Weekend Round-Up for September 17, 2019

I’ve been lost this last weekend scrambling from one project to another but in sort of a mis-guided fashion. Maybe it’s because the Redhead is out of town. Her Dad turned 90. He’s a Korean War tank veteran and lost his DD214, so he gave up on the VA.

I smelled a rat. I reached out to DAV to see what we can do. I’m going for my VA hearing next Wednesday and maybe that has me distracted.

I’ve made progress on the Salt Torpedo. We are nearly finished with the Firewall puzzle. I need to take the gas tank off the frame, so I can tack the top two aluminum pieces. And I will start mounting one of the fire systems this week. I looked into ordering lead bars and maybe lead sheets ½-inch thick for frontal weight. We can add almost 75 pounds to the front of the vehicle without anything in the way.

Micah came over yesterday and we worked on the roll cage steel liner we recently found out about. It needs to be 0.090 thick steel, and we made a template out of art paper. I had a piece of sheet metal, but it was damaged and bent. I suggested we go to Phillips Steel and have them cut a fresh chunk. I asked Sarah if they could bend it and she said their fab shop could do anything. She was partly correct. They could bend it, but we need the front lower corners to be about 11 inches apart and the rear to be 13. That presented a problem. I’m waiting for a call.

We could handle some of this stuff in the shop, but 0.090 is getting sorta thick and unruly.

I also reached out to Kendal Trailers regarding a trailer for this puppy. I’ve tried to make it out to Interstate Trailers through Trailers plus a couple of times. It’s a haul to Redlands. I spoke to a guy, who didn’t seem to want to help. I like their tilt-up trailers, but they are almost five grand—spendy.

I want to start on another Cantina Episode. I have a notion to follow, but I need a few hours of peace. I also printed out Liza Palmers notes about my screenplay and will get started on changes to Splintered Road, maybe tomorrow.

Tomorrow is also refinishing the kitchen wooden counters day. I just got back from the Nissan dealership. That was a waste of time. They had to order a part and wanted me to come back tomorrow. No way. I have shit to do. I will confirm they have the part before I make another appointment. I’m only getting 10 mpg and asked about it. All of a sudden, it seems to be a mystery. I believe I was told 17-22 mph, so I wanted to see if it needed tuning. The tags on the new models say, they are not required to show fuel figures–by the EPA. Crazy.

I finished my goofy yard light and it works, but just okay. I need to test it with a larger wattage bulb. It’s cool, because we can move it around the yard, if we need light in a particular location.

I road tested the new leather Bandit’s Dayroll and it worked like a champ to hold the shit and my tools. I ordered some with some slight modifications. As soon as they arrive, we are planning a photo shoot with Markus Cuff, the magnificent photog, my Grandson and the lovely Em. The knockout Imogen, from the great Frog Jewelry, might also pose. Then I need to get all this stuff edited and on the site.

I’m still trying to work with Gene Thomason on a story about his history with Bartels’ and building bikes for movies or celebrities.
I believe I’m getting somewhere. I just got off the phone with another trailer company. It’s nuts, the cost differences. I could buy a utility trailer for about $1200, but then they jump to four grand.

My problem is space to store the bastard. I just called PDQ Trailer Rentals. It might not be a bad notion to rent one, but I need to check the pricing and if they deliver them. I also spoke to Marksman Trailers.

The Redhead returns tomorrow. I better get to work on those counters. Let’s see how the rest of the week unfolds. It’s never dull around here and always exciting. Jeremiah just stopped by and helped me measure the hatch in the fiberglass to turn the petcock on. It’s always dicey cutting into our precious fiberglass body.