Yay! A Driving Experience!

So, there's an informal british car gathering tomorrow. I had originally planned on driving my explorer (bah, humbug) and then it dawned on me that the blue Jensen Healey does actually run, and is mostly driveable. After a few seconds of jumper cabling she roared to life.... well, perhaps roared is too strong a word, it was more of a wheeze, gumble, well damnit... ok!...

After a few minutes fiddling under the hood, and some liberal use of carb cleaner, she was running. I took a quick heated jaunt around the block (the hardtop was in place, and there's no heat shielding in the car). So far so good. Temperature spikes within a few minuts of returning home.... ahh, there's not enough water in the radiator. To that off and we're good to go. :)

Then one more quick jaunt around the neighborhood... vrooom! (rattle, rattle, clump, thonk) and it appears that she'll at least survive a 10 mile round trip. We'll find out tomorrow how it goes.

Cheers!
Jody

Weekend update

So I used yesterday to clean the garage. Mainly it was a matter of sorting sockets and spanners. Not necessarily fun or exciting, but a well organized work space it critical to being successful on projects. I got things sorted a bit earlier than anticipated, so there was time to play with the Jensen Healey. Nothing earth shattering, just goin through some bits that hadn't been finished up correctly, and adding in some new bits. I installed new headlights. They are the aftermarket replacement ones that allow for a halogen headlight rather than the old sealed beam units. They are supposed to be brighter. I suppose it will be a while until I see them lit.

I also spent some time installing the exterior door handles and adjusting the doors so that they closed/opened easily. Now, I'd already installed the windows in the doors. Based on my experience this weekend I highly recommend installing the handles, locks and other bits before installing the windows. It makes for an easier installation.

I have to admit to some significant frustration of late. It seems like my current project will never finish. I never understood the grumblings of my friends who had families and how they weren't able to go and do their project cars. I do now. Having a family eats a lot of time and money. Now, I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world, but I wish the family budget had a line item for car parts.

On the plus side, we had a two wheeled adventure today. After many tears and much consternation my daughter rode her "big girl bike" down the street. Sure it's single child horsepower, but, for me, that's more important than getting a car on the road. Now, like an american muscle car I just need to teach her how to brake and steer!

Site updates

So, there's really not much of note to report this week. Between the heat and monsoon storms this week it just wasn't possible to do much of anything. I did some basic maintenance on the web site this morning though. No actual new articles, mainly going back and cleaning up bits here and there across the site.

If all goes well I should get some time in the garage today. Need to start with a good cleaning / tool reset. I'm afraid that may take all day. But a day spent in the garage farting around is still much better than a day where I dont.

Cheers!
Jody

Ford is on my "bad dog" list

So, Ford, for the time being, is on my "Bad Dog" list. After having to deal with a poor engine design on my Father-in-law's Explorer last weekend, I have been thwarted this morning in my attempts to replace the spark plugs on my Explorer.

Who's bright idea was it to put in the factory plugs without some form of anti-sieze?? I swear they were put in with Loctite! And, I want to beat with a stick the person who invented the star drive bit.

Changing the oil in the Explorer

So, it's not fun or sexy, but we still have to maintain the normal cars. This evening I changed the oil in my Explorer. I wrote it u and you can find it here:
2002 Ford Explorer Oil Change.

We plan on taking a drive up to Flagstaff tomorrow, so I'm hoping to get up early and change the plugs. I ran out of light tonight.

Cheers!
Jody

1993 Explorer Surgery

So, I have to admit I dread these sorts of calls. "Hey Jody, the car isn't working and water comes out of the engine. Can you help me?" There's nothing worse than walking in blind to a car repair on a car you don't know.

The intake manifold gasket gave out in his 1993 Ford Explorer. This isn't an easy fix, but with his help we got it sorted on a Sunday. Mind you, it took *all day*.

Here's the article: 1993 Ford Explorer Intake Manifold Gasket replacement.

The Wife's Corolla

So it was time for the wife's Corolla to get its oil changed. The wife has really been wanting to spend more time under the hood, so I watched while she and my Junior Geasemonkey (Tanith) got her oil changed. Except for a couple occasions of using me as a torque amplifier she managed to get it done without issue. Now mind you, she's 5 months pregnant!

Afterwards, we made a run to Autozone and opted to get her some new plugs. She went ahead and also changed her plugs herself! :) (Well, she got halfway though and the heat got to be too much. It's just so hot here in the summer)

So, he hands are featured in the article on how to change your spark plugs on a
2002 Toyota Corolla.

Cheers!
Jody

A Day in the Garage

Well, despite the heat I've managed to spend a little time out in the garage today. The first part of teh day was spent assembling the door panel for the passenger side of the Jensen Healey. That project is *finally* getting close to being done. I also put the Studebaker up on stands and did a thorough review of the fuel system. I've put up the first part of the in-situ restoration article and video. It's available here: Fuel System Restoration.

Have fun!
Jody

Catching up with TheyMightBeRacing.com

You'll forgive me for the Depeche Mode reference. I've been catching up on half-written articles and trying to clean out my backlogs. I've added to component pages to the site, the first being about the engine, the second about the brake systems. I also added to the maintenance section an article that had been knocking about regarding tire maintenance.

This installation is all about writing and information. Hopefully I'll be back in the garage soon writing up something cool that I've done to the cars. The hardest part about living with a restoration project is the waiting for its completion. I want to drive a sports car and drive it fast. The Jensen Healey and the Austin Healey are just not getting restored fast enough for my lead foot. Honestly, all I get from driving the explorer with a lead foot is a dent in the wallet when I fill it with gas. Bah!

Have fun reading and happy motoring!
Jody

Who let the dogs out!?!?!

Ok, sure it's a silly reference, for a silly thing, but the Baja men song has been running through my head for a while. So I accidentally left the laptop open while I was at work today, and the dogs read the site.

Worse, they decided to provide commentary. Think Stadtler and Waldorf from the Muppets.

So, now, interspersed in the site you'll see commentary from the dogs either providing useful tips or shortcuts for the lazy.

The dogs even created their own page on the site: About the dogs

Monk, Melba and I say hi! and happy motoring!

(and yes, I fully realize this is my own idosyncratic anthropromophizing of my pets, but it's also bloody funny, so if you think it's wierd you can go take a long walk on a short pier. :)

Late nights and car picture breaks

So I find myself burning the midnight oil again working on work related stuff. It's part of the territory, but still doesn't mean it's enjoyable. I took a little time tonight to upload some pictures from a trip we took last year. They are of cars at the San Diego Autmotive Musem which I highly recommend visiting if you get the opportunity. The pictures are here: San Diego Automotive Museum

We also had some great news this week. We went in for the wife's second ultrasound and we found out that it'll be a baby boy joining the family in December (which means I'll no longer be outnumbered by the females). We've already decided on names, unless something changes at the last moment, so we're preparing for the debut of my new Juior Greasemonkey Jensen Findlay Kerr!

Cheers!
Jody

Accents and such

So I'm in the midst of a software install at work. This is normally a painful experience. As is turns out the company's central desk, at this hour, is in Australia. I've never had my wife made greater fun of me than the immediate drop into an Australian accent on the phone. As much as I love a proper Australian accent I sound wierd in the office. Should make monday fun.

Jody

1953 Studebaker Champion - Cleaning the project

Wrote up an article about cleaning up the Studebaker Champion. When you're doing an In-Situ restoration having the vehicle clean and appropriately protected is really the first proper step of the restoration. Sure, the clean car may not resemble what's in your head for the final result, but it will help set the stage and clean up the bits you'll be working on. Now that this article is done I'm hoping to get the car up on stands so that I may get underneath it and diagnose what needs to be done to the fuel system to get her running correctly. The article can be found here: 1953 Studebaker Champion Restoration - Cleaning the Project

Cheers!
Jody