Sun - January 22, 2012

Transformations and Modification


I have been threatening for years to move this site and I am sure some of y'all assumed I did move since there has been no activity here in a year. But no, I was just lazy. Actually I was busy being outside and changing my life.
In the past year....
I lost 30 pounds and have kept it off.
Joined a kickball team and two other soccer teams.
Took a 10,000 mile vacation.
Moved to a house on 5 acres with a 900 square foot shop.
and am single

So with all that, I will be moving this blog to another host and adding sections for my photography. I don't have the full plans yet, but this will be updated as I progress.

First I need to sell a car to finance it all....

Posted at 12:49 PM     |

Tue - February 8, 2011

Wed - January 26, 2011

Continental Dark


I have a brew under the counter I was worried about. However, as it ages, the sweet taste fades. Now it is dark beer, but not heavy. It has been in the bottles for a year; longer than most of my beers last.
If you area around, swing by for a something smooth.

Posted at 08:24 PM     |

Mon - December 27, 2010

Top 10


Over on 5 o'clock somewhere, a reference to a request for the top 10 blog posts was made. In keeping with the idea of a years end list, I give you the top 10 from 2010.


I only had 11 posts. One post will never be the top of any good list, so I leave you with the only 10 posts from last year.


Just read the posts below if you are new to the site.

Posted at 10:32 PM     |

Sat - December 11, 2010

Picture post!!



Posted at 03:42 PM     |

Wed - November 10, 2010

You might say I went right up to the factory and picked it up, it's cheaper that way


H&H Classic Parts for Chevrolets, not exactly the factory, but a local supplier of parts for the truck
www.hhclassic.com
My Christmas gifts to myself will be from H&H!

Posted at 10:31 PM     |

Thu - November 4, 2010

Parts is here!


4 out of the 5 orders have arrived at the house. Hose, hose connections, studs, gasket, carburetor adaptors, and aluminum. But no fuel block. Actually, the no show is the one I don't need at the moment.
Since the last "Truck" post, I have modified the throttle bodies and blocked off the power valves on the end carbs, rebuilt the linkage, and rebuilt all the carbs. In the process of rebuilding, I did find a few problems in the carbs that could have affected the performance. So far things are moving in the right direction.
Now, I will fabricate new adaptors from aluminum to lower the carbs on the intake and reduce the possible vacuum leaks.

Posted at 07:27 PM     |

Sun - October 17, 2010

Another scare from Apple


Apple is discontinuing something regarding Homepage. I use Homepage to publish my blog. A very similar event occurred a year or two ago, but I was still able to publish my blog. I think I am using the correct folder on the Apple site, so I should be still publishing after the cutoff date. We will see.

Posted at 06:40 PM     |

Mon - September 27, 2010

Carb adjustments one more time


A few posts ago, I discussed Volumetric Efficiency as it applies to this truck. I did switch to the smaller carbs in order for the VE numbers to be closer. A much noted gain in power and drivability was noticed by myself and my passenger. (Mitsy agreed to join me for a test run.) However the idle issue remains.
The truck will not idle unless the choke is completely closed. This indicates a vacuum leak somewhere in the induction system. SInce the choke is the first item on the induction system and the problem does not appear until the spark plug fires, I am unable to quickly find the problem. However, once I am at WOT (Wide Open Throttle) the choke must be opened for maximum power. The following is a list of possible problems.
1. A vacuum port on a carburetor is not sealed properly. I have three carburetors and each one has four vacuum ports. 12 vacuum ports to consider.
2. The carburetors are not sealed to the intake properly. 3 carbs, so three possible problems.
3. I fabricated adaptors for the intake in order to rotate the carbs 90 degrees. (Rotating the carbs allowed the use of the throttle lever without modification and helps ease the throttle connections.) However, this added another gasket to each carburetor. And the possibility one or all the adaptors leak.
4. The intake attaches to the head with the same bolts as the exhaust manifold, thus possibly causing a leak in that gasket. 3 ports on the intake connecting to the head.
This brings the total to 21 known possible vacuum leaks.
5. Each carburetor has various metering ports throughout. The metering ports allow the carburetor to supply just enough air and fuel to keep the motor at idle. However, with three carburetors, I have three times the amount of air/fuel entering the engine at idle. And not necessarily at a controlled amount.
In walks Stacy David. Actually, his show "Gearz" is on my iTunes TV list. One of his shows addresses the issue of Tri-Power and Six packs. Of course this title caught my attention. (He just completed a V8 powered barstool ) He focused on three 2 barrel carburetors, but the solution is the same. On the two end carburetors, replace the existing throttle body with a solid throttle body and remove the choke and power valve. (The throttle body is the bottom piece of the carb that contains all the metering ports) I do not know of a solid throttle body for the Monojet carb, so I filled all the metering ports on what I had, thus creating a solid throttle body. The choke was easy to remove. Now to remove and plug the power valve???? Ole' Stacy just screws the supplied plug into the power valve location. However, I don't have the plug and my power valve does not screw in. It just sort of floats in an opening and does something.
I did permanently plug 10 of the 12 vacuum ports. I need two ports; one for the vacuum advance on the distributor and one for the vacuum gauge in the cab. This takes care of problem #1.
I have new gaskets for mounting the carburetors and mounting the adaptors. Problem #2 and #3 fixed.
A new intake gasket with new mounting hardware will take care of problem # 4.
Problem # 5 is almost fixed. Anybody got any ideas on the power valve?

Posted at 12:34 AM     |

Mon - August 23, 2010

August 22, 2010


It has been some time, I know. I have recovered from the loss of the Brewery owner. And, I am about out of beer, so I have to get out of my funk.
Not much has been happening here in regard to Beer and Trucks. The truck still sits and the beer needs to brew.
I do try and keep with the Basic Brewing video PodCasts in an attempt to learn something new. A new idea was presented on one of the casts...Brewing Seasons. Instead of brewing whenever I am out of beer, I will brew during one time of the year. Without much research, it would seem early spring would be the best time of the year. The lighter beers don't need much time to ferment and condition, thus making them ready for summer when you want a lighter beer. And brewing a heavy beer for winter would allow the beer to condition for many months before the cold weather kicks in.
Two problems pop up here, maybe three.
First: I don't have that many bottles. I am wanting to keg a few batches. The keg idea may need to be utilized if I go with a brewing season. Necessity will push my horizons.
Second: Keeping the heavier beer cool for a proper fermentation/conditioning. I do have a full size fridge given to me by sweetie/Mom. I don't think she had brewing in mind when she donated the fridge. How many bottles/carboys/kegs/buckets can one fit into a full size fridge. Containers do not need to be round. If I can warm up the freezer above freezing, I just might have a method!
Third: What do I drink on those warm days of the last of winter? My NLR Pilsner and the NLR Red Ale improved each time I opened a bottle. Some of the bottles were over a year old. So If I brew enough to store away for the winter, I should be good to go. In all honesty, my beer tastes better the longer it is in the bottles. The last Pilsner I opened was clean, crisp, clear, and tasty. Very good beer.
I will get a batch going soon, to help me through the fall and winter.

Posted at 09:35 PM     |

Mon - April 12, 2010

Raise a pint to the memory of Booda.


Booda passed away Monday April 12th, 2010. He was just two months shy of 15.

Pictures are posted here.

Posted at 09:43 PM     |

'Which Way" - NYC High School Dramatic Comedy



If you know how to embed stuff in iBlog, please let me know.

Otherwise, click here . to view a worthwhile project you can help build.

Posted at 07:38 PM     |

Tue - March 9, 2010

Ah yes...


The temperature is warming, the beer is cooling, my stocks are improving, the fields are drying. Yes, it is a good time of year.
I can get out and work on trucks and boats and play a little soccer. Now, I might have something to blog about. Not much to say when the truck is frozen.

Posted at 07:48 PM     |

Wed - February 24, 2010

Yea so what.....


New Belgium thinks they have something new

But Booda has been involved with brewing for almost 14 years. He was exposed to brewing when he was almost a year old. And he has his picture on all the brew, not just one style!

Posted at 10:23 PM     |

Wed - January 6, 2010

If I don't survive...


Evidently we are in for a big one tonight. The Governor has issued a State of Emergency for the Winter Weather that is not even here yet.

It has been cold all week and ice has formed on the waterways around here, but...this is Arkansas.

Update...The Highway Department has the sand trucks rolling at 8:00 pm.

It is 34ºF, 1.1º C, 274.261K

Updates as needed

Snow, ice, slush,, but nothing in Little Rock.

Posted at 05:59 PM     |

















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