Growth?

Mon.30.10.06. Colin has completed the rebuild of the block. His careful, detailed preparation has naturally produced a representative outcome. The block sits on the workbench glowing with engine black, spotless and tight, the muscular throbbing heart of the power train.

Chris simultaneously occupied himself by assembling the front and rear suspension units in addition to finalising the route of the brake lines. The rear vivid yellow Spax shockers that connect the lower brass trunnions, via the vertical link, to the semi-matt black elliptical leaf spring combine together to form the robust back quarter of the frame. With each day and every addition of either new or refurbished components the chassis grows, adding flesh to the bones pumping up the once naked skeleton.   

Colin had enforced his own particular sanitised working practices over the past few days but as expected the workshop has quickly returned to the disorganised muddled scrap heap that it has always been. In the blink of an eye it has reverted back to the jumbled, monochrome, textured landscape that I have become accustomed to over the course of the project. Throughout this period, promised, regular, persistent mutterings, usually beginning with “we must get organised” or “we are going around in circles” have, in the past, washed over me but presently there has never been such an opportunity to seize Colin’s banner insisting that ‘this must be the way the workshop should always function’. The assembly of the vehicle is the cherry on the cake, this should be savoured, thoroughly enjoyed to the full. Work benches should only display equipment that is essential for the task in hand. Only the appropriate sized sockets, spanners and incidentals should be accessible. 

The correct size and number of nuts, bolts and washers should have been counted then appropriately positioned, adjacent to the task. Thoughtful preparation, discipline and purpose should be the only doctrine, becoming of paramount importance. Everything that is unrelated should be stored, only made ready and available when one task has been completed. All of theses factors must be strictly adhered to if the operation is to develop smoothly to be ultimately successful. In other words, have only the right tools to hand, finish one job before taking on another and keep the rest of the ‘shoite’ out of the way. How simple, satisfying as well as rewarding it could be. I am not sure this will not happen.Whilst at home, I have been busily rubbing down then meticulously painting the ancillary parts such as the petrol tank, the engine mounts and plates, the rear radius arm brackets and the foot pedals.  After chasing a few phone numbers I learned that the news update on the gearbox confirms our opinion of Nutty Steve, who has proved to be the lying bastard that we had previously imagined. 

Neil has informed me that the unit requires a valve that engages the switch from normal into overdrive; this has never been present and, as such, as never functioned properly, if at all. Steve now festers up to his neck in deceit, deep in the pancreas of the ‘fuck off bin’. Another person who is sliding in that direction is Danny, who has still not returned my calls. Something is amiss. I suspect we are looking for a fresh painter.