Thursday, June 21, 2012
The Longest Day
I've wanted to demonstrate this for a long time.
These are my two front bedroom windows, which face directly North. For most of the year, the front of my house gets no direct sunlight at all - but for a few weeks each year at this time, I get this lovely early & late day sunshine in my room.
It's a nice treat.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
From the archives
The day my Mom found Clyde. This was a few weeks before she gave him to me (4 ½ years ago), I had never seen this this picture until just recently!
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Lee - 3.0
Since … (when was it?) … early 2010 when I’d had some good success with Atkins, I began ‘remaking’ my image a bit. Since then, I have continued to refine it a bit. Summer of 2012 finds me tweaking things again…
1. You’ve seen the new haircut & clean shaven look. I’m pleased. (See picture, above)
I like the low-maintenance aspect of the goatee and not shaving the rest; only trimming it down twice a week. However, too many people enjoyed pointing out all the grey.
The ‘new’ haircut is still the classic look I’ve had each summer, but with a touch more length on the sides & back so that I don’t look like I just re-enlisted. The ‘long’ cut I try to do each winter just hasn’t succeeded. (By the time it gets long enough to ‘style’, it’s time to remove it all) This current version pleases me, although in hot weather when I’m active, it still feels like it retains too much heat.
2. The clothes & ‘style’
I have maintained the classic monogrammed dress shirts & trousers, mainly worn during the cold weather months.
For summer, I have recently switched things up with some new khakis & polo style shirts. Khakis have been tough for me – too many at The Fat Boy Store are too … fragile. They don’t wear well, are constructed poorly, and they are just too damn expensive. I found that I could buy (online only) Dickies brand workpants in the classic khaki style – VERY durable, and just $25 / pair! On top of that, I found Carhartt brand polo shirts – again, they are VERY durable (stain resistant, too!), and were just $20 / each. I’m thrilled.
The main dress shoes continue to be the two pairs of Ecco lace-ups (one brown, one black). These have lasted AMAZINGLY well (the black pair from early 2010 still looks new with no perceptable wear). They also work best with the heel pads for my Plantar Fasciitis. (sigh) I’m not 100% happy with the slight new-funky-hip look to them, but as I said two years ago, they are a great compromise.
Accessories – I have thinned & revised the watch collection, added some GREAT new frames for the glasses (See picture, above), gotten shirts in “hip-new” colors (See picture, above), and in general – it’s going VERY well. I need to address the belt situation, and reading glasses for the bedroom, but these are minor issues.
Style Blogs – This may sound the most ‘metro’ of anything I’ve done so far – but reading these has helped me distill what I truly like & value.
3. Health & Fitness
This area has suffered the most. I’m very disappointed in myself, and this summer I’m attempting to re-commit.
I’m interested in purchasing a Health Monitoring System:
Body Media
http://www.crankyfitness.com/2011/11/jillian-michaels-bodymedia-fit-armband.html
Leading contender
Only device which wakes you up according to sleep patterns
Not wireless
Food tracking only via photos sent in (WTF?)
http://www.tuaw.com/2012/03/23/fitbit-ultra-a-six-month-followup-review/
Easy to forget / lose
No bluetooth
http://www.digitaltrends.com/watch-reviews/nike-fuelband-review/
No sleep analysis
No ‘intake’ measurement (food)
Monday, June 11, 2012
Five Years Apart
Memorial Day – 2007 & 2012
The first picture is ‘Bella”, my ’74 Spider I bought in ’99, that my Dad helped me get running in his front yard the summer before he died. Within a month of this picture being taken, the car was declared structurally unsound due to rust, and she became a pile of used parts to be sold on the internet.
The second car is “The Beast”, my ’74 Spider I found in 2008. I purchased the car from the original owner, it hadn’t been touched since 1977. After several years of rebuilding every mechanical system on the car, I once again have a ’74 in my favorite color combo – but this time with the perfect ‘built’ engine, and other modifications. I love it, but dang if I don’t still miss the old one…
Tuesday, June 05, 2012
Ass Kicker
Monday, May 21, 2012
The 2012 Club Photo
It's sad how the thoughtless comments of two people can (almost) ruin an otherwise lovely day.
Some people think they are smart-ass-funny, witty, snide or even snarky in a "hip" way.
I may laugh it off when you make fun of my being fat - but that does not condone it, nor mean that I accept it when you say, "Oh, don't worry about it buddy, we're in the same boat". We're not. I'm not as unhappily negative as you - nor do I want to stoop to your level.
Yelling "Slow down, Tubby" from your dirty minivan (which was going 5mph under the speed limit) was really only pointing out how unhappy you are with your own life. Maybe that kid who wasn't seatbelted in was distracting you, maybe you're sad you're bald (please, tell us again how shaving your head is a 'statement'), or maybe you're just a playground bully who never quite grew up.
Either way, you should pay attention. That license plate frame says "MARINES" for a reason. That title wasn't given - it was earned. I may be older, fatter, and a little slower, but I'll bet you wouldn't say what you did if we were both stopped at a red light. Go on your way, Dude.
You might sting my feelings for a short time, but you'll always be a squidgy little man.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Return To Duty
I still need to button-up all the column & trim panels, and it needs other various odds & ends sorted...but it's back in the game!
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Successful Saturday Test Drive
How to get rid of that gasoline stench
Ironically, one Fiat helped fix another
The last time I had a few minutes to work on the wagon, I had figured out how to get the starter to kick over, but I had a fuel delivery issue that popped up out of nowhere. Last Thursday, for whatever reason, the fuel lines seemed clear, and the car started just fine! I checked the trans fluid, (overfilled it), and it was idling so well, Idecided to go for a test drive! It was GREAT to have her under her own power for the first time since the return trip from FFO in July of '11. The test drive was going so darn well, I decided to chance it, and drive the car on back roads the 4 miles home.
When I got home, I paused in the driveway to get out & punch in the code for the garage door. When I got back to the car, I saw a puddle. I pulled into the garage & shut 'er down. I quickly had another puddle, and I didn't have to get too close to smell GASOLINE!
After everything I did (brown wire fix, replacing the starter relay, replacing the ignition relay, re-adjusting the 'seat' of the wiring loom on the top of the fuse box, replacing the overheated fuse for the ignition circuit, and replacing a perfectly good fuel pump), the last darn problem was rotted fuel lines. This explained my fuel delivery issues. The steel fuel lines run inside the passenger compartment, right along the driver's side door sill. At the forward edge of the driver's door, the fuel lines turn upwards to go into the engine bay through the firewall. At that upward bend on the floor, all three lines were severely rusted - but only right there. I decided to cut out the bad sections and 'patch' with regular fuel line. Not a permanent fix, but it’d get me past this leaky issue.
I remembered a gassy smell in the inside of the car last summer, so the lines have been on the verge of collapse for a long time. I'm sure that when I applied an electric fuel pump to help prime the system, it caused the return line to 'give', which caused this 'interesting situation' on the wagon's 4 mile ride home. The floor of my garage caught whatever was in the return line, and while not much real volume - the inside of my house was poisonous in short order!
Clyde was NOT pleased. Nor were the neighbors.
I pulled out the under-carpet insulation, which was SOAKED, and patched the lines. At that point I wiped out under the carpet with simple green (trying to fight the stench!), and I sopped up what was under the car, and then cleaned that with simple green also. The gasoline soaked insulation & rags are double-bagged in some old plastic Target bags, temporarily stashed in my grill on the patio.
What DOES one do with gasoline soaked rags?
You know, other than creating a big char mark in the yard?
Tuesday, May 08, 2012
Blast from the Past
It took me a moment to realize...it was my old car...
Good for the soul
With all that being said - Oscar's oatmeal chocolate was absolutely outstanding. Paired with marinated pork chops cooked on the grill - a wonderful evening that was good for the soul.
Tuesday, May 01, 2012
I need to go to Stanford
The Revs Program at Stanford and Department of Art & Art History
Presents
s
Used Cars (Robert Zemeckis, 1980)
Driven: A Car Culture Film Series
May 3, 2012 | 7:30 p.m. | Cubberley Auditorium
About Used Cars
Kurt Russell stars as Rudy Russo, used car salesman and aspiring politician in Robert Zemeckis’ satire of the American Dream, “Used Cars.” All the familiar clichés of Rudy’s profession – including false advertising, vehicular tampering, and high pressure sales – are featured in a film that deconstructs the profit motive, shining a cutting comedic light on the automobile as pure commodity.
Free and open to the public | http://art.stanford.edu
Sponsored by
The Revs Program at Stanford was founded to inspire a new trans-disciplinary field connecting the past, present, and future of the automobile, and fosters an intellectual community bridging the humanities and fine arts, social sciences, design, science and engineering, and professions. For more information, visit http://revs.stanford.edu
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
'71 Coupe in Cali
From the seller: Hello, selling my 124BC Sport Coupe, it runs well and drives fine. The main issues are the usual rusty 70's Fiat 124 coupe issues, bottom edge of back glass, corner of front glass, rocker panel front corner, trunk lid..I have a non-rusty replacement trunk lid as well as a good lower rear glass sheetmetal area that was intended to be grafted in. The car has an 1800 engine block and the original 1608 head. It got a light rebuild of piston rings, seals, bearings, timing belt, tensioner etc..It alslo has a later Bosch alternator. Gearbox works well. The interior is ok in general, usable, a 6 or 7 out of 10. The Cromodora wheels are NOT included, I have the original steel wheels/ hubcaps that will be on the car, with good tires on them. I bought it in Orinda a few years ago and resurrected it, from the original owners son. I have the window sticker for it too, having been sold new in Oakland. These are super rare cars nowadays, hard to find a survivor. Currently non-opped, it's in Mountain View. $1000 or best offer!
I’ve always wanted a coupe, though I’ve never driven one. My very first Spider had a 1608 engine, and I loved it. This car seems fairly rusty, for a California car, I’d certainly want to check the undersides. However, it’s a complete car, nice interior, early bumpers, and it runs & drives, for $1,000! I think it’s good to keep that in mind when I’m waiting to hear a number on Giovanni’s coupe.
Monday, April 23, 2012
...like I need another hole in my head...!
Saturday, 4/21, we had our club “tech day” at Autosprint, which was as fun & lovely as it always is. However, when I got there, Josephine said something about Giovanni having “something to show me”, which always makes me nervous!
He made me close my eyes, and took me back to his rear outside area, and showed me this car. He was very excited, knowing I loved unusal Fiats, and he’d heard me say that I’ve always wanted a 124 coupe.
This one found him.
It was a 1975, the last year they were made. In storage for 18 years with just 66,000 miles on it. ZERO rust! Very solid, very straight, a pretty darn complete! It has the huge ugly Federal bumpers, and some holes in the hood from a misguided air scoop installation, but this car could be VERY pretty, very quickly.
…and it’s already running! It had dual carbs, and some very cool looking headers. It fires right up, and idles very, very smoothly.
Friday, April 20, 2012
It'd be a deal....if I were within 500 miles of it
I love the cream color, and in the two really awful cell phone pictures, it looks mostly complete.
Bend, Oregon is the high desert, so in theory, it should be rust-free.
Too bad that I’d triple the cost of the car just getting it home…
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Sometimes it's just easier to dream
Almost everyday I find myself checking the listings of Fiats for sale. Sometimes the cars find me, and sometimes I find them. I find rare cars, unusual cars, cars in VERY sad condition, over-restored cars, cars I recognize form message boards, cars I know from previous owners, even some cars I know from previous for sale ads. Each one I can appreciate in different ways; I can imagine owning it, driving it, what I’d do to fix it up & make it perfect.
Meanwhile, I have two Fiats of my own, each with serious needs & to-do lists that are too long to keep to track of.
The Spider needs it’s first real engine-tune, post-rebuild. She’s VERY overdue for an oil change – which is just stupid. The cams need to be properly indexed, the carbs need the slightly bigger 34mm chokes installed, along with larger main jets. I need to document all the jets for my build-book. I have the hot coil to install, and I need to order the magnacore wires. The alignment needs serious post-shock-tower-repair adjustment. I have coolant leaks on the intake & exhaust side, most likely nothing more than the gasket on the heater pipe & intake manifold. I have oil seeping around the oil block, and I’m overdue to send off to Miller’s Mule for my custom block. I need to fix or remove the driving lights. I need to spot-paint & repair rust issues…all over. Seats need some re-stitching, top needs installation…
You get the idea.
I have a similar list for the wagon that includes some shocking rust repair & sourcing wheel well liners from Vermont. It’s an astounding amount of work, and it’s exhausting to simply catalog it all. In the meantime, we have great spring weather for driving the Spider, and before my to-do list gets any longer, it’s easier & more fun to look at other Fiats…
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Meanwhile, in my own garage...
The Wagon has not moved under her own power since the epic return from Freak Out last July.
That story:
http://www.meetup.com/chicagolandfiatandlancia/messages/boards/thread/14835641/0#51626721
Last August I got my Spider back from the body shop, and the pieces of it’s motor. I was hell-bent to get The Beast re-assembled, and it was all too easy to just let the poor wagon sit.
So, she sat.
The Beast has been running well (knock on wood), and although I have a to-do list on that car as long as my arm, I’m very pleased with it. It’s time to begin using this car as my ‘special-fun-driver’, and not continue with this bad habit of racking up useless miles driving it to the office.
The Wagon needs to become functional again.
I spent a little time troubleshooting, and came up with no definitive answers, though I did get a bit of faith back.
I pulled the cover off the top of the auto-trans-shifter, found the plug with the two red wires, and jumped them together.
Nothing...
Then, while holding the key in the start position with my left hand, I put both legs out the driver's door and leaned WAAAAY over into the passenger footwell so I could punch the damn fusebox.
...and...the starter clicked!
So then, in this awkward position, I held the key in the start position, and wiggled the starter relay in the fuse box. When the relay would be shifted WAY UPWARDS, the relay would click, and the starter would spin.
...and then, after just two tries, the damn car started!
I let it warm up, and I checked all the lights/wipers/fan motor - everything was totally normal. Even the gas gauge & engine temp gauge worked properly! Lots of smoke off the exhaust manifold, which burned off fairly quickly. I did NOT attempt driving the car, as I still have very little faith on getting it restarted on a reliable basis. (And a disturbingly huge auto-trans fluid stain under the car)
I'm still not sure if the auto-trans interlock had anything to do with this, but eliminating it certainly simplifies the circuit. I know I need some new relays for the fuse box (all four look like original equipment that's been deep fried), but as far as having to wiggle the strter relay & push it around...I'm not sure what to do to fix that.
One thought I have...is to disconnect and go directly from the blue wire on the ignition switch to a new relay I'd install under the hood that would use (like the headlight relays) the blue wire as a signal, to switch directly to the solenoid from a newly run power line directly from the battery's positive terminal.
The good news is that The Great White Wagon seems at first glance to be just as mechanically reliable as ever. The electrical issues seem (in retrospect) to have been relatively minor. I was worried that I'd melted a good portion of the wiring harness, and it seems I just needed the brown wire fix to help NOT fry the original relays in the panel!
A few days later, I tried the same trick, to no avail.
I’m worried the venting of the engine’s oil breather directly onto the starter may have affected the solenoid. However, I need to stop guessing, and use my multimeter. Is my ignition switch consistent? Is voltage at the solenoid consistent?
I may disconnect the blue wire on the ignition switch (which feeds the absurd auto-interlock circuit & the suspect starter relay in the fuse panel), and run it as switched voltage directly to a new relay under the hood that would be wired directly to the battery & the solenoid.
We’ll see how it goes. The Wagon needs to re-earn her title of ‘Great White’…and she needs to become my classic-daily-driver.
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