Project Progress Report (2007/03/31)

[BumblingB]

I'm waiting for that thing to be waiting under my car one day and snap at my ankles. This is just a little guy, there was one that was biiiggggg that used to live in the ditch but they took him away. He got too desensitized to people - they (not me) were walking about a foot up to it and snapping pics. stupid stupid stupid I see them doing this to the new gator too, people are laready starting to hang out in my parking lot always looking at him.

As far as projects -

ALMOST done tinting the Corolla windows BUT I need to redo the rear window. I tried doing it in one piece - I won't be doing that again. Sides look GREAT! Still have to do drivers window, got home too late and I have to roll down my window in the morning on my way to work - I can just see it peeling. Sooo, tomorrow I'll finish up the driver window. This weekend I may do the Metro but I HAVE to mow the lawn and that will take a couple days itself. Anyone want to go ride around on a nice sized compact tractor? It's fun..........

[Bill in Houston]

Originally Posted by Wazabi Owner

Anyone want to go ride around on a nice sized compact tractor? It's fun..........

Does it have cupholders? And an 8-track player? :-)

[tom_eberhard]

So... as always I've been busy with other crap, but I'm making slow and
steady progress.

Replaced the starter cover which was cracked, still missing one screw.
Note to self: buy little screw for starter cover.

Finally received parts I bought two weeks ago. This was silly stuff like
hoses, bolts, screws, and small stuff that isn't on ebay. This is the stuff
I had started to worry about in one of my previous posts. Anyway, next
time I'll take the 10% to 20% markup at the local dealer to avoid
waiting two weeks for it.

Started installing the radiator, and of course I managed to build an
engine stand that is exactly in the way of where the radiator is supposed
to go. I decided not to rebuild the engine stand, but I'll somehow stretch
the radiator hoses or something. So I make two brackets out of some
angle iron from the (precious) scrap pile, and welded them on.

Bought 4 exhaust gaskets to install the exhaust manifold. Guess what,
that engine stand is also in the way of the exhaust.

Not sure if I mentionned it previously, but my fix to the ECT connector
seems to work, my trusty voltmeter indicates continuity.

This week:
- Install radiator
- Install airbox
- Fix engine stand so I can bolt on the exhaust.

Hope ya'all's doing well with yer projects. And I want to see a pic of
those tinted windows.
Tom.

[tom_eberhard]

Unbelievably, I managed to do all of my big goals from last week:
- the radiator is mounted and the hoses seem to reach ok.
- the airbox is installed.
- and I hacked the engine stand and re-welded it so the exhaust would fit!

I had some insights on how I (mis)manage my projects, and shared it with
my neighbor, who has been avoiding his own project. Some of you might
find it useful, here's the email I sent him, slightly edited:

I can't seem to get things done in a reasonable time. I've kind of
discovered that there are several phases to a project, and I came up
with something that I call "phase 0", which is when you know you
should be doing something, but you have not committed to it. The
best way to recognize that you're in phase 0 is when you hear yourself
say "I should" be doing this, or "I should" work on that. Whenever you
hear "I should", then you're in phase 0. When you're in phase 0, you're
drifting.

Then there's the traditional other phases, planning, execution, review, etc.
But those can't happen while you're in phase 0. So the trick is to get out
of phase 0 and into phase 1, planning. The way that you do that is by...
drum roll please... it's "simply" by deciding and completely committing to
do it. You have to decide that you've had enough of drifting, that's it,
you're going to do whatever it takes to start and finish the job. In your
mind, visualize it as completed and done. It sounds simple, but it's the
explanation that's simple, doing it is the hard part.

For something a bit more concrete, check out the attached pics.
Tom.

[tom_eberhard]

This past week has been a mixed bag. I scored a cheap speedometer
and tach on ebay for the motorcycle engine, ordered a beat up gas tank,
and the hand controls. That's the good part.

Didn't get much done over the weekend besides organizing the garage
and putting together a workbench. It's chaos in that basement!!!

Did some research on AC motors: prices, weight, etc.

Decided to put all my project tasks into a Gantt chart. Evaluated an
open source program (GanttProject) but unfortunately it's not quite
ready yet.

Tom.

[Bill in Houston]

Hey, Tom, I understand that you are building a hybrid CRX with a motorcycle engine, but is there anyplace that gives a little more detail on what exactly you are doing?

[OdieTurbo]

Hey can I join in the "Success" group?

Progress Report (2007/05/22)

Accomplishments - On 5/20/2007 I completed the following:

• Temporarily removed the antenna (will relocate later)
• Removed the useless air dam thingy under the nose of the Saturn
• Purchased 1 interior mirror to replace the passenger side mirror

Goals - For the weekend of 5/26/2007 and 5/27/2007 I plan the following:

• Relocation of antenna
• Remove passenger side mirror
• Purchase another interior mirror to replace the driver side mirror
• Install front air dam made of Lawn Edging from Home Depot

Details and pictures of the upgrades/mods will be posted to http://www.gassavers.org/showthread.php?t=3496.

I think this is neat, more guys should hop in this. As a data analyst for our Operations Excellence department at work, my job is to help people set goals, meet them, then set new goals. I try to do the same thing in my life as well. Helps me from dwelling on a single bad thing since I can see what progress I've already made.

[BumblingB]

COMPLETE- Window tinting on Metro back and sides - Corolla is done. Both look as though I let a "special" person do it - still not too bad but FAR from good. I'm embarrassed BUT I figure what the heck. It doesn't obstruct vision and it is noticably cooler in both cars and I figure the more the cars look like crap the less likely someone will mess with them.

TO DO-
- Install cruise in Corolla - kit bought, need at least 2 days to figure it out etc.

- Get A/C's working on my motorhome. Bought new "house A/C" so I need to install that and need to charge the ICE A/C system. Also on the MH I need to put on a new 12V water pump for the house. Then pull the propane heater and block the lines, relocate the fridge to where the heater was/is and do a general remodel. I suspect it will take a good month of weekends and evenings to get that done. Hurricane season nears, I need to complete as my job makes it mandatory for my family and myself to leave if we are in the direct path of a good size storm. This is a priority project to complete.

- Replace the master cylinder on the Turf-Truckster (little Cushman dump truck I drive around) Brakes need work, right now I drive it without brakes. I just guess when it is about time to stop and plan ahead.

- Replace fuel pump and rebuild the master cylinder on the Corvette. It has been sitting for 3 years now and has been out of the public eye so it is a good time to break it out for the weekends again.

- Get the A/C working in the '30 (car on my avatar). A/C is in and ducted, I just need to plumb it and hook up the wires. Also need to install the Lokar shifter and get rid of the gargantuan B&M shifter. #1 priority on this car is replace the power valve - sucking up gas WAY TOO MUCH!! It was designed to get around 15-18mpg when driven easy. It is only getting 10mpg. I've got problems.

That's my to-do still, don't see it getting done soon as for the next few weeks I'll be bringing work home to do too. On top of that, I can't get any time off. I actually walked out today and told them I was gone even though I still had a meeting to go to. Pretty sure they covered for me - they usually do since they know I'm they only one that does what I do. I get a little buffer room to lose it every so often. Someday I'll get some time off, I told them I am taking 2 weeks in July - no matter what. Oh, I didn't mention the to-do list around the house.............

[tom_eberhard]

Bill in Houston: The plan is to mate together an electric motor and a motorcycle engine, and put in into a cool classic car. I'll provide details as soon as I figure out what I'm doing.

OdieTurbo: Glad you posted your week, you're now officially part of the most successful group ever.(tm) If you could post a pic of that Lawn edging air dam when you get it that would be cool. Very curious as to what it looks like.

Wazabi: wow, and I thought my list was huge! You've got a lot on your hands. Congratulations on the "special" tinting.

Not sure how much I'll get done this weekend given that it's labor day. But I did forget to mention goals in my last post:
- order wiring harness for instruments
- get organized: put the todo list into a Gantt Chart, and write what the next action is for each item on the list. Prioritize
- do 2 other things based on what the Gantt Chart says.
- triple check if any parts are missing and order them if necessary. Waiting for parts has been a huge waste of time...

Tom.

[Bill in Houston]

Originally Posted by tom_eberhard

Bill in Houston: The plan is to mate together an electric motor and a motorcycle engine, and put in into a cool classic car. I'll provide details as soon as I figure out what I'm doing.

Perfect! Thanks for letting us come along for the ride.