29 September 2013

june bug update

Here's the quick update on the green 40...
I've been using it as a town car,
still a little chicken to run it on the freeway.
Trying to get the rattles out of it first,
and hook up some gauges to the engine.
1940 ford coupe - hoodless!




















One thing I had to do was take off the hood,
since there is no floor it gets awfully warm.
I'm holding off on the floor until the shifter is conjured up.
Yeah I'm still crouching down to shift it right at the arm!
rat rod




















So far the farthest we've gone is about 4 miles away.
If anyone's got an 8" posi center section with 3.xx gears lying around let me know!

TP

27 September 2013

transformation of the pat lash roadster


One of the guys I was really bummed not to be able to meet up with
on the venture north was an old friend Pat Lash.
It's been a couple years since I've seen him,
but it's been at least 5 years since I've seen his roadster and other projects.
Pat Lash & friends


























Here's the early version of the contraption that he built.
Super channeled,  inline-6 engine,  hallock style windshield...
One of the first bare metal super slammed hot rods of this current era,
the San Jose style.
pat lash roadster - 2007 - last antique nationals - palmdale




















Here's a good comparison shot.
The Red Dot II was channeled but super high compared to his.
Same body style, totally different car.
Red Dot II - 29 ford roadster w/ Hallock windshield




















What the heck.
I'm gonna throw more pictures in here,
as this was a fun time.
This was the last Antique Nationals in Palmdale - 2007.
Pat brought his silver bullet down,
and Luke/Pigpen and I had the old Red Dot II and Chief.
Good times...
You can see my tendency for hot rods that can also go off-roading!
Chief - 1929 roadster pickup with hallock windshield




















Here's another cool shot.
This is the last Asphalt Invitational 2007 up in San Jose.
We've got Pat's roadster, Sloppy's RPU, Red Dot II, and the June Bug 40.
More good times...
Asphalt Invitational - 2007



















Pat's attention to detail is most likely the reason he doesn't have a hot rod shop.
He really should.
The problem is finding someone who could afford all the hours he invests.
He has no ability to half-a$$ and cut corners!
Pat Lash Roadster





















Everyone loved the earlier version of his roadster,
a big spread in the Rodder's Journal.
I remember when I first met him,
he would say how he wanted to un-channel it.
After all the work he put in,
I thought he was crazy.
Might as well build another car!
track nose




















If you study this picture,
you'll see the relocation scar of the side steer mount,
at least 4 inches higher now.
What an awesome start to that track nose!
proper




















The amount of modification he's done is ridiculous.
Before the rear of the engine was cut into the top of the cowl.
Now it looks like that's all patched up,
with a new firewall and this bitchin relief bubble.
nicson - chevy 6




















Even with all this insane aluminum work,
I bet Pat's most excited about that rubber radiator hose.
Now that the engine is even with the cowl,
he was able to remove his old hood ornament!
sweet




















Looking at these pictures I'm super bummed to have missed seeing this in person.
Check out the little latches and fan surround.
welded




















Here's some cool progress shots.
Each piece hammered or rolled,
than welded and blended.
He's probably still using his ancient Linde Tig machine.
The street lights flicker when he turns that thing on!
smooth




















These are early shots before the hood bubble.
I'm guessing the intake or carbs were removed at this point.
rollers




















Here's the most recent shots.
It is the exact opposite of my hacked hood I threw on in one night!
fit




















They took it up to Billetproof last week,
and I'm curious how much it's changed on the road.
He's had no floors this whole time,
and I know that it's a much warmer drive even with a partial hood,
especially with a belly-pan.
Dang it check out that belly-pan!
pat lash roadster - 2013




















I'm sure he's got a modified windshield plan,
and maybe some dark green paint.
I gotta get up there!
Thanks for the pics Sharon & Pat!

TP

24 September 2013

busted in Eureka

Wow it's been almost 2 weeks already.
I've finally settled down enough to write this.
If you've ever seen a movie you thought was a comedy,
but ended up being an uncomfortable horror-drama - this is it!
eel river


























A little stroke of luck allowed me a business trip up to Humboldt County.
The last time I had been up that way was ouch 20 years or so.
I jumped at the chance to rent a car and make the trek.
mobile hotel




















My early start was typically pushed to the late evening.
Hey it's hard to leave the family in the middle of dinner/backgammon night.
I also figured this would allow me to linger up north a little longer.
The little rental was a dart going up the endless 5 freeway,
and I was able to make it up to Mendocino County by the time my eyes crossed.
somewhere in Mendocino County




















Isn't it strange how fast you can go to sleep in the back seat of a car?
I woke up to the sweetest smelling fresh air in recent memory.
The fog rolling over the pine covered mountains...
cows mooing as I brushed my teeth...
Time to hit the road.
There was an easy 200 miles to go.
Jaxon Keys




















I've never seen "Jaxon" on a public sign before.
It was like a postcard.
willits - gateway to the redwoods - for now




















The last time I had driven up this way,
it seemed like there were more stop and go communities to go through.
You know the ones that have the sudden stop lights and speed traps,
after blitzing down the highway for hours.
future 101 willits bypass


















This may be the last time I drive through Willits,
the Gateway to the Redwoods.
They've begun the massive highway project around the little city,
which will cut at least 15 minutes off any future drive.
redwood highway - 101




















The cruise up the Redwood Highway was much more relaxing than before,
mainly as the brand new rental car had less than 2800 miles on it.
Previous ventures north were in VW buses powered by the anemic flat-4.
I didn't say it wasn't fun back than,
only that there was always a lingering sense of doubt.
Actually if I remember correctly there probably wasn't any doubt.
I believed a good '71 bus was indestrucable
as long as I had 10 and 13 mm wrenches, a swiss army knife, spare tire,
and whatever else was suggested in the "How to keep your VW alive" life manual.
rattlesnake peak - redwood highway 101




















These were the shots I had hoped to see.
The early morning fog over the peaks,
the huge redwoods in tight windy roads.
the sun peaking through the trees...
Of course all this blurred by the random bird poop on the windshield.
I used up all the windshield fluid trying to wipe this thing off!
redwood highway - 101


























By early afternoon I finally made it through the forest,
and was met by what looked like the sad run-down city of Eureka.
You'd think the planning department would try to figure out how to make
this place the coastal forest tourist mecca of Northern California.
Instead they funnel the freeway traffic into the downtown area,
which is peppered with early morning tweakers and the county jail.
I'll admit with only 2 hours of sleep and a 750 mile drive,
it was a little depressing to see such a reversal.
eureka california




















After a bit of mindless driving,
I learned the city's layout and found that Eureka was similar to any random town,
and it wasn't dominated by tweaker zombies like it had seemed.
Eureka Harbor




















Eureka is the only deepwater port in Northern California,
but you wouldn't know this by looking at it.
The harbor is split into a Eureka side and Samoa side.
During the timber era,
there must have been barges galore.
Now that the restricted logging is moved by big rigs,
the harbor caters to the fishing industry.
eureka harbor


















I knew very little about Eureka,
but I could remember some parts of Arcata,
which is a couple miles north.
A friend and lawyer Rob went to Humboldt State,
and he was the reason to go up and visit.
mad river slough




















For a couple years he lived in the Mad River Slough,
or most likely in the Arcata Marsh.
His house was crazy.
There was a series of 2x12's traversing the front yard,
as the house was slowly sinking into the marsh.
I remember there was a slight tilt and one room was uninhabitable,
depending on the moon and tides,
as the water soaked into the floor.
You could literally toss a ball out the back door and the dogs would swim after it.
A very surreal place but under 21 and going to college what could be better?!

Sadly if you believe in Global Warming or tsunamis,
this is the type of area that will be inundated quite rapidly.
Otherwise this would be prime real estate!
east arcata




















I'm used to driving 8 miles just to go to the metal mart.
I drove half that and I was basically in the middle of the forest.
On the way out there were some beautiful properties.
Horses, little one lane bridges, cows, barns,  and trees.
Most energizing was the air.
That thick brown so-cal smog layer was long gone.
little bridge




















Back to reality.
This wasn't an extended stay,
but I did get that epically short bike ride in.
The plan was to head back south across the Redwood Highway,
and car camp somewhere to get a fresh start in the morning.
locomotive




















Do you remember the San Diego beer tour a couple weeks back?
Well I had found a brewery map and thought a solo version of that would be fun.
A slower drive home but there would be an array of growlers to enjoy.
lost coast brewery - eureka




















My first stop was the Lost Coast Brewery in Eureka.
The smell of beer and macaroni/bbq sandwich filled the air.
They didn't have an obvious growler refill or sale though.
Then the curtain came crashing down,
somebody had shaken me awake
3628 quimby st san diego ca 92106


























The one time I go out of town any distance,
and the neighbors had to call the police on the kids skateboarding.
At 6 pm on a thursday I couldn't figure out why the new neighbors were so uptight,
especially to get the police involved.
This was a confusing situation,
as we had an extensive conversation the month before,
and the guy said he'd never call the cops,
his dad was an ex-con and he didn't like the police in his business.
Now there are the 3 policemen/women in front of his house.
The neighborhood is usually so mellow,
that every neighbor was outside thinking someone was injured or robbed.
going back home




















There was no way to enjoy a peaceful lollygag home.
Time to head back...
world famous tree house


























By the time I got to the middle of the redwood forest,
the cops were still at the house.
An hour and a half later!

Whatever the original complaint was had snowballed into an unneighborly nightmare.
They were angry about all sorts of random stuff - 
The skateboarding decibel level,  dogs barking, me working on our cars,  
everyone parking in front of their house, missing the premier of dancing with the stars...
who knows what else.
san diego police on whine patrol


























Granted they are a couple with two small children that paid 660K+ for a 2 bedroom house,
then spent 2 months remodeling it.
Sure they thought they finally made it to their little slice of heaven,
only to live under a major airport flight path and see our clothesline from their backyard.
Woohoo welcome to Point Loma!
After five years we've learned to coexist with the neighbors,
and in the past month I've really toned down on the noise.
I know what it's like having little kids and an aggravated stay at home wife.
I figured if they like gas powered gardening tools, yapping dogs
and not picking up dog mess for weeks,
there was a possibility to live next to a guy wrenching on his old cars.
In less than 3 months at their new house,
somebody has called to report dogs barking at 2 houses, me wrenching, and now the kids skating.
In addition someone had called code enforcement on us a week before this had happened!
TP self portrait - 




















Needless to say I was riled up,
and hauled a$$ home on my 2 hours sleep.
oakland bay bridge




















Fortunately I was able to drop by Luke/Pigpens new pad near Oakland.
A cool little culdesac ranchito right off the freeway.
No pics of his lagging sportster project or shop dog Cole...
speed merchant - ticket


























Halfway down the 5 freeway I was bushed.
Time for a nap...sunrise...holey chit better get going!
40 minutes and 60 miles later...
just what I needed.
A 90 MPH speeding ticket.
Thankfully the CHP wrote only an exceeding the speed limit infraction.
Frickin frack...
It did help to tone down the ride home through 8am LA traffic.
1637 miles in 40 hrs























I made it home in time to turn in the rental a day earlier than expected.
The 1637 mile marathon with 4 hours sleep in 40 hours was over.
All for a half hour meeting!
The family was exhausted and confused by the previous days ordeal,
and it was time to recuperate.
public parking




















So you're probably wondering what's happened in the aftermath.
The next day,
I had parked the van in front of his house mostly out of convenience,
but with a little disrespect,
as this was a guy who said he would never call the cops.
Now he was ranting and raving all kinds of f-word profanities,
and even threatened a civil harassment suit for parking on a public street.
I realized then that there were some serious anger issues.
Not only do these people like to bully an 11 year old kid into not skating in the alley,
but he doesn't mind acting like a public donkey doing it.
11 year old honor student or public nuisance?


























As renters with kids we're in a bit of a bind.
We like the area,
and my 97 year old grandmother lives 2 houses away.
It is obvious these new neighbors would love to see us move,
and they are trying whatever they can to make us uncomfortable.
Now is the time to be Zen.
There are too many positive things going on right now,
that caving in to the dark side will only restrict these new opportunities.
I learned this by weeding the back yard.
Instead of trying to grow in a spot that has gone to seed or compost,
a plant will simply grow in the spot right next to it,
and thrive!
Time to chill a little and regroup...

TP

23 September 2013

ju-ju head

What do you all think?
This was given to me at an estate sale.
It was sitting nondescriptly on a brick wall sconce,
overlooking the family's front yard for years.
concrete ju-ju head - "constipated man"


























You know I couldn't resist something like this!
perich brothers (and sister): a tiki tale
perich brothers & sister




















The kids dug it and man I hope we have enough good ju-ju
to complement its new view,
fending away bad ju-ju people.
welcoming ju-ju head


























We missed last years pumpkin olympics,
so there are a couple spots open.
perich brothers (and sister): the great pumpkins
perich brothers (and sister): pumpkin olympics
perich brothers (and sister): zombie pumpkin infestation
Just in time for Halloween...

TP

Well the wife saw it for the first time,
dubbed it "the constipated man"!

21 September 2013

sweat factory and the lucky bucket

You must be thinking,
"what is his infatuation with these smog checks?"
Well I did hint back in June that the van was going to be due...
perich brothers (and sister): sweat factory revisited
so this is worthy of an update!
smog




















In following the tradition and superstition,
I had to stick with our lucky smog shop.
even though the charge is double for a van,
and there's got to be a cheaper place out there.
testes



















This visit was different from all the others.
I was one day ahead of the due date,
and absolutely no preventive tuning was done at all,
other than a couple mile drive to warm everything up.
Typically I'd do an oil change, open the hood, check tire pressure etc.
After a long week it was time to gamble.
The only thing I added was a lucky bucket on the bumper.

Well the van passed with flying numbers.
It is actually below average on almost every reading.
For a free van we may get another 2 years out of it!

Since I've kept every smog check,
I was able to do some statistical analysis.
2009 - 191376 miles
2011 - 203113 miles
2013 - 209589 miles

That's a total of 18313 miles in 4 years,
and only 6476 in the past 2 years!
Really averaging 13 MPG the least miles the better!

After a hard life of almost 24K miles per year since 2001,
this van's got the cush retirement it deserves.
This is its greener pastures.

lucky bucket


























Now what to do about the bucket.
Since it's been on,
the van's passed smog,
I've learned to deal with the crappiest neighbors ever,
a new shop location has opened up,
and the wife's been offered a kickass new job.
Looks like that bucket isn't going anywhere!

TP