workbench...I didn't get everything done I set out to do but at least I went out to the garage for a while...

I reviewed the schedule I created in late 2011...fortunately there were some items knocked off the list which was encouraging but at the same time "reality" set in around the number of tasks I didn't tackle and how far off schedule I really am. I reformatted some items on an existing page and looked at per task time estimate and made some adjustments. I have about 80 hours of identified work to complete to get to the point of installing the body on the chassis...I revisited what I thought the must do task are-the highest priorities and set out plans to get the work done...painting the underside of the body and engine bay are number 1...which will mean protecting the chassis from overspray and making sure all the body work on the underside of the body and fender wells is completed prior to the paint going on....I figure I have about 10 hours of prep work to complete before I paint and that I need to get going on this aspect asap before the weather really caves in...

Garage Stereo System Installed

I spent about an hour last Monday sorting through old stereo equipment, looking for a tuner,amplifier and speaker combo that would work for the garage...after some testing I found what I needed and moved the equipment out into the garage and set it up....sounds great...much richer sound than the old boom box ....another enhancement to the man cave...

I pulled a couple of rims from my storage shed...I have one more rim that needs powder coating to replace the non-original wheel that is current installed on the chassis...

Other than these two activities-no further action on the Triumph in the last week-other than numerous

Musings

On Saturday I moved the chassis back into the garage...I was concerned about exposure to the elements by leaving it in the driveway...time spent: 45 minutes ( I had to remove the rear wheels again to move the chassis under the body stand...)..time well spent...

I am presently in the midst of another major project-decluttering our basement which is detracting from me getting back to the Triumph assembly. The job has a big scope as there are many tasks to complete...my wife and I are on a 31 day timeline (we are making good progress-now on day 7) to remove all unwanted and unused stuff and free up space to maximize her art studio efficiency...a much needed enhancement and a very logical priority....

I hope to sneak out to the garage for an hour or two today and do some sorting of parts and clean up of the space...I also plan to move a better stereo out there (the components are presently stored in my basement) as the existing unit is cumbersome to use and doesn't have very good sound...

I continue to ponder the whole "project management" aspect of rebuilding old cars. Making the work a priority and knocking off tasks to get me closer to completion...As I have discussed earlier I can see why so many project cars get abandened...reality sets in with respect to skills, money, scope and most importantly time...I don't want my project to become a statistic in the abandoned project car world...

While in the garage yesterday I realized "once again" my tools are in a state of disaray which is a distraction to me....I need to focus on this aspect today...

Trial Fit -Rack and Pinion

It looks like I am going to have to modify the mounting arrangement for the Moss Rack and Pinion conversion after all...frame is straight and to spec and the steering knuckle assembly still does not clear the frame appropriately...I will send an e-mail to my supplier and give them an update....

I did mock up a 'fix" that should be structurally sound and not take too much time to execute...I plan to take pictures and document the process...

Time spend: 30 mins

Chassis is Back in the Driveway

 A successful trip to pick up the chassis...frame is now aligned and checked to specifications. The build can continue..cost $399 with taxes....gas-about $50....hold down straps-$20 (not happy with them-I am going to return them-they didn't work that well) there will be somekind of trade in kind for use of the trailer...future consideration....time spent : about 6 hours total-dedicated travel...trailer pick up and check out..loading and unloading the chassis...connecting and unhooking the trailer 3 times...etc etc...It was a very interesting experience towing the trailer...got into some tight spots parking wise...the trailer was wider than my truck so lots of attention had to be paid to clearance when driving down busy roads etc...

Frame Straightened-$350

The good news is my frame has been fully checked out and straightened. As I suspected the only area needing straightening was the front left hand side..about 3/4"...it will be interesting to see how the rack and pinion steering fits now there is no twist in the frame...cost is going to be around $350...about what I expected...the body shop indicated the frame was in good shape-better than average from what they have seen...encouraging...now I need to head back down and pick it up and return the trailer...

Chassis Delivered for Straightening

The chassis is now safely delivered to the body shop awaiting straightening next week. The trailer worked well and I found I could manauver through traffic with no problem, however the trip was not without peril!! I cam around a bend on a major 3 lane expressway and came upon a single bed mattress sitting in the middle of my lane...there was nowhere to go as there were vehicles on both sides so I ended up running over the mattress..I thought I had cleared it but unfortunately it stuck under the trailer and I dragged it for about a kilometer before a young women opened her window and screamed out that I needed to check my trailer. The mattress was firmly imbedded into the frame so I had to get the jack from the truck and jack up the trailer on the side of the road while cars zoomed by. A bit of a harrowing experience on a number of fronts...I did provide a public service by removing the bed from the road but at the same time there was inconvenience and danger thrown in.

When I got to the body shop I was warmly greeting and assisted in unloading the chassis..I was assured there was plenty of in-house experience with this type of work and that in their determination the frame was not that bent...they had the spec sheet in hand and all was well... Interestingly they said if I had been 10 minutes earlier they could have put the chassis on the machine right away...hummmm...the universe works in strange ways...

I now have unlimited access to the body-on Friday morning I purchased some 120 and 220 grit sandpaer...hopefully today I am going to begin sanding the primer in prep for paint....

time spent on Friday 4 hours-including travel

$$$ spent....$26....hold down straps and sandpaper