More goodies from 1953

So I had a chance to look through some more of the truck and it's contents.
Here are a few quick shots of the set of new headlights, new master cylinder, carbs, replacement panel and some engine and detailed truck shots.

At this s rate it'll be years before it's going, but it's a good project to occupy some time and maybe one day give to my daughters.

Garage city!

Looking over some of my previous posts I realized I forgot to update on the garage stays.
So here it is.
We have a garage!

Exciting wasn't it?

Well it's a good basic structure. 10 ft walls, 18 ft door, skylights, large windows and if yesterday, electricity.

Here are some shot of the garage and the great amount of light I get from all that glass.

'53 Chevy 1 Ton

Well with the new garage built and the electrical just about finished off I figured it was time to start on a serious project so I bought a 1953 Chevrolet 1 ton 1430. It is the Canadian built 9 ft box version of the US 3800 series.
It came with the original 63, 541 miles (102, 259KM) and the last plate from 1972 from when it was parked in a field and left. It also came with 2 sets of fenders, 2 sets of tires and wheels, 2 sets of lights. A replacement glovebox, a new patch panel for the cab floor and 2 spare carburetors. The only thing missing is the tailgate.

All of this for $900 and it will start up with a quick jump. Not a bad deal at all!

Below are some shots of the truck prior to any restoration being started.

As with most of my projects, more to come as things happen.

Bark at the Moon!

Thanks to my buddy Dan for the excellent photoshop of Lauren and I.
I am very impressed at this.

Glider Build progess

Here are some quick snapshots of my current glider build.

Shedding knowledge

Here's a more regular update. I've been sourcing out some garage builders for our new house.
Like with most projects of this nature and anything to do with sourcing contractors it is long and boring and you are never really quite sure if you are getting good, bad or ugly. I would love to find a site to source and price this kind of thing for me. Just go in, select the rating and the pricing and BAM! done.

Note to self; build site for this.
Step 1: build site
Step 2: get underpants
Step 3: ???
Step 4: PROFIT!

All of that aside I found the Home Hardware Building Centre is the cheapest place around for a full and complete garage kit.
Some Internet searching and Kijiji searching yielded a number of crews willing to put up a garage for me.
After a number of interviews I think I've found the right crew. The owner of the company seemed very honest and straight shooting and his work looks good. With all of the renovation shows we've watched I've learned a valuable lesson. Sign a contract and do not give a deposit up front. If a deposit is given, do it as a direct deposit to a bank account so it can be traced. No cash deals.

So forgetting this paranoia I am super excited to have a garage put up. It's the first one I've had and it's going to be great.
22'x22' pad with 10' walls, 8x18' door, 5'x'3 window and a man door. Fully sided, shingles, eaves trough, etc...
There will be plenty of room for a car, a project car and some workbenches.

That's all I really have for now so I will leave you with a picture of Lauren giving the same face Jackie gave me when I started talking about project cars.

You want to do what?

-Colin.

I'm back... to the future!

Hi everyone, I am back after a very long break.
That break consisted of finishing renovations on a house, getting a new job, selling the house and not getting to enjoy all the renovations, moving over 3400KM's across the country from Hamilton, ON to Airdrie, AB.

Having another baby and now finally getting back to writing this blog.
Time has been a tight commodity around these here parts.

With all of that I'd like to introduce you to my new daughter, Lauren Beryl Ann Rickards!

She can be seen in her swing, practising her roller coaster pose.

















Some more updates, with the move we have a fancy new house. We've never owned a new place and I must say I'm loving it!

Here you can see it after it was freshly graded by the builder.

And is Amelia enjoying some iced cream on the new porch.


















Next up I dug a services trench to our parking pad, future home of the garage and then paid down some grass.

 

 



I also got a new car, you can see the Fiat above, hiding behind the sod.

Now the only thing left to do is get the garage up and built and move some of the basement stuff out there.
After all that is done I'll be back to working on some projects, building model aeroplanes and the rest of normal life.

That's it for now. Quick update with more to come.

-Colin.