7-1-2007

 

Ongoing Progress

Click on the buttons below to get the updates for those two weeks.

( I'll put the newest information near the top of the page 
so if you want to read the whole story, read from the 
bottom of the page by the dates of the notes.)

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Email Bob

7-12-2007  1:08 PM  Front & Rear Motor Mounts

The NEW sabre saw is FANTASTIC, they have improved the sabre saw a bunch over the last 25 yrs.... LOL
 
Here are the front and rear motor mounts. And when the new parts for the shopsmith arrive, I can drill the bolt holes. Then mount to the engine to make sure everything still aligns correctly. The motor mounts and skid fin are cut and that will do us for a while. It is time to get back busy on the hull.
 
The engine is mostly complete of all of it's external components. I still need to do the inside of the engine, but I don't have that planned until next year at the earliest.
 
The steering system pulleys arrived today. They are aircraft phenolic resin material pulleys. All I have to go by are pictures we took 25 yrs ago to build the steering system - sure glad Scott (scooter) is taking the first test ride..... LOL It takes six pulleys to get the stainless steel cables to turn all the corners and rudder. No power steering. Armstrong power steering is what I'm providing.
 

 

7-11-2007  4:25 PM  Aluminum Cutting

Well after cutting aluminum yesterday and today. The saber saw that was pressed into service while the shopsmith is down, has turned into a FORD...... Found on road dead. I will have to go to Sears and replace my 25 yr old saber saw. I was within about 6" of completing the motor mounts today.
 
Good thing there is always another day. 

 

7-10-2007  7:54 PM  Front Motor Mount

The front (which in the car is really the rear of the engine) motormount is now done and waiting for that pesky shopsmith to get repaired so that I can drill the bolt holes.
 
Tomorrow or so, I will cut out the rear mounts and file them smooth.
 
I'm trying to decide if I want to polish them or anodize them gold color like the rudder currently is. Eastwood my other favorite restoration company and a three part anodizing kit, so that looks like a possibility that the rudder, skid fin and motor mounts will be the same color.
 

 

7-10-2007  1:16 PM  Progress  (SLOW, but Progress)

Today I finished cutting out the skid fin (turn fin) out of 1/2" 6061 T6 aluminum. I started cutting it with my shopsmith bandsaw when the VERY strong belts took a hike (new ones are on order now...). It still needs to have the leading KNIFE edge cut, but that will be done by someone else, I don't have an accurate way of doing it here. Enclosed are two pictures, before and after cutting.
 
So I had to get out my saber saw and cut it by hand. I also cut one of the engine mounts yesterday, it is only 1/4" 6061 T6 aluminum. If I get the energy, I will back out and cut the other engine mounts.
 
That should take care of the thicker aluminum and the bandsaw should be able to cut it without any trouble once I get it up and running again. I had to replace these belts earlier this winter and they are a real bugger, oh well the price you pay for LITTLE projects....
 

 

 

7-2-2007  2:01 PM  Cowling Mockup

Over the yrs much of the cowling cockpit was cut out, now I will fiberglass in a dashboard and steering column support, I will fiberglass that area back to make a dashboard. This is my third mockup of the dashboard. I want to make sure we have enough room for the knees when our feet are on the foot pedals.
 
When the configuration is finally approved by the re-builder and designated driver. I will make a thicker piece of plywood and fiberglass those two areas, plus fix the current cracks in that cowling.
 
I can see the speedometer might interfere with the steering wheel or I can pull the steering wheel further back from the dashboard. Makes me think we may want to go with the newer NASCAR style steering wheel that is removable to make it easier for us senior citizens to wiggle into the seat.
 
Also this time around, I'm going to add padding to the inside of the cowling. Our shoulder used to take a beating as we drove hard into a corner - course those days maybe more behind us now... LOL 

 

 

 

 

 

7-1-2007   9:26 AM  New Wallpaper

Yesterday I wanted to make a new wallpaper, so Kathy and I worked with photoshop to make a side by side picture from 1982 and 2007. I will someday make another one of the finished product and hopefully it will look pretty close to the 1982 picture.
 
Thx for your help Kath.

 

 

 

Bolam's Express - Ongoing Progress

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