89AKurt

USFS Powerwagen firetruck. Dad was friends with this guy.

For once I know more about something than you. 🫢 I started a new topic just before this. It's all over the news, the same two pictures and same press release. *edit* Please make it stop!

The second time the North Rim Lodge burnt down. But last time there wasn't modern Codes, so I don't think it will ever be rebuilt. This really ticks me off: [...] initially managed as a controlled burn after being sparked by lightning on July 4, rapidly spread due to high winds and dry conditions. [...] Who keeps telling us there is a drought? Who runs the weather forecast system? My dad retired from the NPS just when they changed their policy, if natural caused let it burn. But come on, no excuse for this. I'm really depressed since I lived on the South Rim as a kid. Dad was a Seasonal at the North Rim, mom was working for Fred Harvey, the rest is history. Now this iconic Park Service lodge (and gas station and other buildings) looks like California. He took this slide picture. I stayed in a log cabin several years ago, took a Mule ride, sure glad I did, you never know.

Beautiful no more. 😪

Several years ago I was lucky to attend a Hopi rain dance. But I didn't learn the chant and gift thing, so I've been trying my own version. Windows open, Honda washed, doing something outside, iPhone weather app showed nothing for rain. Then after lunch I heard thunder, looked north, rushed to Home Deephole for a tarp. Had the plywood done, so this worked as planned. Then about two minutes later the rain stopped. Dumped a few miles away, so that is what "10% chance" the radio weather guy said looks like.

Oh geez, look folks, you think that unopened Holy Grail kit is expensive? 😳 I think those sellers have the same higher-than-a-kite expectations. I watched a video posted 7 years ago, of a guy who was thrilled to win a bid for one of these at over $300. Side track, would something like that be a cool model rocket? I will attempt to relate some things to model building, because the thought process is about the same (which means the plans of mice and men....) in some cases. First off, polishing chrome, full scale Bare-Metal foil. These headlight trim rings are amazing, not a straight line to speak of, diecast metal is thick! That turn signal lens is almost broke in half, managed to get back on without breaking. I spent hours since it was delivered, polishing the glass and chrome and stainless steel trim. First "barn find" for me, I was surprised that no class cleaner would touch it, used the same 3M polishing compound intended for paint buffing to get a 🥁 glassy finish, then the glass cleaner. Masked the center of the windshield to see the difference. Novus polishing model window parts. Leaving the mirror alone, reduced glare. I have not done some chrome parts yet, can you tell which ones? I have 6 wheels, taking 3 to Discount Tire just up the highway (first parts of this truck to attend cruises). Will switch out and have a complete set of correct wheels. This is the first big step to commit doing a Survivor relic, resist modernizing everything (which happens to save 💸), the exception of installing new radial tires is one. What WIP on the bench does not have missing wheels? Testing out some spots on the interior paint. There is a new gas tank. Welded striker plate. Look, another common theme, need to get a parts catalog. I love the color. The spotlight is too cool, even though it's dead. The lens is also the bulb, it's broken. Wires were cut long ago. Found some rust. Maybe I could scratch-build an LED light into that? There are 3 holes in the roof for the bubblegum machine. Bummer they drilled through that headliner. The rubber on the perimeter is dry rotted bad, so that is off limits. There are two sets of visors, mounts are different. The driver side is another color. So this is the first Dorky Cheapskate Engineering modification, used a scavenged ceiling fan blade. Table saw cut it parallel then cross cut to length. Eased the edges, this is where I will use sandpaper like on a model. Drilled holes into the metal with the visor clamped in place, did the first, put in the bolt, then went from there. Polished the paint in that corner. I need to find out if that is a WRC roof vent knockout. The engine was pulled out of the back 40, then lifted into the bed. I need to rebuild it, but will see if the existing engine will run. I got a sheet of plywood, cut to fit on the bed, cut out a hole for the engine, got a tarp just in time. Now to ponder the Pontiac...... Is that a decal? Would it look too stupid to save the patina on the valve covers, and install on a new looking engine? 😏

outbarf your friend

Told off Goono, didn't live to regret it so end of this story.

With the normal ebb and flow of any forum, there are always new people, so I love the topic! I do woodworking too, have a shop. Not productive much, but now that I'm retired....... Owning a home, you know the projects never end. Lately it's been a backyard remodel, tearing out overgrown bushes, gravel, rock retaining wall, but one thing I enjoy is laying flagstone. This project is different, picked through a stone yard for 12" square saw-cut stone. The challenge was to reduce the amount of moving anything to get the car out of the Shipping Container. The door locks hang down, reason for the arcs. The wood is for driving over, so the stones won't move. I didn't cut one stone because I think it will break, so it's like a key. Drove rebar pins at the edge, and some corners. This evening I glued the tiny triangles to adjacent tiles. All other flagstone I laid on sand, and was random broken shapes, this time A.B.C. was used, packed down, last layer screened. So hope this holds up.

ruptured eardrums, spewing

Now it's official, I have a hoarding problem. 😅 First thing was pulling the original Pontiac engine out of the back yard. Tow truck driver is a member of the Prescott Antique Auto Club too, met an engine rebuilder here, while he transferred the engine from the deck to the pickup. Yard art until it's running. The '68 can park out back. Every vehicle I ever got, learned so much right away *after* getting it. In this case, I just like the hood ornament to begin with, I'm going to make exhaust for the cruises. One key looks like a vintage coin, and I learned these trucks did not have a lock on the driver's door, so you wouldn't be blocking traffic unlocking it, slide across the bench seat. You think the price of models on eBay is stupid, look at what one of these is hoping for. This was in a box of extra parts, some from another truck. Clamps onto the steering column, runs off vacuum. There is a Phillips 66 tire on one of the 6 wheels, and 2 ice scrapers from a station in Prescott, changed ownership decades ago. It's also fun to see how pickup basic design has evolved, this series has indoor running boards, something the model kit does not convey at all. Now that I'm looking, the molded in armrest is giving me an OCD attack, put it away.....

Saw 103ºF in Stealth's (Honda Civic) digital temp yesterday. About two months ago the prediction is not what happened, simple. Even tho I'm a Zonie, still hate hot, but with low humidity and a little breeze, no wonder everyone is moving here. Just need to show up at 7:00am. At 9 when I took this picture, it was still nice, but no clouds. I just took it slow all day, getting my new toy.

Dang.... 😳

Now I'm legal.

stapled together, hanging

mixed with pure

We were told that it was going to be a wet Monsoon, so far only very small areas are getting measurable amounts. Yesterday, my mechanic worked on wiring, got the car on ramps and jack stands, then thunder. It rained just a little, enough to make everything dirty. Today 10% chance, might hit 99ºF. So windows and top down is not enough, must make immobile too. 😅

Thank you! It's not a garage queen, been hauling 1,300 pounds no problem.

Thanks for the input! I've (at the moment) decided to stay original, the '68 is my hot rod. Looked at the engine in the back 40, literally against the National Forest. I could see doing tube headers and twice pipes, but that's it. I understand it would cost more to rebuild than a "normal" 350. Owner signing the Title. It was a pain to read the odometer. He owned it 23 years, drove only 376 miles! I assume it turned over at least once. Oh look a screw is missing.

⏫ That enthusiasm, keep rolling with it! I built another kit of that mold, kitbashed with a GMC General semi truck for a cab. Used the chassis for a custom body van, it's in my junkyard. I was surprised that Dodge vans are raced on circuit tracks in Japan, so is that the goal?

We have become conditioned to "put an LS in it". This pickup deserves the original treatment, the original Pontiac engine needs rebuilding, would rather sneak in today's technology there. But need to see how the Small Block does, and go from there. Challenge is how to get that engine into the bed, truck has not run for 20 years. Blue Cloud pulled it out to get washed, his Jeep got it back under the roof. Got the air compressor for dirt road camping, tires were still holding air! Blue Cloud has a 350 H.O. crate engine, so I'm set with POWER. 😁 The load of ABC and flagstone had to be over half a ton, no problem. After it's first bath in decades. Grey primer are the usual rust areas fixed by a bodyshop decades ago, in trade for a vehicle. Driver door has a little dent. I have the AMT '57 Chevy Cameo kit, is there a transkit for doing a GMC?

Asleep at the switch depends on..... you know.

, back to polishing

I considered using one for the chassis with a 3D body of a '61 190 sedan, but no engine or any worthy detail.

of patina chrome