KEEPING THE DRIVE ALIVE...
Re: KEEPING THE DRIVE ALIVE...
I imagine the garden is roaring away by now Phillip! I see the Forum has been pretty quiet for a while, apart from my usual ramblings. I hope everyone is OK.
Re: KEEPING THE DRIVE ALIVE...
Yes, Colin, once the cold snap was over, the garden picked up nicely and the daffs, tulips and trilliums are all coming out.
Turning back to my Singers, I recently found some interesting ideas on-line about managing time in our hobby and the various ways that enthusiasts are coping with the COVID-19 lock-down limitations.
One idea is the "Thirty Minute Rule." In spite of everything going on you just commit to doing thirty minutes of hobby time in the garage every day to move projects forward and to maintain enthusiasm. I've tried it myself and expanded it to include small do-able projects that are satisfying and easy to manage.
With that in mind I pulled out the '34 Sports engine and decided to replicate the missing ignition wire bracket on the water inlet manifold. The manifold is a Dave Hardwick item I picked up some years ago and came machined ready to fit.
So I gathered up my hacksaw, files and some scrap flat steel strapping and went into the garage. Luckily, my 1933 Sports still had the original bracket to use as a template. I found a piece of steel tubing the right diameter for the internal dimension and managed to bend the steel strapping around it using my trusty 'Record' vice and a 1940's hammer that was part of my dad's tool kit in the UK. Then I made a thin paper template of the original bracket and transferred that to the strapping. The final step was to cut it to shape and drill the holes to match the casting. Add a little bit of filing and fettling and it was done!
Here's the DH manifold showing the new bracket screwed into place and the original 1933 bracket on the left for reference. A couple of brass 1/4BSF round head slotted screws from my jar of odds and ends were perfect for the purpose once cut down to length. Not a project of epic proportions like yours perhaps Colin (lol), but manageable in the time I had and completing it was very satisfying.
Buoyed by that little project I decided to use my next window of opportunity to pull the '34 Sports out of storage and remove the last of the original Andre-Hartford shock absorbers. The car sat for fifty years and it is surprising how much had seized in place. I've been soaking the chassis regularly with penetrating oil and that, along with patience, has meant most bits have come off intact. This one was at the back and had proven stubborn to remove!
Once off and back in the garage, I dismantled it and did a basic clean and assessment. Conclusion: overall in pretty good nick and an original item. One broken wooden disk, a worn center bolt and a cracked spider spring will have to be dealt with. Ideally I should replace the all the bushes as well.
The 30 minute job for today will be to unpack the other three and compare. I already have the new dials, which I picked up at Beaulieu, so will make a parts list and order from VCSA in the UK. They make all the parts for the early 'rolled edge' type A-H shocks. I've been very happy with their products and always visit their stand at Beaulieu.
http://www.vintageandclassicshockabsorbers.co.uk/
So everyone..what are/would be your "Thirty Minute" projects while we're still locked down?
Turning back to my Singers, I recently found some interesting ideas on-line about managing time in our hobby and the various ways that enthusiasts are coping with the COVID-19 lock-down limitations.
One idea is the "Thirty Minute Rule." In spite of everything going on you just commit to doing thirty minutes of hobby time in the garage every day to move projects forward and to maintain enthusiasm. I've tried it myself and expanded it to include small do-able projects that are satisfying and easy to manage.
With that in mind I pulled out the '34 Sports engine and decided to replicate the missing ignition wire bracket on the water inlet manifold. The manifold is a Dave Hardwick item I picked up some years ago and came machined ready to fit.
So I gathered up my hacksaw, files and some scrap flat steel strapping and went into the garage. Luckily, my 1933 Sports still had the original bracket to use as a template. I found a piece of steel tubing the right diameter for the internal dimension and managed to bend the steel strapping around it using my trusty 'Record' vice and a 1940's hammer that was part of my dad's tool kit in the UK. Then I made a thin paper template of the original bracket and transferred that to the strapping. The final step was to cut it to shape and drill the holes to match the casting. Add a little bit of filing and fettling and it was done!
- 1934 Manifold Bracket_WEB.jpg (206.24 KiB) Viewed 3488 times
Buoyed by that little project I decided to use my next window of opportunity to pull the '34 Sports out of storage and remove the last of the original Andre-Hartford shock absorbers. The car sat for fifty years and it is surprising how much had seized in place. I've been soaking the chassis regularly with penetrating oil and that, along with patience, has meant most bits have come off intact. This one was at the back and had proven stubborn to remove!
- 1934 Hartford Shock Absorber_WEB.jpg (261.17 KiB) Viewed 3488 times
The 30 minute job for today will be to unpack the other three and compare. I already have the new dials, which I picked up at Beaulieu, so will make a parts list and order from VCSA in the UK. They make all the parts for the early 'rolled edge' type A-H shocks. I've been very happy with their products and always visit their stand at Beaulieu.
http://www.vintageandclassicshockabsorbers.co.uk/
So everyone..what are/would be your "Thirty Minute" projects while we're still locked down?
Your Friendly Canadian Pre-War Singer Specialist, Collector & Historian,
Editor & Pre-War Registrar & Canadian Contact -NASOC
Singer Enthusiast for over 40 Years.
'28 Senior, '33 & '34 Sports, '36 Le Mans SS & Bantam
Editor & Pre-War Registrar & Canadian Contact -NASOC
Singer Enthusiast for over 40 Years.
'28 Senior, '33 & '34 Sports, '36 Le Mans SS & Bantam
Re: KEEPING THE DRIVE ALIVE...
That is a great idea Phillip, and you have been making excellent use of it. I try and do something on a car every day although the vegetable garden has needed a lot of attention this year in particular as we are keen to grow as much as possible. Fortunately the grass isn't growing as it is so dry here.