A bloke multi-tasking?

Thurs.25.09.08. Oddly enough I have encountered greater problems whilst in France than I ever expected to find upon my return; but that’s another story. Chris has had a very productive period employing the talents of ‘Brockie’ yet again and also Dick, the wonder boy of auto electrics. Colin has been recruited to tackle all the tricky technical stuff involving minor areas of welding as well as crawling underneath the car to produce miracles from seemingly impossible angles. Two of which have been creating an acceptable, attractive method of attaching the dashboard to the scuttle top then diversely, connecting the petrol tank to the filler cap. By offering up the dash to the scuttle, pre-drilling locating holes it was then an easy job to weld retaining bolts to the back of the flanges at each end of the back scuttle. All that remains is the appropriate selection of the decorative nut which will secure the dash to the frame of the scuttle.

Secondly, the problem of the connection between the petrol filler hose and cap has finally been tackled. A relatively simple task on most vehicles but typically the Burlington has been stubborn, difficult needing precise cuts at various lengths and contours to achieve a smooth effective link. Such tasks have haunted Chris for more the several months. Just like any other distasteful laborious job that requires mustering up enthusiasm with measured consideration finally concluding with apparently very little satisfying closure, but nevertheless extremely crucial, contributing a fundamental addition to the whole. It is a little like ‘unblocking drains’ when one cannot guarantee finding oneself in strange contorted body positions, yet simultaneously haunted by the risk of being suddenly drenched in shite. Brockbank has completed the snagging list that Chris has been avoiding for many months. Having these tasks completed, by proxy, has lifted the 50lb lead jacket from his back.

Meanwhile, Dick continues to perform equally wonderful tasks with the electrics, literally every switch, gauge, clock, bulb, functioning at its optimum. The engine has been turned over, without oil and fuel; but by achieving this, another milestone has been reached. The dreadful worry that water would piss out of every orifice has since been rendered to a misdemeanour. The different metals expanding by the application of local heat: they at present are sealed and given the imminent firing up of the unit the core plugs should remain watertight for good.