Getting ready for Carlisle

I have a good sized "to-do" list to get ready for Carlisle.

--just did the valves and again realized the joy of zero lash thanks to chromolly pushrods. No need to use a feeler gauge---just get them where there's no play and be able to turn them with your fingers.
I only had to adjust 3 out of 8 valves. The rest were still perfect
since 3,600 miles ago. Only thing easier is a Subaru.

Oh--I was under the car swapping out my inop Wolo horn and found that one of the sway bar brackers was loose and had moved from where it needs to be to hold the bar to the car. There are two on each side and the other one beside the loose one was tight. But check yours next time you are under your car.

Next---replace the Chinese light switch--this will be the third one ---always trouble with the dimmer part.

Nothing like an early start on the season.

Jack, I picked up a couple of vintage VW light switches at Carlisle last year, for a few bucks each. Now I have a spare. I already went through three of the Chinese ones. One of them didn't work right out of the box!

I just recently changed my non-functional Japanese brake light switch with one made in China. Uh oh! This can't be good. It's a replacement part for a 1998 Escort. Maybe I should cut my losses and carry a spare. If you are behind me, check to see if it is functioning correctly. Thanks.

All trivial shit so far...trust me...:-)

I left my non-functional Asian hydraulic brake light switches in place, disconnected the wiring and connected it to a mechanical switch worked by the brake pedal. Now I don't worry about the lights coming on.

Let's see...

- Oil change needed
- Tweak side window seals (yeah, I'm a perfectionist)
- Instal auxiliary 12v power plug for new GPS
- Nice detail job

Yep, that's about it this year.

Lane, your car is always show ready. I need to get my clear bra installed and order some Coco Mats.

I'm considering an oil change - it's been a while because I can't remember when I did it last. But then, there's been so much going on my life in the past 1-1/2 years, there's a LOT I can't remember. At least I've gotten my tax stuff in on time......

Lane: You want this extra case of Brad Penn 20W-50? I'll be heading North and have several more cases up there so I don't need it.

Sure. I think this oil change will exhaust my supply. How much?

David Stroud -- I have been trying to contact you about you heat system. Have you changed you email address ?

Giday, Charles. Nope haven't changed it dstroud@xplornet.com
check the spelling of xplornet ...that sometimes get's buggered up.

Dave-- OK I'll try that.

OK, we've all heard otherwise, but this has traditionally been the period of the year when time is growing short to get anything done on your car, test it out and declare it ready for the trek to Carlisle. This is also the time of the year when Lane decides to tackle some MAJOR job on his car, with hopes of getting it all done before it's time to leave.

With that in mind, and my needing something to do after a month of taking care of Kathy, post surgery, I've decided to follow in Lane's footsteps (or tire tracks, as the case may be) and, are you ready?? Paint Pearl's trailer.

Now, you may think, "What's the big deal? There's eight weeks before he has to leave! Surely he can do a little prep and paint that puppy in 8 weeks!"

Too true. But, I have to be back in New England sometime in early April to do some family business, so that leaves me, like, this week, to get the rust ground out, general surface prep done (which won't be show quality - it's a damn trailer, after all) shoot two coats and fix whatever mechanical stuff I find along the way. Very soon, we're packing up a little more than usual (it's a long story) and then bugging out as soon as Kathy's doctor(s) give us clearance.

So.......Prepping like crazy today, doctor visits tomorrow with a little more prep in the latter PM, then, depending on WX, shoot two coats on Friday. This is a driveway paint job, so pray that the sand gnats stay away. I had seriously thought about doing the trailer in mother-of-pearl, too, but then I came to my senses and remembered how many days it took to finish Pearl, and a real professional did the shooting, so "basic black" it is.

It's gonna look WICKAHD! And only one wound so far - the damn angle grinder running a stiff wire brush got slightly out of control and decided to take a few layers of callous off one of my fingers (I shoulda known better, but what the heck) but it's looking good so far - besides....it takes a while for infection to set in, right?

Gordon
The wicked quick painter in Beaufort

This would make a great film--like one of those speeded up time lapse deals with Gordon running all over that trailer to get it ready.

Hey Gordon---why not just drive Pearl to Carlisle??

Depending on circumstances, I would like to drive Pearl to Carlisle this year. I've always opted for a far more comfortable cruising environment but wouldn't mind cruising down there in Pearl - Lord knows, I've driven her for over 7 hours at a whack before and survived (although getting out is an adventure). We'll see this year.

The big thing this trip is getting Pearl and a lot of other "stuff" from here to New England for the Summer and beyond and things kinda got away from me this Winter before I realized that I hadn't kept up with trailer maintenance, so the rust was starting to become prominent. Not a good thing. All the major rust removal is done (several hours with a rotary wire brush and one ripped finger) and the job is coming along nicely. If things go well tomorrow I might have half of it painted by EOD. Waiting until I got up N'oth would have delayed the process until sometime late in the Summer. The opportunity to "Git R Dun" here and now was too great.

Actually, the finger wound was classic "Dumb Ass" stuff - I don't have a bench mount power wire brush here and wanted to clean up the lug nuts so I held my angle-grinder-converted-to-a-wire-brush in one hand (running, of course) and held a lug nut in the other hand to clean them off. Things went great for 18 nuts and then I looked away just for a split second and power brushed my finger instead of the nut. Fortunately, I have nine others......

;>)

Just kidding, Gordon--I actually thought that you would head North after Carlisle with stull to haul, etc.

I was surprised to hesr that you are leaving Beaufort to be permanently in MASS. Alice and I go to the tennis camp in Amerst so maybe we can hook up with you "up yonder" sometime.

Lookinf forward to seeing you in Carlisle and checking out that paint job. I think you should have the trailer's color match pearl's.