SPRING LOVE IT & HATE IT

[wolfman98]

Well there is the expression s**t happens , but it seems it always happens to me. This morning I went into the basement to cut out the material I had for the cardboards for both my 69-98 convertible and my brother's 52 Cev Styleline Deluxe. To my horror I found 3-4" of water covering the floor. I have a pump in my sump hole because this is always a problem every spring and it was working fine last night when I was down there about 7:30 pm. but it must have crapped out sometime during the night. I changed over to my backup pump and the basement is draining now but the damage has been done. I laid out the cardboards to flatten them so the were on the floor with some plywood on top to do the job. I was also going to build some more shelves in the basement so I had a lot of 1x4 and 2x4 on the floor. I found the wood and plywood floating in the water and pulled out the cardboards as carefully as I could and placed them up on a work table. They don't look good and I lost a couple of pieces off them where they fold over. The rest of my restoration on the front end of the 69 Olds is also going a lot slower than I have expected. The biggest problem has been removing the rubberized undercoating that was put on the underside. Whoever did it was really sloppy and got it on the inside of the fenders and all over all the bumper brackets. This is only going to be a summer car so there is no need for undercoating , and it will only trap moisture when it gets old and separates from the metal but still holds together. Today I have to cut off the bolts from my manure spreader and remove the wood floor as it is rotting from both ends and needs to be changed. This will not be an easy job since I have to do everything myself. Being on disability for my neck has also slowed progress on the car and jobs that need to be done. I can't work too long as I lose feeling in my hands and have a lot of pain in my neck and shoulders. Waited 8 months to see the specialist and now I have to wait 3-6 months for an M.R.I. Living in rural Nova Scotia means there is 1 place for everyone to get that done unless I want to pay 1500 for a private M.R.I. Since I have no extra money I have to wait then I go back to the specialist to see what can be done then if he can do something ( probably a spinal fusion of 3 vertabrae) and then wait for my turn in operation list. Meantime I am on the list to see a shoulder specialist to see if I can get calcium removed that is causing tendonitis in both shoulders , this also restricts how much I can do on the car. I work alone and doing things I have not done especially on the motor so thank the lord that I have 69 service manuals for chassis and body. I will have to put aside the cardboards for a while.

[citcapp]

Summer will be here someday then it will all be worth it. Keep your spirits up it gets better

[Jamesbo]

Ouch,

I've had my share of back problems [not as serious as your sounds] and it always come at the most inconvenient time possible.

I used to know an ole farmer who was a great friend. He used to say, "Don't worry 'bout it, they'll be a plenty of work left when we're gone."

Being a type A personality, I know it's frustrating. But, my advice is to look after yourself first. You're the head of a personel dept on 1.

[wolfman98]

Well I got most of the basement cleaned up then I took the tractor over to till up the garden and rake some. I have to replace the bottom in the manure spreader as it's pretty rotten. 3 sheets of 3/4" spruce to do the job after I get the old stuff out. I have to first grind out the old carriage bolts cause they are rusted all to crap. There is a ton of them but I am not replacing them , just screwing down to some 2x6 I am going to use for extra support. I am starting to get done fixing up the Olds and while I have your attention I would like to know what are the best fluids to put back in when she is put back together. As far as oil should I use 10-30 or 10-40 . Same goes for tranny fluid and brake? P/S fluid ? I have lots of octane booster when I run it , the highest I can get for fuel here is 91. Someone also suggested that you can add 1/4 of a pint of ATF fluid to the gas to replace the lead substitute which is getting hard to find. Do you guys have any input? Thanks again for your support I am getting through it slowly. The hardest part lately has been scrapping off the rubberized undercoating but 1 more day and all the brackets should be done. http://www.flickr.com/photos/wolfman98/