Larry Gray's Journal

Well after some time, I finally got my garage/tent back up.

Now I need to fix the ding on my daughter's BMW, then I can finally get back to the Money Pit.

Well, the weathers getting better, but I'm on hold until I can re-erect my enclosure.

About 4-weeks ago, we had high straight line winds that blew my enclosure over. It pulled the trainer stakes right our of the ground.

Yesterday and today I used a post hole digger and rock breaker spike to dig holes. I buried the spikes in 150 lb. of concrete.

Hopefully this will hold the enclosure down. If the weather holds I can start re-construction as I ordered and received pipes tp replace those too bent to re-use.

Well, as the weather has started to turn cold I've purchased a propane heater and started the interior.

I stripped the seats, straightened support bows. I purchased new seat bottom and back foam, and seat bottom glands.

After grinding the rust, and old paint and adhesive, I painted the seat frames and rails. When I unpacked the seat foam, I found that the little furry creature I've shared my plastic garage with has decided he/she needed foam for its nest. No I need to repair the foam (the little bugger better watch out for may hammer).

I'm making new wooden sections to replace the Masonite for the back cushion side plate clips.

It will be a few days before I get to the seats as the weather is turning to single digits and the heater doesn't do that well.

Stretching the seat glands to hook the fasteners was really tough as the cold wouldn't let them stretch very much.

I pulled the York 210 Compressor off the build car to install on the rebuilt engine. I look like the loser in a cat fight.

I checked the solenoid and it works. I additionally broke down all of the attachment parts and cleaned/painted them.

The compressor clutch needed a new bearing and I traced that down and ordered one. I have a question to an eBay store for a rebuilt York 210, but I want to make sure the replacement compressor is R134 compatible.

More to follow.

I found that the compressor was rebuild for either R12 or R134.

I've also found new clutch assembly as I tried twice and couldn't find the right bearing. I'll also need a new drier/accumulator.

After almost a year, I now have an engine with dual Weber 40DOCEs, TriumphTune intake manifold, header, profiled cam, high compression pistons, new connecting rods, skimmed ported and polished head, all new bearing, bushings, and seals, and lightened flywheel.

I'm awaiting a high torque starter, high amperage alternator, and a hose adapter; then I can marry it to the transmission and start the work on the build car, Money Pit.

I finished the rebuild of my TR7 5-speed transmission.

Yesterday, I broke down the rear casement. Today, I broke it down the front end, checked the bearings and replaced all gaskets, and seals.

I only installed one gear upside down (I wish the books I have had photos, not illustrations). I also had a hard time bolting the front and back sections to the main plate. I grabbed the wrong bag of bolts; no wonder they didn't want to fit.

In the photo, please notice my elaborate transmission stand; $3 worth of large cinder blocks. What the heck - It worked.

I also installed new rubber bushings on the shifter extension.

All I need are my cam shims and I can put the engine/transmission rebuild to bed and get down to the build car.