NYC Journal

I've done the paint jobs on my last two restorations, the first is the 1949 Rotrax, the second is the 1964 A.S. Gillott. I think both paint jobs came out well. I'm not only cheap, but also close to poor, so I'm aiming for least amount of cost with the highest amount of return. That's why I do my paint myself. As for durability, I'm pretty sure POR-15 is more durable than powder coat if the prep is done carefully for both. And it's cheap too. Heavy, but really cheap.
Phil
 
Phil,

Since the OEM original finish has a great fade/patina (Forest Green) that displays a wonderful aged look now 59 years old, I intend on just applying a clear coat to seal the original finish and pot the limited amount of surface rust. This is all DIY, but the kit costs a few hundred dollars.

The only cosmetic thing I need to do is replace the original wooden bed that currently is half gone and rotted out. About $1.5K for an oak replacement. Oh-well.

The idea here is show off the OEM and that the truck is a “survivor.” I’m not building out any show truck here. Fact is though is that the body and original paint is in remarkable original shape. There is a vast amount of beauty on display here.

From the outside it will look old truck… Pretty much nothing fancy or “loud,” at least visually.

The suspension kit does not support the factory OEM drum brakes so I have to upgrade them to discs. The steel wheels are a bit of a jump in modern profile, but will honor the retro look with utilizing dog dish wheel caps.

Also know I’m not slamming the C-10 by any means, lowered for a more car like handling and for a smoother ride. Not built for Autocross or any track, but setup for long highway drives. Basically a long-haul cruiser.

The 8-foot bed will still be usable for hauling. The truck arm rear I learned was once used in NASCAR before 4-link. I’m leaning now towards the coil-over suspension front and rear. The factory auxiliary springs might be usable with the new truck arms.

You know me: I’m a lazy-slacker.

Cal
 
I looked into keeping the original 15 inch OEM steel wheels. Problem is since I need a disc brake upgrade and that clearance issues are a problem and a limit with the small diameter rims, and then the old style 6x5.5 six-lug bolt pattern adds a further complication to compound things.

I can live with 11.75-11.8 inch diameter rotors on all 4 wheels. It would be cool if available drilled and slotted for both looks and performance. The way I drive anyways does not involve tail gating, or aggressive maneuvers, or sudden hard braking like in Autocross.

My Jeep Scrambler had similarly sized disc brakes on all 4 wheels, but then again the Jeep was lighter in weight…

Keeping and using the OEM steel rims would save about $1.8K, and captures the period correct look. My research so far shows I could buy a 6-lug rear kit from Wilwood, but I don’t see the 6-lug 1 1/2 wide rotor I need for the front. I don’t want to be overly creative and “Spackle” something together. Pretty much I want an engineered and fully designed braking system, and I don’t want to paint myself into a corner.

The truck came with extra narrow 15”x6.5” width steel rims. The OEM white over 59 years has faded to a yellowish ivory. I love the patina because it goes with the truck. If I can keep these wheels the outside appearance would be 1966 period correct.

That 250 cubic inch I-6 would kinda go with the rest of the truck…

Another savings would be in buying tires. Big selection and low prices. I would not have to buy tires that cost 3-4 hundred dollar each, perhaps $150.00 for a popular generic size, but a premium tire.

Last resort is a phone call to Wilwood. Honoring the OEM look would be mucho cool, and “Maggie” would get the bonus of a cushy ride. BTW this would be kinda counter trend, and I think mucho cool.

Pretty much going full retro is not practical, and upgrading to at least a more modern 17 inch at least might be a forced move.

The rim I love that retains the old school OEM look and vibe smallest diameter starts at 18 inch.

Less sidewall translates directly into a stiffer ride, so I don’t want 20 inch or worse 22 inch rims. 17-18 it seems is where I need to go, but for looks the 18 inch seems the way to go. First off it will exploit the new tighter less flex suspension and will handle better.

Am I OCD?

BTW can you see how my 1966 C-10 longbed Fleetside will kinda resemble the 1980 Checker Limo I owned. I would be pleased if it rode and handled like the limo. It featured steel 15 inch rims, but likely with an 8 inch width. Tires were a generic 225-235/75R15. Nothing special. The mucho tall sidewalls added cush, a lot of cush…

Cal
 
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I think I overuse the term OCD. I’d like to reframe what I do in a more positive light. Compulsive behavior I don’t believe is ever good, but then otherwise how do you have passion?

Would you rather live life in an “extra-medium” manner or have a passionate life? Does passion lead to having a more meaningful life or lead to more or stronger individuality?

So pretty much in my case I really display a childlike behavior in that I dream, daydream, and have that same sense of wonder. Perhaps/maybe this is because I was cheated out of my childhood due to harsh and rude beginings…

Then I’m retired, so I am not harried, and I have the time to really think. I think a lot, and I can say by looking around that most people don’t think, they just live, or are they really not alive? Anyways, my thinking is judgemental, but this thought of mine is easily displayed in observing how people drive: basically without any thinking.

I’m kinda being harsh here, and I know it…

So is living a dream or daydreaming bad? I tend to live there. I remember doing lots of escape and traveling via lots of reading. I have a remarkable sense of wonder and that also involves imagination. Perhaps that is why my creativity is so interdisciplinary.

I kinda am a hack of all trades. Snarky Joe is a man who kinda knows me, and he kinda suggested that pretty much I’m capable of doing or accomplishing almost anything. That kinda is a rare talent…

So my OCD tendencies are not really bad. I do kinda live in my own universe, but I’m not lonely. Pretty much my individuality is that strong, and pretty much there are few people who understand or know who I really am. I have grown to accept that…

I kinda stand out in a crowd, but I also kinda stand a lone, and that is why I feel like a loner, although I am widely known. Know that I would rather be by myself than in any group. Truly I am a loner…

Cal
 
The above writing is a bit of an epiphany. Kinda evident, but never really expressed. I think this somewhat is a product of aging.

This took some time to ferment and brew.

BTW the C-10 product is kinda like my bike build outs: an extension of my individuality and personality.

In a ways a metaphor that is physical and a display of mucho cool.

I learned from “Maggie’s” blog that if you want to stand out, don’t do or replicate what everyone else is doing. My intent is to just be myself though and not to stand out.

Cal
 
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Ever loose a wheel while driving 65 mph? Happened to me in Ohio on an Interstate in an overloaded 1980 Jeep Scrambler with the bed filled with my heavy constructions of multi-layers of images painted on layers of glass.

I could of easily been reduced into a red spronge and melded into a ball of steel and glass. Understand that Jeep CJ’s were known to roll over easily, and I lost my rear right wheel due to a bad wheel bearing. Because the quarter ton rated Jeep was heavily loaded as if a half ton I did not hear anything unusual.

I skid down the backing plate for the brakes for about 1/2 a mile, throwing up I imagine was a rooster tail of sparks. Initially the truck violently dropped/swerved, somehow did not roll, and I was able to maintain going straight. The Jeep fishtailed a bit, and I knew not to do anything sudden…

So the friction of the backing plate is what eventually slowed me down, and when I moved onto the shoulder at a much slower speed the heated backing plate sliced into asphalt like a hot knife. If I was going too fast I could of rolled the Jeep a second time.

I kept a cool head, and I engaged the clutch and put the tranny into neutral, then I went for basically an “E-Ticket” ride at Disney, not knowing if I would live or die.

When fully stopped I got out and the urge to wet my pants went away. The backing plate was red hot and I smelt the burning of tar from the asphalt shoulder.

My understanding of physics kinda saved my life…

So I never want this to happen again. The Jeep Dana 44 axels were kinda know for this weakness, so this is how my 84 Scrambler got a Ford 9 inch rear with Lincoln Continental rear brakes.

This was my first Currie Enterprise Ford 9 inch axel.

It seems that my new axel can be ordered with the retro 6x5.5 lugs to stay retro. Also Wilwood makes a 6x5.5 rear brake kit that includes a trick rear drum parking brake.

With a manual tranny I have the habit of engaging first gear with the engine off and using it as my parking brake. When I start the engine I just depress the clutch. Basically I don’t need a parking brake…

So pretty much I have the rear axel sorted out, the front I need the proper part number for the caliper, and I believe the rotor is the HD thick Chevy rotor from a later year truck.

There is a Wilwood master cylinder that has an adjustable proportioning valve to balance the front and rear brakes.

So here’s the deal: a firmer/stiffer suspension for tighter handling along with a lower center of gravity and stance, but this gets offset with some cushion from tires that have a tall sidewall. Should kinda simulate my old Checker Limo pretty closely.

Then there is the cool OEM retro look on a truck that out-wood-LEE looks 1966 period correct.

Cal
 
Housing starts took a nose dive. Understandable from a builder’s POV because of risk and higher “input” costs like lumber and sheetrock.

Not sure if the existing stock of houses will follow suit, but that is the next shoe to drop.

This is an outcome due to uncertainty, but also is the result of a slowing economy. If the U.S. economy slows down, so will the rest of the worth…

Cal
 
I am pleased that it looks like the 15x6.5 six lugs can be kept. These rims really go with the era, style, and period. Kinda classic and timeless.

Right now the fashion is shortbeds, low profile, and slamming, meaning parked on the ground using air-bags.

I’m already tired of this look because it seems like almost everybody emulates this. At this point it gets boring.

Air-bags or a compressor not only are higher maintenance, but when they fail you are kinda stuck.

Not for me.

So no power steering is not for everyone. In an urban area it is a real asset. In a race car like a Formula One it saves and conserves strength, but manual steering on an open road has a feel and a vibe of its own. Not for everyone, but I experienced it, and I loved it on open road.

Parking though took some strength and effort. Also because of friction turning the steering wheel when stationary is a test of upper body strength. Any movement though causes the friction to dramatically lift. There is a technic of making the steering efforts quick and coordinated with clutch inputs to start and synchronize steering and movement together.

Not so much different than a dance move. This is a learnt skill…

Cal
 
The markets churn…

Housing starts are around Pandemic levels of 5 years ago.

I would say the existing home prices have softened, but this I think is mostly due to consumer debt levels and high interest rates.

Two signs of a slowdown, then add in uncertainty and saber rattling…

Cal
 
I recognize I have a bias towards high profile tires. My experiences with the 1980 Checker Limo and the 1984 Jeep Scrambler both sported high profile tires, and I think I got use to or accustomed to that handling.

On the Jeep I had BFG All-Terrains 31x10.5 on 15 inch rims.

Been reading about the feel and physics involved. Evidently the tall sidewalls slow down steering inputs for a less precise or less rapid response. I can relate to that, because the Audi A4 has low profile 245/45R18’s. Not much sidewalls on the Audi, and the steering is very immediate and precise.

With the taller sidewall on the Jeep, I kinda got a bit more feel and feedback of the transition into drift. Come to think of it I kinda drove my 1967 Volvo 122S in the same way. I could kinda steer with the rear and control “drift.”

Also accelerating in turns, using genial acceleration combined with centrical force as an asset to increase road contact, footprint and traction. Tall sidewalls provide me feedback, while the Audi is very different.

The Volvo used the same sized tires as a VW Beetle. I remember wearing out a set of brand new tires in a year due to my high speed turning. Tall sidewalls became part of my style.

Anyways it seems the 1960-1970 C-10’s I think look best with high profile tires. The later Square Bodied C-10’s I admit look kinda boss dressed with low profile wheels.

In still have to call Wilwood for part numbers and advice for the front brakes for 6 six lug 15’s.

“Maggie” had physical therapy today. I walked doing laps around the hospital.

At a coffee shop we talked, and evidently she still feels socially isolated. I pointed out how writing is not a collaborative art form like theater or film making. Maggie lives in a different universe than me, but I understand her struggle.

In September she has a gig at SUNY Albany. She just missed a literary event in Narrowsburg that she wish she attended. Seems like she wants needs to be involved with other creatives. Then I mentioned going to MOOD in NYC once our sewing room is set up.

She expressed that NYC isn’t so interesting anymore…

Cal
 
“Maggie” seems a bit unsettled by her injury. Her lack of mobility, the pain and discomfort, seems to have aged her.

I have been to a degree been a caretaker. My Cancer treatment also has kinda put my life on hold. My outlook helps, but Maggie is very unsettled.

The warm flashes are strengthening. Kinda like the heat of drinking soup on a hot day, but they are random in occurrence. Seems like my body struggles to regulate my body temperature. Someone took note of me putting on a light jacket and taking it off several times during a conversation.

Soon a big part of my life will be radiation treatment 5 days a week for 8 weeks. The exception will be holidays. Hopefully I get my morning slot so my days don’t get killed. I am told to expect an added notch of fatigue.

Meanwhile I’m still on the max dose for the inhibitor and being closely monitored.

Maggie has physical therapy twice a week on top of that. Progress in her healing is slow, but our thinking she might need a hip replacement was pre-mature.

Cal
 
Oppressive heat today. High humidity.

It also rained last night which is great for our garden.

I now have a training partner. Chris is a guy who did marathon rides on bikes: Ran-DOM-earring. We met because he had a crazy bike Custom made for those events that are long events that go from day to night.

Formally a lawyer, so I profiled him as aggressive, argumentative and confrontational, but then he clarified that he was a real estate lawyer. LOL. Chris is likely a decade older than me.

We both have rust, and our base fitness is gone, then I have anemia that presents real limits on intensity and energy levels.

We have been in contact to hit the Empire State Trailway soon. Know that Chris also is a caretaker for his housebound wife, so pretty much with my radiation treatment about to start, I’ll be busy during the week attending treatments.

We expect to be doing lots of long-slow-distance. Chris is also an early riser like me. Pretty much an ideal training partner.

Cal
 
It seems my warm flashes are getting worse, and I have to sleep more. My blood work displays my normal which always was kinda out of range. The anemia remains the same.

I’ll call Snarky Joe about the artist talk tomorrow, Saturday.

The thunderstorm that was suppose to happen las night did not occur. I’ll water the gardens.

In the beginning of August is a Jazz festival out in Stony Brook Long Island. John Monteleone sponsors it and there will be an archedtop guitar exhibit, a talk and a bunch of performances. I have to look into this more.

My friend Cris will have some of his guitars featured in the exhibit.

Cal
 
Digging into coil overs, adjustment and setting ride height.

Pretty much I want to have enough understanding to ask the technical questions before ordering. Pretty much doing engineering homework.

Then that leads to trade offs and design compromises. Pretty much I’m not about “extra-medium” or doing what everybody else is doing.

I am still considering using a “static” set suspension for simplicity. One bonus is the dual-rate spring for an initial soft ride untill the second firmer part of the spring gets engaged. A simpler system, and pretty much it seems from what I gleen designed around a 28 inch tire size that in my application is not so big, and not too small.

If I want to keep the OEM look I need some height to the tires.

Then I really favor the bigger brakes, like 13 inch on the front, so I have to consider perhaps 18 inch wheels, but also want to retain sidewalls.

I would spring for replacing the front control arms with tubular versions for performance and for added caster for better geometry.

I also don’t want to cheap-out because this is my dream truck, and I intend on keeping this truck as an heirloom to pass onto the grandson. He is almost 3 and he wants me to gift him the truck.

Cal
 
A mild red screen now, earlier a mixed market.

While “Maggie” was getting physical therapy performed, I did another power walk for some blood flow. I started some weeight training and even with longer rest strokes I get winded, I huff and puff because of the anemia.

What I learned is that my muscles still have retained strength, but the blood and oxygen just isn’t what it use to be. So a gentle rest between each rep. Know I am using 30 pound dumbells and doing a squat to puck them up, a straight curl, then a press.

In a ways like a burpee, but no squat thrust or pushup added. I hope to build up to that, and pretty much I intend to start doing this every day. For now I’m just doing the soft squat to pick up the dumbbells that leads to an overhead press.

Did 25 so far today, and I’ll do at least another set if not a third today. Tomorrow full burpees with the dumbells…

I used a speed calculator on Currie’s web site. To figure out ideal gearing, and to see how the less powerful inline six would fair with stiffer gearing. I’m talking taller gears here, and it seems the I-6 with three on a tree (3-speed) would struggle to get close to 60 mph at 2500 rpm.

I have to check but likely the gears in the rear axel presently are 3.73, and the Ford 9-inch I want to install is a taller 3.50.

So the C-10 without an overdrive will struggle to sustain real highway speeds of 65-75 mph.

Oh-well… A good reason for the ZZ6 crate motor upgrade.

Cal
 
A strait set of just seven 30 pound dumbbell presses.

Anyways a gauge of strength. This is about half of what I can do if I were lifting regularly, and that is what I intend to do.

The thing is I generally do alternating arms. Doing two at the same time is different and possibly harder.

Still trying to get to skinny bitch mode. I wouldn’t be surprised if I’m 157.0 now.

Last night had fresh lettuces from our garden with a roasted chicken breast.

Also they say staying hydrated helps retain muscle mass.

Cal
 
Hi Devil Cal,

Tethering my Fat Pixel Back.

CFV16 Hasselblad Digital Back with Tethering to Macbook Pro 2012 by Nokton48, on Flickr

I found an original (still in the original bag) Hasselblad 400/800 Firewire Cord good for my CFV16 Hasselblad Digital Back. With this I can tether to my new to me Macbook Pro 2012 3rd version, last one before they went to USB only. Then ordered new from the Netherlands, Input and Output Cables for the CFV16. The Hasselblad Output Cable syncs up to my red Broncolor Pulso Strobe Cord, provides connection to my extensive set of Broncolor Strobes. The Hasselblad Input Cable, on the lower right, connects to PC Socket on any camera shutter, like my Sinar Norma and also Sinar Handy Technical Cameras. Waiting for the Mac to come back after a slight adjustment. This surely does beat shooting Polaroid Tests, in order to fine tune lighting and such. Looking forward to see full screen Macbook readouts. Should be fun.
 
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