Thursday, 15th December! Gosh, only two weeks to go before 2006 -- and I still remember all the scare stories surrounding Y2K.
Thursday mornings I stay home to answer emails and do paperwork associated with the shop. Oh, I go in early to help move the cars out, drink a cup of coffee, answer questions, but then usually leave about 8:30. Today Curt had to drop his Volvo at the dealer -- a warning light was flashing -- something more complicated that we could attend to with our knowledge and equipment. So he came in a little late.
Casey finished the Midget 1500 and ran that around the block a couple of times. I test drove it in the afternoon. It's all but finished -- we have just a bit more to do. Then he was on to the Aconite 74 MGB windscreen. He fussed and fussed and really hit a stalling point. So, I had to get all the bolts started for him. Really, he'd done the lion's share of the work -- but getting those bolts started -- well, that's quite a trick. You can see how he used Andrew, but in the end I had Casey move the screen while I started the bolts.
Curt got the clutch operational on the MGA today. I expect he'll drive it tomorrow. The clutch really gave fits and we finally chose to power bleed it.
The boys cleaned up the TF in anticipation of the owner coming down tomorrow so we can go over the estimate. It doesn't have an exhaust, so it's really noisy when we start it up!
Lisa went out to the body shop to snap some pictures of the 1973 MGB, but the memory stick lock had been engaged on my digital camera and she didn't know what to do. We'll have pictures of that tomorrow -- maybe even back in the shop!
During tech hour one fellow called from Uniontown PA about his MGA which he been rebuilding for a number of years. He was unable to get oil pressure before starting the engine -- and asked for some tricks. Later, a fellow called from Ventura CA to ask about 1976 Midget turn signals. Then, I organized the shipment of the Judson Supercharger to the expectant new owner in Florida.
Later in the afternoon Tim Wolbert, a former employee, stopped by to say hello. Tim works for the Grand Rapids Public School system. He has six students in a year-round class. They are autistic, severely impaired. His job is to teach them to recognize their names, learn shapes and colors, plus some basic hygiene. Tim looked really great.
Just at closing, Jason from Denco, our fastener supplier dropped off a bag of nuts -- the edible kind -- so we can have another "emergency shop meeting tomorrow morning." The one we had this morning was to consume the basket of popcorn, pretzels, and candies delivered yesterday from the Hilton.
We received a very nice Christmas letter today from Ted in Kalamazoo who, this summer, completed his TC restoration. That, in itself, doesn't differentiate him from a number of enthusiasts -- but he began the restoration in 1966! I sold him a crankshaft for the engine in 1971. That made me think of all the letters, cards, and notes we've received this Christmas. There was a very cute card from Meg who has an originally owned 77 supercharged MGB which we restored; Christina who does our advertising; Patty, an avid, dedicated, and thoroughly octagonal MGA owner; from our Paint supplier; from Mike, Neil, John and the staff at British Motor Heritage; from Casey and Dave at CD's engine service; from Colleen, an MGB owner; from Dave and Linda, owners of T's, A'a, and B's; from David, Lori, Sharon, and Phil at APT; from Kevin, our insurance man; from Roche and Richard and staff at the MGOC; from Steve, temporarily without an MG, in Tennessee, a former employee; from Rick, from the Carolinas, a Tech Seminar graduate; from Dave and Sue from the greater Detroit area; from Hank and Carol from NC; from Doug, an MGA Twin Cam owner, and our accountant; from Tim and Sue, from Canada; from Ken and Don and Staff at FUN services. Christmas is such a GREAT season!
Moving the cars in tonight was a real hoot. It's rained and melted most of the day but the ground temperature must be 32F for it was very, very icy. Some of the cars just couldn't get traction!
If you've made it this far, you'll learn about our stained glass MG. This was soldered together by George DeVries, an electrical contractor from Hudsonville, MI. George, at one time, had a TD Mark II and a TC. I believe the Mark II was shipped to the Netherlands. I'm not sure about the TC. George did some wiring for us at the old shop. His brother, Carl, stays in touch, but I haven't seen George in, well, in years! Every time I look at that stained glass MG I think of him, though! You can see all that snow outside, and Casey's jacked up truck -- Big Blue -- through the windows. Caroline's plants have wound themselves up in front of the stained glass.
