Monday was a day of accomplishment and visitors!
Casey hung the doors and began working with the wood cockpit rails on the MGA. We're now at the point that we'll have to stop for a couple of days so that the missing parts can be order, received, and used parts assembled. It's all so very, very close!
The young men worked on the 1973 MGB, even fitting the soft top. Now all that's left is the final fit of the windscreen.
Curt was gone all day. He had two funerals to attend at the same time, but not in the same place. He chose to visit his family in the Bay City area where his father's sister just passed away on Friday. He said he saw family members he hadn't seen in thirty years.
I finished the Sunbeam Tiger (I would have attached a picture of that, but it was slightly out of focus). I began work on this 1974 TR6. My job is to tune it!
Earlier in the day one enthusiast stopped by to ask about the Carburetter Seminar. His wife and mother had jointly given him, as a Christmas gift, a registration in the carb rebuild seminar. He wanted to know, today, what tools and parts he should bring. I copied a section of the workshop manual so he could study up and better learn the function, care, and feeding of the SU carbs. Then, a customer from Hastings, needed a housing for his Midget 1500 distributor. Later, Mr SC stopped around to purchase a second rear soft top bar. Seems that the upholstery shop discarded the first. Then, a tire shop in the greater Detroit metropolitan area called, hoping for a miracle. They were changing tires on ROstyle wheels and two of them ended up stolen or junked. Few owners can drive their MGB on three wheels!
Mr KMcK called from Peterborough ON to purchase a tech book. He bemoaned the fact that he'd be hit with customs. I launched into my anti-NAFTA speech, which calls for the succession of Quebec from Canada, at which time the rest of the Provinces would throw in with the USA and we'd be one big country as it should be. Then they could be rid of those dual language signs and we'd have more fishing lakes. Oh, there's more....
Then Craig called from SCS, another MG shop out east, looking for a paint code for the Ivory on a TD or TF. An enthusiast called from MN to ask about hauling an MGB/GT from Texas back home -- with an incomplete differential. I suggested he take another diff with him and swap them, there.
A long time friend and associate stopped by to say he'd had it with trying to find employment in Grand Rapids. He was keen to join the Peace Corps and move to the Samoan Islands.
I located and photographed a Magnette gearbox for Barney Gaylord of IL who hosts the MGA Guru website. We received a steering column for an MG PA from a customer in WI. Another customer from FLA called about the costs of bringing in a Heritage Body Shell.
The day kept going, but I shan't bore you more.
Say, here's a new addition. If you haven't already seen "The Gods Must be Crazy" you must! Every Land Rover owner has a copy (just as every Mini owner has the Michael Caine version of "The Italian Job"). This Land Rover has a rod knock. Ouch! Notice the shovel and axle chained to the front bumper.
Well, if you've made it this far, you'll want to know about our Castrol sign. This was wired to our fence at 614 Eastern. For years and years we have been loyal Castrol customers. When Steve French approached me, representing Michigan Automotive, some 20 years ago, and asked me if I would buy a different oil if he PROVED the other oil was better -- I told him NO! Castrol! A product of the Burmah-Castrol Corporation. It's in the workshop manual. From our long association we became friends with Larry Elliott who had been, for years, the Michigan Castrol rep. I mean, really, in the great scope of things, our purchase of Castrol products doesn't merit even an asterisk -- but Larry appreciated our loyalty and always provided cool gifts for the Summer Parties. He got this sign for us, too. Remind me to tell you about the time Gregg snagged the fence and pulled it around the block.
