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The "What Did You Work On Today" thread

3M views 36K replies 388 participants last post by  cerial 
#1 ·
4 hour work day for me at the shop. Used the time to do a valve body swap on a '01 Jetta 1.8t auto .... I successfully installed a transbrake on the car .... that however wasn't my intention.

Its in 2 gears at once in park, all other gears (R/N/D/2/1) are forward gears.... they all seam to be first gear.

I have it torn back down most of the way. Tuesday I'll actually get the VB back out and see whats up.... but part of me wants to take it out for a test drive the way it is just for the fun of it.
 
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#2,161 ·
I hope that plan works out better than it did for my buddy. He hired two guys to do the bodywork in his shop. Now he stays busy doing the painting, estimates and ordering parts. His wife runs the business end, and he still hasn't had time to touch his '67 Camaro in over a year. Fresh engine still sitting on the engine stand and a r/h quarter still needs welded in, along with a new front clip that needs assembled. All the parts are there, needs assembly. :rolleyes:
Sounds like he's ready for a full time painter.
 
#2,162 ·
Sounds like he's ready for a full time painter.
Sure does. And he's only 35 with a 28 year old wife and a 3 year old daughter. Just goes to show that if you do quality work, your business will grow. Some weeks he turns out as many as 10 jobs. His guys work 40 hr week, he doesn't always have that luxury. I gave up on stopping in to visit him during work hours. Have to follow him around to talk to him. To top that off he is our associate and youth pastor. Good thing he is as hyper as a 3 yr old on skittles and red bull. :D
 
#2,163 ·
Man, you guys are getting something done! Right on to you. I am still working on a few Christmas presents for my wife, and all too happy to do it for her.

Brian
 
#2,166 ·
Pugs, I really admire him for getting such an early start on next year don't you?

John
LOL, honestly, after doing my grand daughter and daughters gifts and running thru this past week at a 100mph I finally got today to finish up my wifes. Come on now guys. :sweat: double :sweat: :sweat:

Brian
 
#2,167 ·
I worked some on the 190XT today. I couldn't get it running after the big snowstorm but the neighbor cleared out my 1/4 mile drive, I don't know why he does it but I see he had a new red rig with a loader on the front and a big snow blower on the back so he was probably enjoying himself. :D

He didn't clear out the giant snow drift in front of the barn door where the Jeep and my WD45 with the loader on it was. Of course I had parked the WD45 with the loader facing away from the door, I was in hopes it would back through the drift but I had no such luck and ended up shoveling quite a bit of snow to get the tractor out. That shoveling is kind of hard on people with heart problems so I was trying to avoid a lot of it. The loader is now facing the door so next time I can just shove my way out with tractor power. :)

Anyhow, I had the 190XT running today until I let the clutch out and killed it. :mad: I should have let it run longer. I'll get it this weekend.

Hers is a picture of the 190XT in warmer weather.


I also messed around with my flatbed in my avater. I need it to haul wood this winter since my the body is about rusted off my old blue 4x4 and my diesel pickup just isn't much good good in the winter.
 
#2,168 ·
Did some more sorting and organizing. Or sort of organizing. The sockets ate in the right drawers and kinda by size. At least as much as I could, I need more socket organizing stuff. More strips and trays are needed for complete organization. Also need some wrench organizers. My screwdrivers are sorted well at least. Also still need to get the specialty tools organized.
 
#2,169 ·
Did some more sorting and organizing. Or sort of organizing. The sockets ate in the right drawers and kinda by size. At least as much as I could, I need more socket organizing stuff. More strips and trays are needed for complete organization. Also need some wrench organizers. My screwdrivers are sorted well at least. Also still need to get the specialty tools organized.
Sounds good. I'd like to get organized someday. I started but a good start is all I get done. That's one reason I end up with several of this tool or that, it's easier to go to town and get another one, as soon as I get done and don't need it I find three of them. :confused:
 
#2,170 ·
Just whae everything started to go smoothly I stripped the deck and rt 1/4 ...there was a bit of damage to the 1/4 but nothing serious.I noticed when I took off the rocker flair (ground F X) that the rocker itself had a 3/4" bow in it ,being afraid or just lain lazy I didnt get down and look at the bottom I just figured I'd replace it...when I did get down and look it over heres what I found...looks like I need a dual exhaust and stainless headers while I'm at it...:mwink:
But dont it just figure ,the door was my last panel to strip and prime and I run into this ...I had a feeling there was some issues under that moulding ,mabee thats why I did this last...
I'm finding it hard to stick to the plan, the job is snowballing it was only getting stripped and painted (but a nice paint job) no jambs ,leave the nose on now everything is coming off all the jambs will be done and all the sheetmetal gapped Then theres the exhaust,wheels and tires....its starting to turn out to be a project...:sweat:
 

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#2,171 ·
Nice 56, is that an original 6? The sheet metal looks to be in good shape and no rust around the headlight trim. Back in high school we used to change front fenders on a couple of 55's my friend had it seemed every year. The head lights used to rust away from the inside, but fortunately the junk yards had plenty of 55's back in the 60's.
I remember taking out the 6 in my friends 55 because it only went about 80mph top speed. So we put in a 265 and top speed was 85, It smoked so bad through the valve covers we put heater hoses on it to vent under the car. Those were the days. nice work. sc
 
#2,172 ·
Just servicing personnel vehicales. Oil change on everything . Brakes on one minor tune on another . Gonna tackle a blower problem on another. I have too many cars and vans!. Every thing is either a personal vehicale or work related. Nothing particularly fun. Phooey! I am starting to eye my old Longhorn that's been sitting for 15 years and wondering how it would look dropped 10" and should it still have a rake to it or should it be level? Big and littles or everything the same. Just thinking.

BB :confused:
 
#2,173 ·
I spent New Year's eve, and the next day replacing a flexplate on the 327 in my gasser! Found a broken tooth while replacing a starter last week, and I was dreading the job for sure!
It turned out to be as bad as I had imagined, as I got the firewall and trans tunnel pretty tight when I built the Austin. I could only access two bolts on the bellhousing of the TH350, so had to pull up all my new carpet, remove the firewall panels, all the sound deadener, and measure out the firewall to holesaw holes to get at the other 4 bolts!
Got the holes drilled and close enough to get the bolts out, so I could move the trans back a couple inches and get the crank bolts out. Had to make two trips to the parts store to finally get the right flexplate, as I didn't pay attention to whether my converter used the small bolt pattern, or large. Ended up being the small, since I got the large pattern. My old flexplate was dual drilled, and finally located a new 168 that was also.
After getting it all together I made up small aluminum plates and "glued" them to the firewall/trans tunnel with Ultra RTV, so I can pop them off if I ever need to. Then replaced all the sound deadener and put the carpet back in place.
Man am I ever glad to have THAT job done! It's no fun trying to start crank bolts with 2" between the converter and the flexplate, even with long fingers like mine!
On the bright side; I was surprised that Autozone had USA made flexplates in a HD version, and not some import crap. And reasonably priced too!
 
#2,174 ·
Nice 56, is that an original 6? The sheet metal looks to be in good shape and no rust around the headlight trim. Back in high school we used to change front fenders on a couple of 55's my friend had it seemed every year. The head lights used to rust away from the inside, but fortunately the junk yards had plenty of 55's back in the 60's.
I remember taking out the 6 in my friends 55 because it only went about 80mph top speed. So we put in a 265 and top speed was 85, It smoked so bad through the valve covers we put heater hoses on it to vent under the car. Those were the days. nice work. sc
Thanks. As far as I know it's the original engine for the car. We didn't do a full restoration on it just freshened it up with some paint and body work. It is a pretty solid car but te owner didn't wanna spend the money for a frame off.
 
#2,175 ·
Starting 2nd project since my truck is in paint for a frame off ,will be a while ,but to the point i trial fit my blower to a 454 today it fits the haeds but not the blower,I have a Weiand 671 and a Crager 871 neither will fut intake all pullevs belts and idler seem to be ok ,never built a blower motor before my intake has 2 rectangle holes, i looked in Summitt the 671 seems te be different ,Can any one Help
 
#2,178 ·
Well we delivered the 56 yesterday, the guy that owns it called me today........turns out he also has a 55 that he wants fixed now. So we went a picked up a 68 Camaro SS that I had lined up already and got the 55 while we were on the road. Pretty good day expecting one job and brought home two. And a neighbor to the Camaro owner has a 55 he wants us to start as soon as possible. I'm a happy camper. I will try to get pics up now and then to keep ya'll up to date. That is if I can remember what I'm working on lol.:mwink:
 
#2,179 ·
My first car I ever drove (legally) was a 57 chevy I had that car for over 20yrs so needless to say ,I have a soft spot for them .Thats the car I regret selling the most of all..
quite a few yrs ago I worked at a shop restoring nothing but 55-57 chevy's all were frame offs and needed everything but new roofs..I love working on those To me the 57 belair HT is the most perfect car ever designed ,the 55 HT runs a tight second...I would love to get my hands on another one,either one....
Today the plan is to get to the salvage yard with my 18v sawzall and get my camaro rocker...
 
#2,180 ·
My first car I ever drove (legally) was a 57 chevy I had that car for over 20yrs so needless to say ,I have a soft spot for them .Thats the car I regret selling the most of all..
quite a few yrs ago I worked at a shop restoring nothing but 55-57 chevy's all were frame offs and needed everything but new roofs..I love working on those To me the 57 belair HT is the most perfect car ever designed ,the 55 HT runs a tight second...I would love to get my hands on another one,either one....
Today the plan is to get to the salvage yard with my 18v sawzall and get my camaro rocker...
I will agree with you about the '57 B/A. H.T. It always fascinated me that nobody modifies the body, grill, trim or lights on these! What could you do to make it better? NOTHING! :)

P.S. I had a turquoise one just out of high school. I never got to paint it... but recently did one for a customer in the same color. It satisfied that old itch. :)

Right now I'm getting a '34 Chevy delivery street rod ready for primer.
 

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