What did you do to your projects today?

Drove it!!!!

I picked the V up from the shop with it's newly installed LS7 clutch and flywheel. It is a HUGE difference in how it feels. The dual mass E36 M3 dampens all the fun.

Revs way quicker, the "diesel" shutdown is about 80% gone, some a "parade clunk" is gone, and now I need a new short shifter

The long row boat shifter saps some of the fun.

The lighter flywheel did add some chatter at idle (I have stiffer engine and trans mounts) and off idle, but nothing ridiculous.

Tomorrow is an oil, diff and trans fluid service + a nice bath if the rain holds out.

Not a project but my winter DD. 2012 Sierra extended cab w/ step-up cap was due for wash n wax. Only got washed and bugs/ tar removed before dark.

My garsh is there a ton of surface area on this truck. Start waxing tomorrow.

Changed the tune on the S197 too.

Drove five hours for the second time into Washington to still not pick up the 15x10 Wheel Vintiques GM Truck Rally wheels I ordered.

First time was to pick up the valve spring shims and keepers I had also ordered, because the wheels were back ordered.

This time was to discover the wheels shipped were 6 bolt instead of the 5 on 5 as ordered and written on the boxes.

Filled up at $3.379/gal. A lot better than the $4.88 it is here.

Assuming the next shipment is a good one, it will be 15 hours of driving plus about $100 in gas. And it's STILL cheaper than having it shipped to my door in Canada.

Haven't been to the shop for a couple weeks, but despite my self-imposed sabbatical until spring from anything that causes me unnecessary stress, I'm going out there Sunday.

Probably won't do any work, but Gary, my "Crew-Chief/Instigator of Really Bad Ideas" has not seen the Fiat yet.

He's also the guy who I bought the Lancia Zagato donor for this project from. Basically, it's going to be a couple hours of drinking beer, looking things over, and maybe taking a few measurements.

The news that the $2014 Challenge may be a bit closer to Ohio is a bit of motivation to actually do something to build the car and run it.

Looking forward, but with both eyeballs still pointed in vaguely different directions...

Mounted my light bar:

Been trying to finish body work on Met between humid days. I'm close!!!

Ordered an exhaust scavenging crank case breather for my F100 going to install it Saturday. Because apparently when you build something too radical for any real street use you can't run a regular old PVC without major tuning issues. Oh well. Also trying to clear her out room in the shop for the winter.

I've been researching and hunting parts to get my first car I sold 9 years ago breathing fire again. Radical nasty 377 destroker.... And the rest on a highschool kids budget.

Today I bought a for sale sign for my work truck.

Also I bought a th-400 for a truck a guy may or may not sell me... But found someone that wants the trans if my deal falls through.

I... taped over the hatch on the nova.
Well, I taped over where the hatch meets the rest of the body, to keep water from entering through some as of yet undiscovered gap in it's defenses.
Pretty sure I'm going to outsource that leak along with the small amount of rust repair that needs doing, seeing as I kinda sorta don't have a welder or anything resembling expertise
(bonus bonus points for not wanting to go through the hassle of sourcing a welder and adjusting the electrical capacity of my (rented) garage)

Not a damn thing. This cold kicked my ass all weekend. I need to switch the winter tires back onto the xB soon.

I have been cleaning the back of the shop and sold a bunch of scrap metal / 80 aluminum rins . total melt down clean everything get golf course shiny . Arrange cars // 40 photo or more / 10 day run/ be honest show flaws /include fone # start add on a thursday crazy wild story sell on Ebay , that seminar bout got me fired up. Lot smart kids at the challenge , might take the money go back to skhool . Insert picture of ebay representative here >>>

Moved a 350 engine. Two th-350's and a th-400 out of my way in the shop. Hung the entire interior of the Met on the walls to make me more room.

And let me tell you.... Next time I'm packing transmissions by myself. The th-400 goes first. It's not as heavy as a complete C-6 but nobody is dumb enough to try to carry a C-6 by them self.

Got the new tires mounted for the RX7 and then put the wheels back on. I was all geeked to have the insurance put on and print out the proof and head to the courthouse to get a temp tag but the insurance agent had some sort or massive technical difficulty and I didn't get things done until right about 5:00. Maybe tomorrow I can drive it mostly legally!

Still feverishly cleaning shop since challenge getting big load of scrap ready in truck bedliners on top of my trailer . Mountain of cans , and radiators . Going for clean sweep , actually enjoying cleaning back of shop

Drove it about 20 miles. It's like a hyper active scooter in car form. Not necessarily fast, but every second is an absolute ball.

Sanded.

Called a ton of trans shops seeking t56 parts.

Winter tires back onto the xB. But the MR2 is in the shop for new springs and struts.

Did some serious thinking about buying snow tires for next Saturday's rallycross.

Got my big vise mounted on the workbench so that when my AN hardware comes in next week, I'll be able to get the new water plumbing for the turbo hooked up.

Built an oil restrictor for the valve cover breather. Found a little 3/8" junction for a blow gun that had a pretty small ID, filled the ID with Alumaweld (my new favorite stuff) to make a smaller path, then realized that my smallest drill bit pretty much removed all the Alumaweld, so did that and was left with a 3/16 or so opening. I stuck that inside a couple 3/8 brass air fittings, got it good and tight, and then clamped that assembly between the breather filter and the valve cover. Hopefully I won't spill as much oil when I'm in tight left handers anymore.

FranktheTank wrote: And let me tell you.... Next time I'm packing transmissions by myself. The th-400 goes first. It's not as heavy as a complete C-6 but nobody is dumb enough to try to carry a C-6 by them self.

Wuss. Only transmission mover around here is me. That includes the BBF C6, AOD (heavier then a C6), a couple T350/400's/C4's.

As far as the original topic at hand, I only get DD project duties... Of course the last one was the brake line fiasco....

Fit another piece for my Audi's exhaust weight loss project. Changed the oil in the wife's Honda before being driven inside by snow coming down / sideways. Also painted the used motor oil on all the fluid lines and subframe parts I could find. This afternoon is watching some rally on TV and working on the commuter mtn bike for winter

Bought one!!

I'm so dead. My wife said, you realize that you have bought 3 vehicles since we've been married and have not finished any of them (or gotten them running for that matter) and I won't let her buy name brand ranch dressing because it's too expensive!!!

We have been married less than 3 months....

In my defense I bought and sold 7 trucks and cars while we were dating... Two of which were her favorites. She knew this was coming.

I scrubbed blood out of the back of my 87 4Runner. Relax, its from a deer. You should have seen the looks I got in the break room at work when I asked Maintenance Gregg what he thought I should use to clean it with. Maybe I forgot to mention the blood was from a deer.

Brought a new one home; vacated the rodents and spiders and got it to fire today. 13 year slumber means nothing!

FranktheTank wrote: I won't let her buy name brand ranch dressing because it's too expensive!!!

Dude! You gotta spring for the Hidden Valley ranch! Happy wife, happy life.

Picked up some 4x8 aluminum sheets to skin my future locost, $25 bucks a sheet.

Between Wednesday and Friday, I drove 1100 miles to Topeka, picked up my race motor and drove back 1100 miles. Today I installed the motor and started the installation of the Electromotive crank fire ignition. Parts are in place, but the wire harnesses need to be fabricated. Not a job to do when you are tired. Will read the manuals again and start on the harnesses on Monday.