Archeology - its just old stuff in the ground

I was thinking today, while walking past a building site, about archeology. I quite like archeology (in a time-team and museum kind of way - I don't actually want to do the digging). When the archeologists find stuff, I can imagine they get pretty excited, wondering who owned it before, what it's story was, that kind of thing. And then theres the question of what they find. Its always the big stuff, the hard stuff, the things inbetween the things (bowls and stuff). And the archeologists are very proud of it, proud of the pieces of bowl and bone. Now thats fine, they do lots of cool stuff in mud and have archeology degrees and and that, but I can't help feeling the pride they have in finding the artifacts is more than the artifacts have ever had bestowed on them before. Imagine thousands of years ago someone cobbled together a nice bowl used it a bit, then it broke and then it got lost and forgotten about. Then many (thousands) of years later an archeologist finds it and is over the moon. Why do some people get excited about things just because they are old....

Anyway cars....

I've been sneaking out to the garage over the past few nights (while fighting the jetlag) and have got a few things done. First Molly now has a rear windscreen, some doorseals and a few other bits of trim, all looks rather good to me, some of the trim could do with a good scrub though.

looking good - if a little grubby

screen in - still capable of low speed persuit

Jessica has had some attention lavished upon her too. Well her gearbox has. After I killed the original one and managed to precure a new one from Martin (thanks Martin!) I have been having thoughts of overdrives.

spare teeth

where the teeth came from

where do all these cogs go?

main shaft needs to be swapped to fit the overdrive

mmmm overdrive

Leaving on a Jetplane...

..but I'll be back next Saturday! Working away in Denver (and preparing for it) has put paid to most Commorris related fun recently, however last week I did manage to sneak out for a couple of very productive hours.

One hour was spent finishing Molly's head lining, looking so good now (even though I say so myself) now I can get the rear screen in, rear seatbelts and start putting the door seals on. Then we're really cooking. The rest of the seatbelts can go in and then maybe (just maybe) some seats!

then thats it... not much else, swap the wheels, fit the rear wings properly, finalise the front headlights, replace the rear brakepipes.... sort the engine, fit the electronic ignition....

so should I book the MOT?

Then... I popped out (in the snow) to remove Jessica's dead gearbox. It took loads of wiggling (and unhooking from the handbrake cables) but it was off in the end. Being a kid at heart, I had to perform an autopsy... didn't really get time to do that much (gotta go to Denver doncha know) but I did find myself with a large pile of broken teeth in my hand... so thats what happened BOO!

Jessica's todo list...

The CommerVanFan forum has spurred me on to have a big think about Jessica's to-do list, so here it is....

• gotta fix the gearbox first (bust it doncha know...)
• and there's the welding to the doors (3 off)
• rear corner grottyness...
• new/old bunks
• rebuilding some of the cupboards
• maybe an overdrive (if I get the courage up to dismantle and rebuild the new 'box)

its a fair old list, but apart from the gearbox (and maybe overdrive) it can all be done with her on the road.

The big (master) plan is to get Jess at the back of the drive, Molly at the front and use the garage as a workshop for welding up doors, spraying stuff, rebuilding gearboxes etc....
thats the plan, but hey mice, men, commers and morrisses you know what I mean...

Another thing for the long term to-do list is the new project engine ... a cheeky little hillman hunter 1725 alloy headed engine, in bits but with loads of spare bits (and another overdrive!) was precured from eBay. Its something I really don't need right now, but its there for when I do!

Oh and I got myself a Hillman Hunter Haynes manual, its great. Loads of info on the Rootes engine range, mechanicals and overdrives. Superb bedtime reading.

And for some reason I'm in the mood for some Bombay Duck... does anyone know if I can get it in Scotland? Apparently its not illegal any more!

mmmm cosy

A nice place for Jess to hibernate

are we expecting a butterfly next spring?

A Long Time Coming

Finally, today the driveway was laid. The work was put off by three weeks (due to the weather), and was started on Monday. The old drive came up really quickly and the first (central) drain channel was put down. Then the builders disappeared. I gave them a days grace then gave them a call on Wednesday lunchtime. I was then told that the concrete was coming Thursday morning, but what about the drain channel in front of the garage? Er... you are putting another channel in? Nope... yeah you are....

So today they came, fitted the channel and poured the concrete - sorted!

my home for the next 3 months...

I don't like cats - they have big feet.

that's more like it....

I need to wait for a good 48 hours until its properly cured. So Jessica will be enjoying her new home on Sunday (so Chris can come and help push her onto the drive).

Since the drive came up, I've been barred from the garage (all that mud and now lots of wet concrete) and I seem to have gone stir-crazy! Nevermind - it'll be all back to normal next week.

See it works ....

Told ya!

flight-crew ready for takeoff!

run daddy run!

liftoff!

yes that is sleet - lets go in!

Congratulations Ruairidh and Tanya - happy Birthday Willow Freya!

Now you see it..

well you don't really...

After a lovely weekend at Saddle castle, all relaxed and ready to take on the world, I decided to do a little work on Molly (as Jessica has DONE A BAD THING).

Last night I did some more on the headlining, looking good now, but needs a new wire at the back (reusing the old one is a false economy - I know that now!), tonight it was time for the front windscreen. Molly, being a '62 car has a steel windscreen filler, but having replaced it a few times (3 I think) I plumped for the later seal with a plastic filler (much easier to fit)