InLaw surprise - Birthday Blog

Had another birthday. Sigh. But was really surprised by how much my wife's family did for me. I'm not used to that kind of treatment. I could get used to it!

My wifes brother and sister (and their spouses) were there, too. I got a wonderful basket of Virginia wines, several music mix CD's of my bro in laws favorite tunes (I like them, too), and an easel from my other sister in law that could not attend. There were so many gifts - I'm sure I left something out.

It was my father in law that went all out. In addition to a pocket knife, car tool kit, various tools, flares (I think he worries about my little old car), gloves, golf glove, and paper clips (yes - paper clips) he got some really cool solar lights for the yard.

I put them in the side garden where we enter and exit the house most often. They are great!

Oh yeah - I should also thank my lovely wife for the brick saw, remote control oven temperature probe, and the new bathroom scale!!!!

Thanks for making my birthday!! Kelly, Ed, Kim, Margo, Kolleen, Karen, Ray, and Palmer!!!!

3rd brakelight complete

Took the collective advice of several of my friends - some I have met some not.

Here's what I came up with. Double sided tape mounting. Fitted up to the brake light system with no modifications. There were extra inputs for the light wires and light ground.

I abandoned the Jeep light and used one I picked up at harborfreight ( of all places). I cut the flanges down and siliconed the wire entry to make it more weather friendly.

Third Brake light options

Seen a lot of accidents lately - gave me reason to think about safety.

Option on the lower photo- Brake light below bumper - not sure if it would be so noticible to others- might angle it up a little .

Option on upper photo - make a sheet metal bracket that fits under the coping so that the tonneau and top can still snap but also clear the gas cap. It sticks up - but is at a height of most other third brake lights.

alternator mounted with bracket

Not a great picture but shows the spacer up near the water pump.

Did not have to pound. All other parts are in a box marked Generator - I took a few pictures of how it was and put them in the box as well....

Please don't pay attention to my hose clamps. They are on the list of things to do.....

Second Alternator blog

Here is the bracket with the 4 inch spacer made from 3/8 inch black pipe nipple from hardware store

My Alternator conversion

The conversion went very well. I combed all the web and archive resources I could and hopefully pulled the best of the resources together (INMHO) to my advantage. I had a lot of help from many folks. Thank you all!!!

Some folks remove the rear alternator bracket all together and use only the ear that comes from the engine. I was afraid the front mount alone would evenutally fail and went with the bracket and pipe spacer approach.

My front mounting bolt had not been exactly tight and it wollowed out the front holes considerably. I cut down a bronze bushing to make up for the slack before I inserted the 3/8 x 7 inch bolt.

I also cut a 4 inch piece of 3/8 inch pipe for the spacer. I had to put the assy in as pictured in order to get the bolt through the bracket. Slide the bolt back to the exhaust manifold as far as you can when putting the alternator in.

I cut the spacer off of the alternator (asked for a 1978 305 cu in Camaro alternator) about the distance recommended. I thought it was a bit more than I needed but I felt I could always shim with a washer or two. Which is exactly what I did.

My car lift

I bought my car lift after a lot of searching. Most everyone I talked to said that all lifts are different and that I should consider those differences in my selection. At the end of the day, I went with a lift that met my needs. I want to use it to park my TR2 above my daily driver TR4.

I also intend to use it when I restore my TR2 this winter - not sure if it will be a full restore - I think I'm going to clean it up, blow it out, redo the interior and paint. I don't want to wait years to drive it again!!

Triumph show a few weekends ago

Went to the Gathering north of Winston Salem the other weekend.

Had an excellent time even though the weather did not cooperate 100 percent.

The people at Shelton Vineyards and Winery were very hospitable and the grounds were beautiful. We will come back here again soon.

They have an adopt a barrel program that I'm trying to get my wife to agree to.....

Here is my first attempt to use a battery and laundry soda to derust a valve cover. Worked pretty well. Takes a while on heavily rusted metal. had a request to add a url where more can be learned.

www3.telus.net/public/aschoepp/electrolyticrust.html

New Blog

This is primarily going to be used to share progress on my projects.

My brother in law has me working on water rockets.

My other projects include my 2 triumph cars; my pizza oven - still a pile of bricks; refinishing some dressers; a generator to alternator conversion on my TR4.

what else - my wife wants a fountain - one of those with the big stone ball on top.

And the mother of all patios which will be adjacent to the Pizza oven.

I'm sure there are plenty I've missed