4/14/10

I think I might want to look into installing some of those wind deflector screens on The Seven. Yes, the very same wind deflector things I removed from the Cobra. The very same wind deflector things the mounts for which I removed from the windshield of The Seven and threw away. I never thought I'd want them. I always figured they were silly and unnecessary. I guess when you are a silly and unnecessary young person, that thinking works. Now that I'm and old fart though, I'm tired of having to squint to drive my toy. Oh sure, I have the goggles I bought with the Russian tank driver’s helmet, but they pinch my nose just exactly wrong. No, they aren't uncomfortable, in fact they are quite nice, but it closes off my sinuses just to the point where breathing is... well, not difficult but irksome. It’s like I suddenly have a huge booger in each nostril. “Booger,” that is a funny word. I'm giggling right now just from typing it. That was one of my favorite “bits” on “WKRP in Cincinnati.” Johnny Fever was fired from his last job for saying “booger” on the air so when Andy Travis changed WKRP’s format from oldies to rock, the first thing Johnny did was scratch the needle across whatever record he was playing and say, “BOOGER!” Of course now I've said it so many times it has lost meaning. But I digress. I don't know, maybe I will and maybe I won't do the deflectors. Psh, I really only need to make one actually. It’s not like I'm going to have a passenger that often. They can wear goggles or squint for all I care. I may play with the idea some next time I take the car out. We'll see. Of course I might also look at making the goggles fit better. I'm not sure how I'll go about doing that though. OK, I think the plan for this weekend at the shop is to readjust the valves in The Seven and then work on other stuff. I think I'll re-torque the head bolts as well, while I'm in there. Oh, remember how I wanted to put an expansion tank in the upper radiator hose on The Seven? Well, apparently the first generation Toyota MR-2 has an inline radiator cap thingy which might just work for me. I asked Jeff if he had any extra ones laying around and John chimed in that he had a few. I may take a look at seeing about considering the possibility of trying one of those out sometime. I'm not sure it would get the cap to the highest point in the system, nor would it actually get it out from under the nose cone, if installed in place of the existing hose. I think, however, if I re-routed the line so it turns backwards over the alternator and then does a 180 degree turn back to the radiator, it will work. A mounting tab up from the head next to the alternator would hold it up nicely as well. It’s just crazy enough to work. Of course I probably won't do it any time soon, mainly because I don't have that inline radiator cap thingy, but mostly because I want to drive the car and get to work on Nadine. Speaking of Nadine, I think I want to attack her thus. I want to put her back up on jack stands and get the wheels off again. I want to take the spline-drive adapters off and see where we are with 4x4.5” PCD Datsun wheels. I want to take the nose and radiator off and try to get a socket on the main crank bolt. If the engine will turn over, I'll figure on not removing it, for the time being. If it is seized... well, we’ll fall back and punt at that point. I want to get the entire Lucas “Prince of Darkness” wiring harness out of there. Basically, I want to get in and strip the car down to the point where I know what I'm working with... so I know with what I am working. Mmm, car rusty this is. Yes. He he he. When 900 years old you are, this good you will not look. Oh, sorry. I was channeling Yoda there for a moment. OK, the scope of “Project Nadine” is beginning to sink in. The “whelm” level is beginning to rise in me. Come on, you built The Seven virtually from scratch, you have resurrected cars before, what is so overwhelming about this? Well, I'll tell you, since you asked. It is the thought that the restoration needs to live up to a higher standard than “good enough.” Sure, I can talk a big game about engine swaps, or leaving the “patina,” but when the fit hits the shan, I'm afraid that car really “deserves” a high dollar restoration. I don't know. Let me see what I have to work with and plan from there. Yes, I think I need to leave it at that for now. In fact, I'm going to stop thinking about it for a bit and go pee. I'll talk to y'all tomorrow.