Thread: Un-streetrodding a 34 tudor

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Anytime I can't find something, tools get put up, and a neatness is achieved. I'll usually find whatever it was, and, as was previously commented, a clean shop is a timesaver. And for the bench with the particle board top, an old solid door makes a handsome work top. Scrapyards have them for $5.

Originally Posted by 34_40

I guess it'll have to be my duty to come by and help you out of this dilema... It would only be right.. us being club members and all.. YEP! No one should be saddled with such a nickname as JimDepot.. Would Sunday 'bout noon be alright???

Funny thing is, my buddy will stop by on his way to the hardware store and I'll just look at him and say "whatcha need? I'm lookin for a 10-32 stainless button head screw about 1/2" long why you got any? I need about 8." I'll pull open a drawer and there will be 300+ in various lengths. "Take what ya need" Same thing with 8-32, 1/4-20, 5/16-18, 3/8-16 I have less of the bigger stuff though. He does the same thing with me when I stop over his place. Though he has a LOT less stuff. He's not one to keep things. Take for instance; a few years back I was restoring and selling guide headlights on FEEBAY and I had over 300 sets in my basement my wife called them pods... I kind of have a fixation with headlights (my wife knows ) I even went so far as to master and cast 1/8th scale guide lights for models. My wife was like "Great mini pods!" Of course she doesn't make fun of me when the bills get paid. The money has to come from somewhere.

And some E&J Type 20's I did.


I even did some model T lights

Cute "models"...

My wife accuses me of hoarding when it comes to hardware.. She was a frequent shopper at local yardsales and whenever I was with her at a yardsale I would always ask the seller, "what'cha got for hardware?" it never ceased to amaze me what little box of treasure they'd drag out. And it usually went home with me for pennies! My father in law had a thing for brass fasteners. After he passed it all came to my shop! Most of it is in bottles and cans, and rarely used. But there are times a brass fastener just fits the bill better than anything else, and I know right where to look! LOL..

It never ceases to amaze me how I can need something and, as almost by design, I can find it in my pile. Today for instance, I needed some of those (round) pin connectors that are on my brake light switches. Hell I don't even know the proper term for what they are called. I found some on FEEBAY but they are from Hong Kong. So I'm in my shop putting more stuff away in my little organizers and I come across some drawers of electrical connectors. Of course they are all wrong. I have ring, spade, 3 wire, and butt connectors but no pin style. Then I open one last drawer and I find a plastic bag with 4 (the exact amount I need) pin style connectors! They are a parts bag left over from my RC car days as a kid. I had a clodbuster. I have the male and female ends the boots and the tool to crimp them with. How kool is that!!! Now that was almost 30 years and 3 house moves ago. I suppose it is destiny. Really though, what's the chances?

Originally Posted by BIG-JIM

It never ceases to amaze me how I can need something and, as almost by design, I can find it in my pile. Today for instance, I needed some of those (round) pin connectors that are on my brake light switches. Hell I don't even know the proper term for what they are called. I found some on FEEBAY but they are from Hong Kong. So I'm in my shop putting more stuff away in my little organizers and I come across some drawers of electrical connectors. Of course they are all wrong. I have ring, spade, 3 wire, and butt connectors but no pin style. Then I open one last drawer and I find a plastic bag with 4 (the exact amount I need) pin style connectors! They are a parts bag left over from my RC car days as a kid. I had a clodbuster. I have the male and female ends the boots and the tool to crimp them with. How kool is that!!! Now that was almost 30 years and 3 house moves ago. I suppose it is destiny. Really though, what's the chances?

Very cool Jim. It's nice when things present them self just when you need them!

WOW! Now, don't you wish you had bought a lotto ticket with that luck?

Originally Posted by 36 sedan

WOW! Now, don't you wish you had bought a lotto ticket with that luck?

I probably have one lying around here somewhere but it would be my luck that it would be the one thing I can't find or find it the day after it expires.

Originally Posted by stovens

Very cool Jim. It's nice when things present them self just when you need them!

I wish that would happen with the wife more often...just sayin

I find it helpful to occasionally root through shelves, not looking for anything specific, but just to inventory. I like to reuse any clear plastic boxes that fasteners com in. Since I can't seem to remember every doodad on the shelves, having the stuff in clear boxes helps lots. Unfortunately I also have a fondness for little tin boxes, and they take longer to inventory ( they aren't clear )

'Good luck is when preparation and opportunity coincide.'

Where have I seen that before?

You prepared by putting those pins in a safe place thirty years back; and when the opportunity/need was there...

Bingo!

You made your own luck...more power to you.

Pat yourself on the back.

I did a bunch of little things today. I ran some wires to the pressure switch from the transmission, mounted the transmission vacuum switch, put the transmission cooler on the radiator, installed the fan, installed the radiator, welded up and ground the last 2 exhaust hangers. I mapped out and made a list of vacuum fittings and elbows needed. While installing the radiator I noticed the transmission cooler lines that I just installed, now needed to go through the lower grille valance. I didn't even think twice about it because I have seen it on other 34's. I busted out my step drill and drilled a couple of 3/4" holes, popped some grommets in and we are good to go. All these little things went amazingly smooth. I put everything away after after each task and when I was all done I swept up. I honestly believe things went smoother BECAUSE it was clean and organized. I still catch myself putting stuff down and walking away & I kinda yell at myself (in my head) to go put that away so you can find it next time. The fan has a little over an inch of clearance the way it is sitting now but without the body to line up the hood I don't know what the final number will be. Speaking of the hood; something tells me this hood is going to be a nightmare to line up (more on that later). Maybe we'll go hood-less!? Took some time to go see the body and it's got some more color on it. I was busting his ass telling him it's the slowest paint job in history. My wife didn't like that and she yelled at me. He knows I don't mean it. He yanks my crank every chance he gets so I figured it's payback time. He hates the firewall! He said he feels like cutting it out and starting over. I said "what section?" "Just right here (as he runs his finger around the whole firewall)." "Oh so the whole firewall? Yup pretty much" He told me not to worry he'll get it. If he needs to he will bring it inside to paint it.

It sounds like you're making great progress and so is your friend!

Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

It sounds like you're making great progress and so is your friend!

Thanks Ryan. For me I know it's going fast but I'm getting a little concerned about the upcoming season. Once snow fly's there will be no getting this body down my driveway and into the garage without a sled and a bunch of guys holding it back from going over my little cliff in the back. I know we'll get it. As with most things in my life it always comes down to crunch time. Once the body is on I have my plate full for the winter with wiring, insulation, the dash, seats, the inner fenders still need to be fit and I don't even want to talk about the hood. This all needs to be done for spring so I can get the interior done once the snow clears. Timing is everything. We'll get there though!

Jim, just curious why you didn't fit the hood before taking it apart for paint?

Roger he posted that he changed from ifs to beam axle, 3 piece hood/fenders/cheapo radiator grill to 4 piece stck hooh, fenderless, beam axle----change of front crossmember, motor mounts etc since he first got and took car apart