Finally back on track after long period of silence.
Workshop was completed weeks ago, and now stores majority of the spares on two sets of pallet racking. Bought two bays of 3m each, and this keeps everything quite neat and easy to access when needed. Now looking for another two uprights and two 3m spans, to make a work bench. Unfortunately, my source has run out, and at $150 for a complete set with 4 cross pieces it is hardly surprising!
I have been keeping busy restoring/rebuilding small items such as fuel pumps, intake manifolds, air filters ect. The long awaited arrival of rolling chassis is yet to occur. Ground too wet where it is coming from to have it towed to a location where tilt tray can load it. The ground there was quite like a peat bog last time I was there, around 3-4 weeks ago.
There have been several incidents over past 2 months that have had things come to a halt. Several bouts of ill health (with short stay in hospital once), work commitments, and a couple of trips away for sourcing parts. Also had nasty computer virus which kept me busy for aroud 2 weeks until I finally remedied the situation. As a result of that, I suspect there may have been emails sent to me around that time which I did not get. If any of you have emailed and not been responded to, PLEASE re-send!
A gentleman I met following a parts purchase on ebay some time ago, tipped me off that he was travelling to a rural town approx 90min from me, and I met him there to pick up a rear axle and two 20" wheels with old tyres. The tyres were rock hard yet crumbly on outside. When I attempted removal, these tyres just laughed at sledge hammer and crowbar. I even resorted to trying to cut a hole with an angle grinder, with result of worst rubber smell that I have experienced since Dad made two rubber 'swans' from car tyres when I was a child. Incidently, the grinder wheel wore out well before desired result, and I had to concede defeat. Took the wheels/tyres to a local truck tyre service centre. It cost me $20 each but was well worth it. They told me it took around 45min for each removal and they were the hardest removals they had EVER experienced. I don't doubt that. The bloody axle is STILL ON THE TRAILER (retrieved it 4 weeks ago++). It was loaded onto trailer by the farmers excavator....but.....I don't have an excavator to get the damn thing off. I have been taking that bloody thing with me everywhere I had to use the trailer since then. But, ha ha, I will have the last laugh. I am nearing completion of a gantry crane outside the workshop entrance. Figured the axle problem was a 'sign' of future needs for hoisting heavy stuff.
Remember the engine I once failed to get out of a cab11? Once crane is finished and proved itself, I will be going back to get it ASAP. The guy I mentioned earlier also gave me a treasure map to a farm that has a 'good' flathead v8, and he feels I may get this for a song. He had declined to take it while taking other more substantial parts. The farm is less than 1/2hr from my place, classic! Proves you just have to know which rocks to turn over, to find the gold.
Will post some workshop photos etc, this weekend.
Tony