Rufus: Driveability work begins. (And there's a lot to be done!)

(07/15/2009) Drievability work begins.
I seriously considered driving Rufus to a nearby cruise nite, but I was sorta "license plate disadvantaged." Ok...it hasn't been inspected and registered.
But it had (has) a temporary tag. Problem was that it expired in April of 06. Sorta outta date.
Well, I guess the dark side grabbed me and before I knew it, I was making a new expiration date to place over the original one.

I even made a tag to fit in the rear window but it was worse because I could hardly see anything and I don't have side mirrors yet.
I guess sanity returned and I decided not to try it, because not only is it not registered, it's not insured.
Bad. Very bad. So it stayed home while I went to shoot the cruise nite.
But if nothing else, it's now insured.

(07/28/09) Rufus is back in the garage. Seems that his radiator is like us old folks...a bit constipated. It overheated like crazy the last time I had it out for a test drive.

I'm looking at that cylinder head and wondering about the head gasket...as well as the broken-off bolt on the water pump.
I'm thinking about ordering a high-compression head (5.25:1) when I order the new grill shell.

When I get the grill shell I can put the ornament that a friend made for me on...and only do it once.

(08/04/09) The grill shell arrived today. Not the best timing, since I leave for the salt flats in 3 days...
and I had to order a new aluminum radiator that won't arrive until the middle of the month.
But I couldn't resist putting the shell in place (yeah, it's just sitting on top of the old one) for the heck of it.
It's gonna look kinda weird with the shiny shell and the rusty hulk, but then what ISN'T kinda weird about this?

I've wanted to do this since I got the critter, so I spose now's as good a time as any.
I need to make quick disconnect plugs for the headlights and horn before I install it.

(10/24/09) After numerous phone calls and emails to get the dimensions right, the radiator finally
arrived...while I was on the salt flats for the last meet of the season.
'Course when I got home, I ended up with a bad case of the flu. That and the need to make CDs and
prints to mail out...well, there just hasn't been much opportunity to work on ol' Rufus.

It's gonna take some work to make it fit with the grill shell and ornament. But it'll get there.

Next Page: Rufus takes a Trip.

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