Electric Car Department

Electrical

Eric Lorenz and Lorne Tweed are going over an electrical cabinet that lives below the front dash at the end of the car.  The old one is in pretty sad shape and a lot of the framing and cabinet work will need new parts fabricated.  This step is all part of the work needing to be done and getting wires pulled, before installing the new glass windshields and painting that area.

Innards

Here is a better look at the switches and fuse blocks that live in the above cabinet.  Sketchy schematics, lots of cut wires, missing elements and fuses.  Did I mention it was dirty?

Windows

Of course we need to mention windows in any such BLOG entry.  Alex Randow works on these pretty regularly and he is checking the growing pile of completed sash.  17 large sash and 18 small sash are now complete.

Panels

Alex also worked on cleaning up several old panels and trim work needed for the car interior.  These represent items in good enough shape to re-use, and as explained previously, several items need to be re-installed before the side window areas can be completed.  Note that these now shine like new metal, you would not have thought this possible if you examined them before his work.  It did not happen by accident.

More Windows

Keith Letsche walked in Sunday and volunteered to do more window sash.  This project is mostly a Wednesday/Saturday crew and this unexpected work only adds to and advances the work.  Thanks, Keith.

It really is amazing to witness the work on this project.  It is significant on so many fronts - engineering, machining, metallurgy, and the massive amount of less than ordinary GRUNT WORK.

Assembly

Jeff Brady is dry fitting and assembling some of the completed levers and rigging in the truck.  That is correct - enough of the new bushings and pins have been fabricated and heat treated to see how it goes back together.  He is inserting the new pin into a lever nicknamed a 'dog bone' due to its resemblance to such doggie snack treats.

The Dog Bones

Here is a closer look at the dog bones and how they fit into the truck.  There are two of these in each quadrant to next receive the brake head castings, which in turn hold the brake shoes.

Boring

Each of the many parts in this truck receives attention.  This once bent brake lever has been heated and straightened, as seen by the gray discoloration on the casting.  The old deteriorated bushings have been removed with a hydraulic press.  Here the lever is on the drill press table and about to get its holes reamed to receive the new bushings.  As I said above it is truly amazing, doing this on a wish and prayer with old tools and a lot of hard work and commitment from the volunteers.