Update about Nothing

Contrary to rumors, my old body has not yet assumed room temperature, and neither did I win the lottery and move to Tahiti.

My absence had been due to the arrival of spring weather and out-of-state visitors. Weeding, trimming, digging, cleaning, planting, pruning, and repairing at two houses located three hours apart have sapped all the energy I've been able to muster, so nothing is happening on the Plymouth. Even the planned attempt to install the rear glass trim with the help of my son-in-law didn't happen. That task will now be postponed until next month when my son and his family come to visit from Washington state. He's anxious to work on the '56, as the last time he saw it was when he helped me strip it down to the frame. I think the fact that he will probably inherit it when I actually do assume room temperature has a little something to do with his interest!

Until he arrives, I will likely  have only a few minutes to play now and then, and will have to concentrate on accomplishing simple tasks. If we can get the cantankerous trim installed, I hope we'll have time left to hang some sheet metal. That process is a lot easier with a helper than having to rig something to support and align big parts for a one man operation.

In the meantime, updates will likely be few and far between.

It's De-lightful...it's De-lovely

After encountering problems installing that top piece of rear window trim, I did my usual YouTube search to see if anyone had created a video of  the proper process. I tried searching with keywords like Mopar, Chrysler, Plymouth and Dodge without any luck. Then yesterday I stumbled across this one for the '55-'56  DeSoto. It's quite different than the Plymouth version, but the groove that secures the edge of the trim is the same. Showing how they used the cord might help when I get back to the job.

It doesn't show how to install the trim, but it explains the process for those of you who don't understand why I'm having a problem. It refers several times to having another person help, which is something I haven't been able to do. My car-fixing friends all live too far away and the people I know who live nearby are the ones whose only mechanical skills involve manipulating their thumbs on a smart phone keyboard. I wonder how the human race is going to survive with so many men helpless to do the things we all learned as kids? Fortunately, my daughter's family will be arriving for a visit in about ten days and her husband is handy with tools, so maybe the two of us can finish the job.

Meanwhile I haven't had much time for anything but household chores and projects, so no progress worth reporting.

Soundproofing and Tooling

After another long drive and exhausting housecleaning day in East Texas on Saturday, I used Sunday to recuperate, nap, and watch the Monster Cup race in Atlanta. Then on Monday morning, I caught up on cleaning and laundry in this house. I'm sure I mentioned before, but my wife has serious back problems and can be mostly bedridden for days, so I inherit the housework and cooking.

I was able to spend most of this afternoon installing soundproofing material in the rear seat area and under the dash, and even had some time to work on a tool design to help install the rear glass trim. I think I discovered a configuration that will do the trick if I can get an assist from someone inside the car while I work on it from the outside.

I made the prototype tool out of Lexan, but need to make the real thing out of steel so I can bend the shaft and handle to get a good grip while it's in use.  If I can't find a helper, I think I can make a fixture to put and hold pressure on the trim piece so it doesn't keep trying to move away from the seal. It would be somewhat of a Rube Goldberg creation, but it looks doable.

Possible heavy storms predicted for tonight, but the next week looks good to get work done in the yard and in the workshop. I'd love to get the rear glass issue solved so can move on with the remaining trim!

I still need to make one last trip to finish work in the East Texas house, but at least the heavy work is done. It will mostly consist of hauling over some new bathroom light fixtures and coordinating final contractor repairs, so I'll schedule my trip for the day he arrives on the job.

Bluebonnets

Spring-like weather beckoned me to mow the lawn for the first time this season. It went fast, since the only green grass is a native variety that grows sparse, early and fast and then dies back about the time the St. Augustine sod comes on.

Spring is becoming evident in other parts of my lot also. Flowering Quince, Daffodils, and Forsythia are adding color to the otherwise brown and gray yard, but my favorite place is a large mound of dirt that was removed when the pool was dug. It lies along one side of my back fence and has been planted with wildflowers for three years now. Between volunteer seeds and the couple of packages I sow every fall, there are now tens of thousands of new plants sprouting and getting ready to bloom.

My favorite Texas wildflower is the Bluebonnet, and with all the rains last year the fields of blue should be spectacular this spring. I have a few wild bluebonnets on my lot, but two years ago I planted a few more seeds on the dirt pile. Last year a few bloomed, but I’m hoping to see many more in about 3 weeks.

This photo is probably from down in Central Texas, where you find the most bluebonnets.

Here's another Texas native from one of my favorite cities up in the panhandle...Amarillo...singing about our official flower. 

Busy-work

I'd never make it being self-employed. Rebuilding this car would go a lot better if I made a plan and followed it. Instead I find myself gravitating back to the things I like to do and putting the important jobs aside.

I should be finding a way to finish installing the back window molding so I can get the trunk lid installed, so the quarter windows can be installed, so I can install more trim, so I can get the doors and fenders fitted, so I can be ready for paint when the weather warms, so I can begin serious interior work...well, you know the drill!

When I walk in the shop ready to solve problems, and after staring at those important jobs for several minutes, I pick up something that looks like fun and before long I've forgotten priorities.

Now that I have the seat and console mounting complete, I won't need the console until all those previously mentioned jobs are done, but naturally, they aren't nearly as interesting as finishing the console. Soooo, here's what I got done today!

I realized there are a couple of things that will look much better if I change the way the Tach/HVAC control panel is attached, so I got out the Dremel saw and hacked off the forward part of the console. Now I can play with that new idea and will have something far more interesting to do than figuring out how to fix the rear window trim problem. It's no wonder it's taking me so long..........