Toxic Mix

Thurs.03.08.06. But I am starting to be very concerned. The unusually hot weather of July had meant that much less work on the body panels could be attempted. The fine dust, which appears to react with the heat of the day, resulting in an even more toxic mix, has delayed the project tremendously. I would estimate we are at least 4 weeks behind schedule. To make up this time, with November fast approaching, will be a major obstacle. I don’t think at any time during the project I have felt as pessimistic as I feel now.

I managed to source a local sandblaster today. He works out of JJ Bullens yard in Apply Bridge. He is called Dave; unlike ‘unhelpful Edwin’ he recommends that, if available, he could manage the job on Friday. Given this positive news I arranged with Mark directly to collect the chassis in the afternoon so that it could be loaded in preparation for the following day. The transporter in the past has been a pain in the arse always letting us down. Sometimes the battery has been flat, the gearbox is impossible to operate smoothly, the engine splutters, spits and croaks, the steering is unsophisticated and painfully stiff; all of these factors together with Chris perpetually pointing out how much better it could be driven added up to being an unpleasant journey. Surprisingly, with a new battery installed, the linkage to the box vastly improved we happily chugged around to Mark to, first of all, ‘divvying’ up what we owed him for the welding job on the chassis but also to collect the boxes of shot blasted parts that would now require an application of ‘galvafroid’ or powder coating. The total cost of the entire job came out at £110.00, which I regarded as money well spent. The additional reinforced brackets, Colin’s complex re-design of the tail end, the additional out riggers plus the many other minor modifications, all brought together with Andy’s top class welding, have transformed the chassis into a robust, durable, exceptionally rigid, impressive piece of engineering. It is the Dog’s.   

By the end of the day we were still debating where to convey the chassis after Dave had blasted the shit out of it. The favoured option would be to return the cleaned structure back to Mark, should any newly exposed areas necessitate re-evaluating; after which Edwin’s offer of powder coating could be considered. Though, my guess would be that an alternative solution, obvious and simple is more likely. We shall no doubt return to Westmead dumping it outside, propped up against the garage over the weekend to become as rusty as fuck, thus reinforcing the consistent overall absence of ‘proper’ procedure so far; this would be quite ‘logical’. 

 I am a touch more heartened after today; I have been unquestionably pro-active, directing, instigating and planning the project.