2 Tires

Got the first two tires mounted today.Took them over to my favorite tire shop, Western Tire in Burbank.I'm not going to put them on the car yet. I ordered a set of steering arms from Eckler to see if I can increase my turning radius a bit. We'll see if they fit. [They do not!]

Paint Play

Got to mix up a small batch of my new paint I bought last week to spray the little panel I'm putting my shift indicator in. I really like this paint. It's Valspar 327 Series High Solids Acrylic Urethane Enamel. It takes a reducer and a hardener but I just mixed it ad hoc in the pot and sprayed. No problem at all! Dried nice and shiny and I'll let it sit in the garage til next weekend when I will mount the indicator and figure out how I am attaching it to the dash. I love single-stage paint.

New Wheel

Today was a nice day and a trip to the local wrecking yard seemed like a fine thing to do. I needed one more wheel since one of the four '70's Buick wheels had gotten damaged. I had to hit the ATM to get some cash first, then paid my $2 to gain entry to the yard. I had my big bucket with tools in it along so I could remove the wheel and maybe some other small parts if I found something interesting. Within a few minutes I found a '76 Cadillac which had all four wheels removed and laying nearby. I looked at the two fronts, deciding I'd like to get those two so I had one wheel as a spare. Both tires were flat and shot. I walked to the front of the yard to see if I could find a cart or wheelbarrow, but someone was walking off with the last one just then. So I walked back and grabbed one wheel and tire, and manhandled it with my tool bucket to the checkout windows. It seemed several other folks had wheels/tires in line too. It took forever to get through the line, and when I got to the window, I found out why... If you want a wheel AND a tire, you have to pay for both even if the tire is shot, as was the case with my prize. He said something like $20... EACH! Further inquiry on how to buy just the wheel I needed proved a little frustrating, since he did a poor job of explaining, which is why everyone with wheels and tires in front of me in line had taken so long.

Turns out to be a little scam. To avoid paying $20 for a worthless tire I would have to pay $3.50 in cash, in advance at this window to get a ticket to get the tire breaker station at the yard to remove the tire for me. Then I would have to come back to the window to pay for the wheel, which I think he said was going to be around $20 also. Well, if I took the tire home, I'd just have to pay a disposal fee at the tire dealer, probably about $5, so I'm money ahead... except the $2 I paid to enter the yard makes me $0.50 behind. Then too I gotta lug this heavy buggar over to the breaker and back with my tools. Up to this point I was thinking I would buy the one and take it to my truck, then go get the second... that idea died about here. Wait in line at the breaker, then go back... with just the wheel and tools so the load is lighter now... and stand in line at the window again. Then lug it to the gate and have someone smear red ink pen on the wheel and the receipt, then lug it out to my truck. I was done for the day after that.

The good thing is, I fit the wheel to the front rotor and it fits without scraping anywhere. I compared it to one of the Buick rims and it looks identical. All I lack now is a spare and I think I'll just order a chrome smoothie and get it delivered. Phooey. I think they run about $30 and when you figure the time and hassle, I think I'd pay double that to avoid the wrecking yard experience again.

You know, yards are great. I enjoy the self service ones for small parts I can manage myself. This is the first (and last) time I tried to get large, heavy items myself and I think it is definitely worthwhile to go to a full service yard or order online for those items.

Don't (Re)Tread On Me

The new Diamondback Classic tires arrived tonight via UPS. The driver was not at all impressed that I accepted delivery in my boxer shorts but he didn't complain either. Might have to get at least two of them mounted up this weekend.

Dash Paint Mix-up

I had a local paint shop mix me up a quart of single stage paint for the interior metal and trim. Took the glove box door over to them Saturday but it was too late to get it mixed up. They had it ready to go when I stopped by today after work. It needs a reducer and a hardener, so the yield will be over two quarts. More than I need but good to have extra. Looks like the color a good match. Certainly far better than the spray bomb I had made up at that scratch-fix place awhile back. That stuff was so red it was unusable. I did spray it on the kick panels before I put them in but they are semi hidden and not so noticeable.

Success!!!

I got the brain box back from Dakota Digital this week and finally had a chance to test it today. AND IT WORKS!!! Flawlessly!

Meanwhile, the under-dash housing I'm going to mount the indicator in needs to be painted so I took my glove box door over to the local paint shop to get a quart mixed up to match the dash. They were open but unfortunately I got there too late for them to mix it today. I had to leave the door with them and they will call me Monday.


What's left to do?

• Finish wiring the shift position decoder (safety relay and backup lights need done).
• Paint the housing and mount the shift position indicator. 
• Get new tires.(Should arrive next week sometime.) 
• Get a 4th rim.
• Get tires mounted on rims.
• Enjoy the car!