With 2011 behind us, a few days off, and some mild Colorado weather lingering I pulled the yard truck out and started cleaning the property before working in the shop. It’s been sitting out back for about a month but after a few cranks it fired right up and even though the back was full of branches, Orville and I took off for a joy ride. How could I resist?

It was so nice out when we got back that I pulled the tractor alongside the garage in anticipation of protecting myself from the Winter wind as I intend to get to this from time-to-time before Spring. Ever since I built this thing I’ve been procrastinating gearing it down. It’s really just too fast to work with - even in first – so I’ve continually debated between either adding an offset jackshaft or installing a tandem transmission. The offset jackshaft will allow me to work with the compact 10″ span between the trans and the rear without having to change the rearend setback, but the second, inline trans is really the way to go from a functionality standpoint.  Whichever option I commit to, it’ll get done this time around since I’ve already started tearing back into it.

The ’36 has been getting it’s fair share of attention, but it’s been a repeat performance on the driver’s side door of work that has been done to the passenger side door. So far on this side since my last posting I’ve:

1. shaped the lengthened door to its opening:
   
   
2. built the inner structure such that that it was stable enough to remove from the opening. This let’s me continue shaping and finishing it at a more comfortable height and flip it over to get to otherwise hard to reach areas, etc:
   
   
3. started on the hinge pockets for the suicide treatment:
   
   

 
I’ll be keeping at it as time allows after family and other priorities so stay tuned.

Tags: 1936 Chevy, 1958 Chevy, Tractor

One night of the Annual Cookie Assortment Extravaganza in the Colorado Melons household. Leigh likes to make sure you’re all taken care of, but I wasn’t allowed to post the video until enough time had passed for everyone’s packages to arrive

As I’ve already mentioned to one friend, we get more out of doing this as a family than we could ever possibly give away.

I originally learned how to hand prop a tail-dragger on a Korean War Aeronca L-16 from a pilot of the same vintage. Regardless of the experience level of either of the individuals, the person doing the propping makes the calls since it’s literally his neck on the line. Check for brake application by pulling on the prop as close to the hub as possible. If the craft rolls towards you, the brakes are not applied regardless of any verbal confirmation to the contrary.  Continue Reading »

It has been awhile since I have posted any truck progress due to a lack of said progress.  The reason for the lack of progress is mostly due to the learning curve that was involved with putting the roof together.  It seems that as with most things taking the roof apart was easy; putting it back less so.

When planning the work on the ’51 I knew that I wanted to pancake the roof.  This is because of the “turret top” style roof.  The story is that the old vehicles had tall roofs so that men could drive them with their hats on.  I don’t know if there is any truth to that story.  I do know that the high roof crown makes the truck look top heavy; this look is accentuated as the glass area is reduced when chopping the top.

 When I built the concept scale model of the truck Continue Reading »

Jack and David received their Bushido Sei Shin Jitsu Blue Belts in this ceremony but since there were so many proud moments, I tried to capture everyone involved in the video.

Tags: Defense Institute, MMA