Fuse/Relay Board

Underhood wiring is underway again. I replaced the bad aftermarket ignition harness with one I salvaged years ago and now at least the connectors fit properly. Summit didn’t even ask for the defective parts to be returned.

I increased the size of the alternator output wire from AWG12 to AWG10, since I now have an 80 amp alternator. Other wiring has been upgraded too. Probably not needed, but where wiring is concerned I’m from the belt and suspenders crowd.  

The Fuse/Relay block I received a couple of weeks ago is mounted in the original battery location with a custom-made bracket. The metal below the battery was quite pitted from acid, so I cleaned it well, rust-proofed it and cut a piece of neoprene to cover the area as well as add a bit of shock damping for the circuit board.

It feels great to be back to work on the car!

Jason Colacino and Katie Boyle - Honky Tonk

Since nothing is happening on the Plymouth, I offer you something to raise your temperature during this cold spring weather. Even at my age, my jaws dropped when this young woman began to dance. Whew!

One more day working on the new shed, but maybe back to the car by the end of the week!

Lost in Cyberspace

I haven't been able to post anything as I experienced the second computer crash in 7 months. I lost some info when the hard drive destructed on the first one, but my backup was relatively current and the biggest problem was reloading all the programs.

My latest failure began with several irritating graphics problems. The computer was still under warranty so I was working with HP tech support and they suggested a bios update that killed the computer. The wanted me to return the computer and said it would take two weeks to a month to repair! A conversation with the local Geek Squad suggested it was a fried mother board caused by the bios update. They quoted two days plus time to obtain parts, and possibly up to $500 to repair, so instead,  I got another new HP.

This time, despite backing up every few days, the last files I could salvage were over a month old. Everything supposedly stored in the cloud could not be found, or at least I haven't found a way to recover them yet.

I learned one thing about having files stored online by Windows...the security sucks! One file I downloaded was not one of mine, and I have no idea who wrote it. Some poor soul might be looking all over the Internet for his five-thousand-word essay, just as I'm trying to recover my missing MS Word files!

To make matters even worse, the little laptop that I've been using for travel and emergencies locked up when Microsoft  tried to upgrade Windows 10 automatically and there wasn't enough storage space for the ridiculously huge 8Gig security update! It took hours getting rid of enough files to make it fit, and the next update will cause a problem again. I think there is a way to remove all the patches and do a clean install to save space, so I'll have to check that out.

I figure one more computer problem will convince me to drop out and retire from everything requiring high-tech equipment to play the game. Sitting on the patio with a pot of coffee and a good book would be far less stressful...or maybe I can get back to working on my old low-tech Plymouth.

Hot and Cold

Taxes and household chores still rule my time, so no progress on the car. I did receive some electrical parts, so there will be much to do when I get time. Tried to get pictures, but my camera was acting up again.

Yesterday I was sweating while doing yard work in 84F summer-like weather, but this morning I awoke to 40 mph northwest winds and the thermometer stuck right at the 32F mark! There was even a sleet shower or two, so I was convinced I wasn't misreading the thermometer. Sure glad I didn't set out tomato plants last week like I intended!

I recall only one time in my life when there was a bigger temperature swing in one day, and that was one November in North Dakota when a mid-seventy degree day was followed by a blizzard that night, and below-zero temperatures the next morning.

Tax records will be ready for the preparer early next week, so I may have some time to get back to the Plymouth wiring after that.

1955 Plymouth Savoy Alloway's Hot Rod Shop

Wish I could afford the Hemi and the paint job on this one!