10/7/24

October 7, '24 - FINALLY AN UPDATE

 Yes, I am still alive! It has been months since my last update but I am slowly recovering from my back surgery in April and have started doing a few things to get the project back on track….

First light duty project I undertook was to clean up the sandblasting cabinet. The cabinet got flooded back when the sprinkler system froze and we just never got around to bringing it back on line. Dumped the old sand out and removed the LED lights so I could clean and remount them with Velcro to make them easier service in the future.

With the cabinet reassembled, I pulled apart the cyclone dust separator and mini shop vac so they could be cleaned up as well. Got them cleaned, reassembled and remounted only to find the on/off switch of the shop vac was stuck in the on position, so I pulled the motor housing apart to access and remove the old switch. With the switch out, I tried blowing it out, tried toggling it to try and get it to click over to the off position, knocking it about to dislodge whatever might be keeping it from changing state but nothing worked so I bit the bullet and bought a new one. Tried it again a few hours later and the friggen thing started working!!! 😡

Another little project I worked on was to create a dash radio opening repair plate. While my dash in fully intact, I know there have been several guys who’s Torinos have had the dash hacked up to allow a modern DIN style radio to be installed. I drew it up on the computer then printed out and stapled it to a piece of cardboard so I could cut it out and dry fit it to my dash to confirm it fit. I freehand trimmed it shape and dropped it onto my dash and it fit pretty well, so I’ll post the pattern for the repair plate onto the HOW-TO section for others to use as needed.










Sunday I went out to the garage to clean some stuff off the workbench and once I had most of the junk cleared away, I saw my Bernzomatic FirePoint torch kit on the shelf. 













I bought this tourch and some alumiweld solder to play around with to see how I can attach my reshaped aluminum fuel tank burp tube to the OEM tube steel mounting bracket and then the burp tube assembly into my new fuel tank. Initial test was sticking a couple pieces of the aluminum tubing I used together and it did a fairly nice (and strong) job. Will also try attaching the tube to a thin piece of sheetmetal. Fingers crossed!








Well feels good to again be doing something project related and hope things begin to move forward again!!!

MORE TO COME

ZEBRA 3 OUT

5/20/24

May 20, '24 UPDATE..... of sorts

Well since my last update I've had lumbar fusion surgery to remove a couple synovial cysts from the L4-L5 region of my spine and then fuse the two vertebrae together, so needless to say I have done NOTHING to the Tomato except wonder if she will ever get completed in time for me to enjoy all the fruits of my labor...

Time will tell


STAY TUNED


ZEBRA 3 OUT

3/18/24

March 18 '24 update

Well have done NOTHING since my last update due to a case of severe sciatica! Appointment with a Neurosurgeon this Thursday with the hope of the issue being resolved via non-invasive surgery.

FINGERS CROSSED

ZEBRA 3 OUT

2/18/24

February 18, '24 update

Well got the valve covers, carb and water pump pulled off the 460 so the valve covers and water pump could be repainted and the engine touched up......























Baby steps but at least she still is moving forward!

More to come.....

ZEBRA 3 OUT

2/4/24

February 4, '24 update

Well I actually made a little bit of progress on the Tomato this weekend!

I got the front engine accessories and bracketry all cleaned up....



















A few pieces are going to need a fresh coat of paint, but all in all they came out pretty nicely!

Next Saturday, I start tackling the engine.

More to come....

ZEBRA 3 OUT

1/16/24

Jan 16 '24 quickie update

I've been focusing on repairing an Aussie splash apron for my LiteningBolt Fairlane build....









Gotta make this.....













Look like this....













To install in this....










So sadly not much progress on the Tomato thus far in 2024.... But never fear, progress will once again be commencing very soon!

ZEBRA 3 OUT

12/17/23

December 17 '23 - UPDATE

A wee bit of progress on the Tomato this weekend. Pulled all the accessories off the front of the 460 so I could get it ready for a bit of cleaning and repainting of several pieces that no longer look as nice as they once did.












Hope to get to put in a little elbow grease next weekend but will have to wait and see since it's a holiday weekend.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

ZEBRA 3 OUT