31 January 2014

the land of make believe - v.iii

Back in the old days we were fortunate to have a role model.
A man that took it upon himself,
to teach kids to be neighborly.
private security


























Most of you guys will remember the song.
If you're like me,
it's like hanging out with an old friend,
ok more like an old teacher.
Yeah there were some creepy parts,
like the land of make believe...


The important part is Mr Rogers' goal was simple.
Live in a community.
Love what you do.
Respect other people.

So where to start.
This is a story of how we missed the Denver/Charger playoff game,
or it can be a story of how skateboarding is not a crime,
or it can be a story of how to not be a good neighbor,
or it can be a story of don't cry wolf.
jakob's grind box


























It all started with Jakob wanting to build a grind box for skating.
He's learned to be so handy with tools,
that all I'll do is the cutting with the circle saw.
Jakob Perich - 2013




















Not that he can't cut,
he squared up the xmas tree with the sawzall!
Anyway by 2pm the box was done,
and he was antsy to try it out.
Fortunately the Chargers had a weak start,
so there was no rush to watch the game.
grind box




















After less than half hour he was bushed.
The olly-ing wore him out quick.
personal neighborhood security force


























Next thing we know,
the cops are knocking at our door.

You may remember our little melodrama from last September.
Since then all had been relatively mellow.
That's kind of what happens when you know there is a gas leak,
you don't play with matches right?
*Unless you add the couple visits from code enforcement,
when the officer was almost embarrassed to waste both our time.

























The policemen's take on it was the same as Mr. Rogers.

Kids playing at 3:00pm on a Sunday...
um...let's talk about cars.

On a funny note,
they actually had gone door to door,
trying to find out whose house the complaint was about.

We're talking 3 police cars and 4-5 policemen,
walking around the neighborhood,
trying to solve a noise complaint  on a sunday afternoon,
trying to discern among the cheers from the football game parties,
and the constant jet planes overhead.
wasted resources


























After the policemen left,
I finished up the oil change I was doing on the van,
while listening to the Charger game on the radio.
It was getting good they made 3 touchdowns that last quarter.
The plan was to watch the tail end at my grandmothers house up the street,
the same thing we had done the past two games.

Well this is where I screwed up,
and I blame it on Mr Rogers.
I've got a habit of talking to our neighbors.
That is just what kind of tight knit neighborhood it is.
If we needed a cup of sugar,
all we'd have to do is ask.
If someone is bugging you,
just ask them to stop!



















Anyway like I said this is where I screwed up.
At this time the noise complaint was considered anonymous.
When our neighbor came out,
I said something like "nice try"...
At this point it could have meant anything - like the chargers rallying back,
but it was obvious when he replied "...if you could keep your kids quiet..."
All I could do was shrug my shoulders.
What can you say when you get the staredown from twitchy-face guy,
that still likes to dress up in a baseball uniform.
Dang it why couldn't I keep my mouth shut!
neighborhood protection


























So now I'm rushing to watch the tail end of the game.
And who shows up 20 minutes later...
...again three cop cars.
This time they are next door.
(I guess it was threatening that I tried to speak to the guy.)
I've never heard cops reprimand complainers before,
but it was validating to know that kids skateboarding is not illegal.
I'm imagining it is tough as in an HOA neighborhood,
there are security goons in golf carts that do this type of work.

Meanwhile we missed the end of the game,
and the police were annoyed they were missing potential DUIs from the SD loss.
Nothing like a waste of resources!

















The days after were a little tense.
The kids were understandably bummed.
What parent calls the police on a 12 year old child?
What kind of parents think they are role models,
by showing their own kids it is correct to call the police?
This is not what Mr Rogers would have done.
WWMRD?

We were buoyed by that close knit neighborhood I mentioned earlier.
At least 7 households came to us with their support in the days after.
It meant alot to hear we weren't the nuisance neighbors.
Copies of the police reports were even more amusing!

Now if we could just afford a big effing fence!

TP

time management 101

One thing I'm still figuring out how to streamline is my time management.
Always a hindsight evaluation when looking at pictures like these,
as what looks like a days work has taken a forgettably long time.
so-cal winter




















One thing I am good at is opening up a can of worms.
That is my version of streamlining time management.
If there's a project that needs to be done,
tear it up and it will get done faster.
cadillac flathead + 1940 ford coupe




















Just when you thought all I was thinking about was that danged hood,
there was a hidden elephant in the room.
loud pipes save lives




















The goal here is to drive this hot rod off the lot,
and to do that there are some serious road blocks in the infrastructure.
It had been almost 2 years since pulling the engine,
and in this time a series of projects has backed up.
welded


























One of the least important is the hood.
Now that the engine is out,
I can crawl inside that engine bay,
and fab up an inner structure and hinge system.
Sounds like fun huh!?
***************************************************

iron horse - float on
a little pickin' cover.
**************************************************
It's funny how old cars have the ability to attract gearheads from around the world.

These guys came all the way from Norway to check out the 40.
Accidentally of course as they hadn't realized it yet.
norwegian gearheads





















The striped guy seemed like a snob at first when looking at the metalwork.
He asked how I was going to finish it,
and I replied that after some hammering,
I'll slap some plastic filler on and smooth it out.
He pulled out this IPAD thing and showed me his work,
decent sheetmetal work covered in lead filler,
kinda hinting that lead was somehow superior.
child labor


























Well sure it could be,
but what the heck we live in southern california,
not some frozen wasteland,
where plastic filler doesn't harden in the winter.
jakob and jaxon perich - 2013


























We don't put up these canopies for the rain,
they're for protection from the winter sun!
Jeez these foreigners...
holey chit


























The next least important thing is the grille.
This bent up grille shell had been giving me grief for years.
Now it's a pile of pieces,
and I'm forced to do a little modification.
template


























So far I've started with a symmetrical top piece,
and that's about as far as it's gotten.
Hey at least that project has started, right!?
cadillac flathead


























Now time for that elephant.
Many years ago I built this bellhousing,
connecting the 40's cadillac flathead to a chevy bolt pattern transmission.
grinder


























One thing I never completed was the starter mount.
For some unexplained reason all the fitting was done,
and even the fastener(bolt) positions were punched in,
but the holes were never drilled and tapped.
This one thing has stopped me from starting the engine!
mad scientist


























Granted there is a big gamble here,
in that there is no adjustment in how the starter gear meshes with the flywheel.
I'm hoping that my measurements were more correct when I was building it,
then now when I'm trying to figure out how I thought building this was a good idea!

Anyway the starter whirrs like a blender,
and hopefully I'll at least get to test this out over the weekend,
if not get restarted on these other nagging projects.

TP

30 January 2014

tinker time

I thought over the last weekend
I'd get the banger engine in the A running.
Everything boiled down to rebuilding the distributor and carb,
which to me aren't valid ways to spend a day.
Sure it's important,
but that is work tailor made for the 34 watt light bulb.
model a carb rebuilding shelf


























I'm glad my naturally conscious procrastination tendencies won over,
as I've been tinkering for the past couple evenings on these things.
This would have added up to a full day really quick,
and I'm not even done yet.
model a distributor rebuild




















After a ton of cleaning,
the carb pieces all look reusable.
Amazing after all these years.
All I'll need to dig up or cut out is a gasket.

I found an ancient set of points on ebay.
The box is in the center of the picture,
and is one of those things I'll have to stash in a junk pile.
I'm unable to throw stuff like that away until it is accidentally destroyed.
Anyway the distributor has been totally disassembled and oiled up.
A couple more evening hours and we'll be ready for a weekend startup!

TP

GNRS consolation prize

This past weekend was one of the biggest car shows on the west coast.
You'd think living only 100 miles away,
we'd have rallied up to see the GNRS.
The deadline of countless work hours of like minded hot rodders.
Nope.
Instead I had big plans.
Working on the chopped 40,
getting that model A running,
get the steering on my uncles roadster finished...
klipsch kg4


























Usually I'll re-prioritize that time and money of going to a car show,
and use it to work on my own project.
You figure a good day and a $100 can go a long way.
I did try.
Not to say nothing was done,
just not in the capacity I had imagined.
Klipsch KG4 speakers


























However there was a consolation prize.
One early morning during the week,
wednesday maybe,
I had found a craigslist ad for some klipsch kg4 speakers for cheap.
After a couple texts,
it seemed like the guy had second thoughts about giving them away.
No biggie it's not like I need another pair.
On Saturday night I received a text asking if I was still interested.
Sure!
The kids were packed up,
and we went on a short trek east.
freebie drum set

















The speakers were hooked up and sounded great.
The guy (john) was super cool,
and we made the deal while the kids played WWF in the van.
On the way out,
he asked us if we wanted a drum set,
for free!
How could we pass this up?
Sure it's just an entry level set,
but hey better than the one we don't have right?
mini wall of sound


























Suffice it to say,
the last thing we need is another set of speakers.
Right now I'm up to 6 pair.
Yikes.
What better excuse to clean up,
then to camouflage a new set of speakers into the living room!
Now to make space for that drum set.

TP

26 January 2014

subject matter

 I've often wondered how an artist chooses subject matter,
and after a jaunt through an estate sale,
that thought came up again.
angry indian painting


























For instance,
this painter has a fondness for angry American Indian chicks.
Was there a model or was this his imagination?
paris





















Typically you see stuff like this.
Paris scenes...
strait


























...or this ocean scene.
This one was cool as it was really small and detailed.
I like the color of the water too.
ship

























Then there's your tall ships.
This family had a bunch of tall ship paintings around the house.
point loma estate sale





















That's when I started wondering not about the artists,
but more about the conservators of their art.
How do they choose what to put on the wall,
and where to put it?
naked chick


























For instance,
this charcoal of a naked chick,
was set up in the living room,
right next to the dining room.
A bold statement at dinner parties!

Cheers to this older couple that knew what they liked.
Hope these paintings will forever hang on equally cherished walls.

TP

23 January 2014

App man

Ok this is a test post cause our computer is temporarily wacked.
I found that blogger has an app for blogging,
Which is good cause I couldn't add pics using this iPhone on the web version.
If you've noticed the formatting has been geared for a normal computer.
When viewed on a phone,
There are these huge spaces underneath the pictures.
Well here goes, 
Maybe I'll be even more chatty than I already am!
TP

20 January 2014

big pimpin

I've been a little light on the craigslist hunting lately.
There are only a couple things I'm looking for,
and well they are a little out of my price range if they're found.
1968 cadillac


























That doesn't mean I don't do the occasional search,
as deals are always popping up.
The problem is if you search,
you will find,
and it's usually not the stuff that you're searching for.
BLK PL8




















First things first.
This time I was lucky enough to score a deal,
and in addition met a gearhead that makes us look entry level.
1964 ford thunderbird convertible
























Ok I take that back.
This guy wasn't really a gearhead,
he just liked cars,
stylish shiny cars.
1964 ford thunderbird


























I knew this after about a minute on the phone.
There was no faked info or pushed sale,
just the simple truth, "I don't know much about the parts..."
This is usually a sign that the parts will be in really good shape,
not all worn out like the stuff I get rid of!
ford FE 390 - 1964 t-bird




















The kids and I walked into this guys hidden collection.
I've always appreciated mile-long sheetmetal,
especially when all the shiny work is done.
There was some crazy stuff coming out during the 60's.
automatic convertible top - 1964 ford t-bird


























Barry even showed us the retractable top on his T-bird.
I've never seen one in action.
I guess this is one of 50 built back in 1964.


These were only 2 of 8 of his prized possessions!
Always good to know someone with a passion for these old rides.
edelbrock performer 289 + holley 4180


























Careful not to wear out our welcome,
we dragged home our score of the day.
I've been looking for a cheap 4-barrel intake,
to replace the stock 60's 2-barrel in the green 40.
Now the money is where my mouth is!

TP

19 January 2014

RIP EMEL

One of the great things about living in a neighborhood since childhood,
is having that sense of community that comes with old friendships.
sunset cliffs - ashes to ocean - Dave EMEL Tremel















I was bummed to hear of the passing of a high school friend,
an avid surfer and waterman - Dave EMEL Tremel.
David Scott Tremel


























We had some good times back in the day,
a couple stemming from the same birthday week,
which in OB meant a little drunken mayhem.
wake




















In tribute the wake was set up in his backyard of Sunset Cliffs.
friends




















Friends poured into the ocean.
EMEL's final sendoff





















What a perfect day for a final sendoff.

RIP EMEL!!

TP

17 January 2014

strategy

As usual,
a 1-minute conversation has the power to change the course of a night.
chessboard by s. folsom - chesspieces by ganine - gothic


























A friend Steve donated a chessboard yesterday to the Perich household.
I guess he had built a bunch for a chess tournament,
and this was one of the irregulars.
Way better than the folding cardboard one we had.
hoarder


























Little did he know we had a small collection of chess pieces.
The normal wooden set was handed down from my grandparents,
and the other 60's version an estate sale score.
ganine gothic chess pieces




















Crazy stuff huh?
Not as crazy as these guys.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Iron Horse - Enter Sandman - Rulers
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

jakob perich - 2013


























First up was Jakob.
He's always game for a challenge.
I'll let you know,
it is almost more stressful than fun to play against the kids!
macey perich - 2013


























Next up was Macey.
This was her first game,
and it always surprises me how good her memory is,
especially with all the moves these pieces have.
contemplation


























Even at 7 she understood her own form of strategy!
Cool to watch.
Grrr


























Yeah I guess she learned it's a brutal game!

TP