2015/06/19 Jaws, the return

In the past few weeks every now and then there was news about the transmission rebuild but when this pic arrived I knew we were close.

Today the shark finally made it home but it wasn’t all smooth cruising.

At 06.00 hrs. the radio starts playing it’s wake-up tune. I have arranged a driver to take me to Antwerp central station as I have to get on a train at 7. VOF De Loods is only about half a mile away from Den Dolder station and a 2 hour train ride with 2 changeovers awaits. I have about 7 minutes for each changeover, punctuality and trains in the same sentence is a no go so it’s a bit risky but it’s a risk I have to take, after all it’s for a greater cause. The train arrives at Rotterdam station, the first changeover, with a 5 min. delay and after a dash I jump on the train to Utrecht as the train whistle sounds. The rest of the journey runs smoothly. I arrive at the Loods just before the rain starts pouring down. The reception is, as it always is, warm and after a cup of coffee and some talk about the job done, Kees asks me to take the Shark around the block and to let him know if I’m happy with the set-up. I’m more than happy with the shark :-D. There’s two things I notice: “Short shifter” definitely means short and the speedo isn’t working. The first, I like and the latter is solved quickly and soon I’m on my way home. 

After a petrol stop I hit the highway. The Bilsteins offer a bit of a stiffer ride but I do like them a lot and an accurate shifting shark and a happy driver cross the Belgian border.

Just across the border disaster strikes: the shark acts as if it’s out of gas and I barely manage to park it on the road verge were the engine stalls. After few fruitless attempts to start the shark again I get out of the car and disheartened I decide to go looking for petrol. I’m quite sure I had filled her up enough but somehow it felt like she ran out of gas. I had just passed a gas station so I might give it a try before I try anything else. I quickly learn that “having just passed a gas station in a car” is not the same as getting back to it by foot and I return with a dry mouth to what could be a  “dry” car. In the meantime help as arrived with petrol but to no avail, it still won’t start. I don’t have any tools with me so there’s only one (expensive) solution left. I have to call “Touring” a Belgian “breakdown assistance” company (the mechanical kind not the mental one :-) I won’t mention the invoice but after 74 minutes a mechanical assistant arrives. He has a half-hearted attempt to start the car and seems very reluctant to do any further analysis while parked next to the busy highway. I can’t really blame him but then again my mental state of mind has seen better days at that moment. Towing the shark home in full rush hour is all there’s to it. I hear some ooh’s and aah’s from the admiring children who clearly think the car on the trailer is a beauty. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Finally at 16.30 hrs.the car is put on the driveway. Immediately I take out a 10mm socket and remove the fuse panel. All the time during the highway ordeal I was thinking “If only I had a 10mm socket...” Fuse N° 17 and N° 22 look a bit odd placed, they aren’t broken but I do replace them. As soon as N°.17 is in, the fresh air blower works again, it hadn’t worked all day. Replacing fuse N°.22 doesn’t make a significant difference except when I gently turn the ignition key: The divine sound of a V8 engine bursting to life lightens my mood. A spin around the block shows that the problem is solved. Smooth cruising awaits and now that I do have the Touring breakdown assistance insurance I’m sure she won’t break down on me again but even at rest there’s joy. With the new Bilsteins her stance has changed and my god: what a beauty. 

2015/05/21 See U later, when you’re cured :-D

This morning last preparations were made  for transport. The rear axles were put together(without grease) and parts were sorted and labeled before being put in the trunk and rear seats. The longest label is about 5 inches, “Transmission crossmember bolt” it says. There’s two of them bolts and they’re about 2 inches long :-D. 

At about 14.00 hrs. the shark, who’s left front tyre is gone flat, starts it’s journey to Holland at the back of a trailer. 

With a Stella I celebrate the job done or maybe I’m drowning the painful moment to see it go, I’m not sure. I do know the countdown to it’s return has begin. 

2015/05/19 The job is done!

Yesterday was Murphy’s day: getting the handbrake back in took 3 hours, the brake discs had a lateral run out that caused dizziness and the engine hood wouldn’t close perfectly but instead got stuck and wouldn’t move an inch anymore. Today, it is with great pride that I can say I’ve solved all of the above. The shark is back on it’s wheels and U know what? The smile on it’s face tells me it’s a happy shark.

2015/05/17 10.000 days

It’s a great album, released by the band “Tool” in 2006. I only have 4 to finish the shark. (I don’t want to experience a single of the 10.000 album-days btw.)

I’m off to a bad start on thursday and after 3 hours of messing about I decide to install the short-shifter that I’d ordered. It’s just an upgrade that I want to give a try. I succeed in the task and I turn messing about into productivity.

At the end of the day the wheel hub is in place.

On friday I’m taking on the suspension. Tape has to prevent the spring tensioners causing damage to my paint job. The difference between old and new is significant and it looks stunning when it’s in place.

Today I hit the overdrive: the left rear suspension get’s finished, all bolts are torqued to the proper tension and the eccentric camber and caster bolts are aligned with the naked eye. I doubt it will be very precise but that doesn’t really matter, the rear drive train is back where it should be, me likes.

To end the day I put the heat shields and front part of the exhaust back in place. Doing it completely is useless, it’ ll only be in the way for Kees, who’ll put the transmission back in. The remaining parts will be properly packed tomorrow in protective plastic. Placing the hood, handbrake and wheels on will get the car “back to earth” tomorrow.

2015/05/11 progress

For weeks I’ve been looking forward to the moment on which I could start rebuilding the car. I thought the moment had arrived today but apparently the concave washer that came with the new shocks doesn’t fit the old springs. Out comes the grinder again but one of the old washers is gone too far to be overhauled. A new washer is added to the already extensive order list and with an extended weekend because of ascension day, my mails to various OPC’s remain unanswered. 

Heatproof paint is applied to the heat shields and exhaust. It’s the first time that I’m working with this kind of paint and my order’s a bit short. A problem that’s solved quickly thanks too some personal relations at the wholesalers.

The ratchet wrench is finally taken out and despite some amnesia (where do the eccentric bolts fit again) the rear drive train starts to look like something that can carry wheels.

2015/05/08 I’m no Dali but still....

I’m no Dali but still I keep painting. After a three hour research for various exhaust parts I take out the brush again. There’s a front and backend to most things and parts just keep coming. I think I’m starting to lose it: new parts are being lynchend.

In the exhaust there’s a remaining bolt that sees a 37 year old career coming to an end.

The rear dive train is put at the rear, where else!?, of the car to get an idea of what it looks like. I’m happy with the result but I do hope this paint job doesn’t go on endlessly. 

2015/05/07 Lord of the rings

I’ve painted the last parts with primer today, I didn’t finish them all because I wanted to take a better look at the Front ball cup.

Research has told me that it’s not uncommon to secure the guide tube with tie-wraps. If the front ball cup isn’t positioned 100% correctly it might come off and U loose the ability to shift gears.

In this particular case there’s another reason for the tie-wraps. here U see a normal front ball cup:

and here its is Car company Wolfs-style:

I can put a finger straight through it! I’ve got a feeling that when the job is done the shark will shift smoothly.

2015/05/04 Elbow grease and some more elbow grease

Grinding, all day long I’ve been grinding. I’ve used up al my elbow grease but not only my elbows are painful, my hands and back are hurt too. I ended up with a result: all parts are clean, except the battery box. It’s got too many hooks and corners that I can’t get to, I’ll take it to the sandblaster. Some parts will be painted with heat resistant pant and after that I can finally begin assembly.