When You Might Have a Car Problem

 

• If you’ve ever said “the electrical system is actually very simple” while holding a wiring diagram that looks like a subway map, you might have a car problem.
• If you’ve argued online with strangers about whether a bolt head should be phosphate-coated or zinc-plated, you might have a car problem.
• If you keep the old parts because “someday someone might need them,” and that someone is always you, you might have a car problem.
• If you’ve ever said, “It’s not worth restoring, but I can’t let it die,” you might have a car problem.
• If you look at a pile of rusty metal and see a finished car, you might have a car problem.
• If you own more grits of sandpaper than pairs of socks, you might have a car problem.
• If you’ve spent $500 restoring a $50 component, you might have a car problem.
• If your YouTube history is 90% “how to repair,” you might have a car problem.
• If you get excited about finding original fasteners in a long-overlooked coffee can, you might have a car problem.
• If you’ve explained to someone that the project is “only 80% done” for the last decade, you might have a car problem.
• If you open a Christmas gift and are more excited because the box the gift came in is the perfect thickness and size for a sheet metal pattern, you might have a car problem.

Six Pence (None The Richer)

When I received some much-needed parts for the UK in 2009 or thereabouts, there was a 1938 Six Pence piece stuck in one part. Real silver! So, I kept it all these years. It's now affixed to a magnet of the exact same diameter, polished up, and it will go on the van shortly. They're companions after all. Yes, George VI is facing outwards.

Registration: Secured

 

Big milestone accomplished. The vehicle has been registered. Folks from way back will recall that it was unregistered in the province, and that's an obstacle to getting insurance. That was finally secured this past Friday (thanks, Preet). Coolest part of it? My VIN is the original chassis plate number: J4649. How, for quirky reasons, it's listed as a four-door station wagon. It doesn't matter. Now I just need a mechanical inspection and insurance. Hope those will happen in the next 4 weeks.

Imagination Fun

 

Crafted in the mind of a machine, but still fun. Vancouver scenes from the 1950s (plus a time-traveler)

Done!

Well, that took nearly 6,500 days, but it's done.

I have to complete the vehicle registration, but it'll happen.

Thanks to all the folks around the world who helped, and especially to my very patient wife.

Also, thanks to others who simply showed encouragement. Some of them are no longer with us, and today I'm thinking of them.

Square Lights

Put the bezels on today. I am using these lights (incorrectly, I know) as turn indicators. However, I know that many folks haven't seen the square ones up close, so I took a photo. The glass pieces were hard to get, and because of that, before adding them, I made a silicone mold. That way, if anyone needs a plastic one in the future, I can simply pour one and send it off. That is, provided I haven't lost the mold.

Lots of good work today. Handful of thing to do before the big reveal on July 1.

 

I think that's the original gas cap. Needs polish.

Tires cleaned, hubcaps added.

Yes, it's body colour. I wanted it, but I didn't want it to be disruptive of the colour.

The brackets will be painted black. The mirrors are Land Rover Series 2 and 3 pattern.

Assembling the final bits today, plus adding the mirrors. Painting some bolt heads. 

Afterwards, a well-earned hot-tub.

Trying to get everything ready for July 1 (Canada Day car show).

Milestone Day

 

I was looking forward to this day for a long time.

It looks solid.

Chrome Polishing

The chrome was sitting for a few years, so it needed to be polished up before being fitted on the freshly painted panel. That'll be done soon, and it will be a monumental day. That's all that happened recently. Still waiting for the car registration to happen.

 

Year 17: Post 1

 Progress update time—some good news to report.

1. The front panel has been repainted (for the third time) and is finally ready for the chrome pieces. Seeing everything start to come together like this is incredibly satisfying.

2. Over Christmas, I decided to add one more thing to the ever-growing “to-do turned done” list and made a really nice flag addition.

3. I also had custom brackets made for the side mirrors.

The flag almost floats in place. It’s sewn to a backing substrate, which is then glued to a piece of wood (as mentioned in an earlier post). The flag itself is excellent quality—though I regret to inform everyone that it came from the US (Georgia).

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Still to do (or redo):

• Mechanical inspection

• Registration and insurance — it’s been two months since I sent all my information and I still haven’t heard back. Not exactly unexpected from government services, but disappointing nonetheless.

• Bolt in the pocket doors

• Create a check strap for the rear doors. Maybe add the bumpers.

• Install the hubcaps

• Paint some bolt heads

• Fit the side mirrors (probably). I’m planning to mount them on the front edge of the doors, at the back of the B-pillar

• Tighten the headlamps

• Install the park light bezel

• Tighten the loose turn indicator

Small things. But details matter, and the Kandyman has standards and pride.

New Year. Last Year (of the Project)?

 

Okay, small things are being done. What's the white board for? That's a secret.

I'll share photos later when it's done.

The front panel is sanding and ready to be painted again. Some bolt heads need to be painted.

I am having the brackets made for the side mirrors. They'll be mounted on the rear of the B pillar (in the door frame) and jet out over the fenders, I think.

Still working on the registration and insurance.

Last Bits for 2025 and Merry Christmas

Okay, that's a wrap for 2025 van progress. Lots of good stuff finished.

I stencilled the side of the crate today and put up the "Notice to Driver" sign. It's not crewed on; it just looks like it. It's taped. I also stretched the rope by hanging it and put it roughly in place. It will look a little different later. 

Merry Christmas to all the folks worldwide who have helped me get to this point.
 

Stained Box

Stained the box this weekend so it doesn't look like it was made yesterday. 

Also, figured out the cargo net. That's all.
 

Final Bits and Registration

Okay, I got the net and I'm disappointed with it. Not girthy enough (sigh). I found another company nearby that makes others and I think I will swing an order to them instead and return this one (sorry China). The box on the other hand is perfect. Within 1 inch of what I need, and it looks period-correct. I can put chairs in it and other essentials. It's also a great place to site, when in place.

On other fronts, I am working on the registration and insurance, which is really complex. Went to a lawyer's office this afternoon and paid $60 to swear this little document. Then I mailed off a large package the the Vehicle Registrar. We'll see. I expect I missed a few steps (impossible to know). Meanwhile, the front grill panel is being painted (again), but I am sure it will look splendid on the other end.

Cake Decorations

 

There's some small details that are being pulled together. Things I actually enjoy because I can work on them at home, and they're within my ability.

Floor Carpets

As a practical matter, I needed something I could fixed the fire extinguisher too. But they look pretty neat, and it was only a day's effort.

Then and Now: 2008 and 2025

It's fun looking at old photos (sometimes), but more often there's bewilderment: what was I thinking?

The parcel tray and engine cowl are all in place.

I don't even remember what I did with the old dash.

The "crank" isn't Morris. It's Austin, but it's not going to be used

TO DO LIST GETTING SMALL

 

Here's the list. Final two are happening next Tuesday, and after that it's just small "cake decorating" pieces.

It's Alive! It Moves!

Good news! 17 years in, and it moves! For the first time (under its own power) in 50-plus years.

Bad news: Everyone (it seems) is jumping on the cute little van bandwagon.

A few more things to come. The front grille is done. The chrome needs to be added, the engine cowl needs to be installed, and there are some "cake decoration" bits after that -- the crank, badges, etc.

But I'm exhausted. 

 

Engine Starts!

 

Well, the engine was started. That's a significant milestone. I am told that it went well. It appears that there's oil leaking from the place where the MORRIS badge is riveted to the valve cover. That's fixable.