Our day started promptly at 8:00am when we moved most of the cars outside. They all start so easily in the relative warmth of the shop -- maybe 50F in the early am. But by evening, when it's time to bring them in, the oil is congealed, the batteries almost too cold to produce current, and today it was about 4F which is really, really cold. We had to push in the Alpine and one of the late model MGBs.
Casey worked along all day on the TD -- it needs just a bit of attention in the morning and it'll be set for a test drive.
Curt worked along on the Sunbeam Tiger, fabricating the repair pieces for the leaf spring.
The high school boys worked diligently on the two MGB restorations we have in the shop.
Lisa struggled with a new computer program we have -- changes are always difficult but this one is giving us fits. We'll eventually get it up and running.
I had appointments this morning and returned just at technical time. We had a customer call from Reno, NV, who is trying to get his engine operational after a twenty year nap -- opeational enough to get it onto a car hauler so it can get here for much needed attention. Later a fellow called from Arkansas to enquire about a single battery for his 1974 MGB. Those take a group 26. Then I got to make two test drives! One was a 1976 MGB and the other a 1974 TR6. Both started and ran well around the test drive track (a circuit of nearly five miles). The test drive is a complement to our complete lubrication. Later I helped Trevor fit some 10-32 heli-coils to an MGB windscreen frame to more snugly secure the brackets for the sun visors, and then I fought the computer for a while, too.
Casey brought in his white rat again today. It wouldn't stay still for a photograph until Lisa held him firmly -- or maybe it's a she, I'm not certain. Yesterday the rodent's name was Bob. But, Casey read that rats can learn their names if the name has two syllables -- so Bob wouldn't make it. I suggested "was Bob" which satisfies the two syllable requirement but he'd already chosen Joey -- or maybe it's Joe E -- I didn't ask him to spell it.
If you've made it this far, then I have another paragraph about University Motors memorabilia. The red and yellow octagonal sign is from the MG factory! It was given to me by an employee when I toured the company in 1973 and I've treasured it since. It's hanging in our vestibule.
