Did the dam break? Not exactly. Part three of the series, "I could make a living doing this!"

photo source: YouTube.com

Of course my business needed a website. Go Daddy provided the templates to design my web page. There is a lot of work involved in developing and maintaining a website. More than I was really able or willing to provide.

My Daughter  helped me produce a distinctive logo that I used in my magazine advertising and on business cards. Unfortunately, my costly magazine ads didn't seem to stimulate any interest.

The site is still there but it is moribund.

What to do?

At first I really didn't want to go to swap meets.

I wanted to make sales from the shop "by appointment only."  I still had a real job and I wasn't planning on sitting in the shop from nine to five, waiting for customers to show up.

However going to swap meets did not turn out to be such a bad idea.

The problem with selling used parts is that each part is "unique" at least in terms of it's condition. For example, out of ten different front fenders each was in a little different condition. Some had a little rust here, or a few dents and dings there. Of course every buyer wanted the one in the best condition. Who wouldn't, right?

You have to post a lot of pictures and it always seems that buyers wanted more, in higher resolution. They might receive a fender and be disappointed and want a refund. Not really practical, to ship these items back and forth.

If you are selling new parts they are all identical much easier to deal with. List one, and you've listed them all.

At a swap meet, the buyer gets to directly hold and examine every part. They can make their purchasing decision based upon their own assessment. I wanted my customers to be satisfied with their purchases.

I bought a new pick up truck to help with the business. I equipped it with some funky wooden side rails to secure my stash. I would rent an enclosed trailer at the local U-Haul. The biggest swap meets were always in the L.A. area.

I also attended swap meets in Lathrop, San Jose, Sacramento, and Tracy.

Think of my swap meet rig as a "pop up shop" on wheels.

As I have recently learned, pop up shops are  one way to run a small business. They are one step up from swap meets and craft fairs.  But it is a pretty big step. There has to be a brick and mortar location. The savings don't come from a a reduction in rent, they come from the reduction in needed staffing. Restricting the days that the shop is open reduces the sales people needed. It also forces your customers to come in on a limited number of days. This is great if they care enough to show up. The buyers have to think of every month as an "event."

I had several ideas to create an identity for my business as well as expand my potential sales. I designed and began selling hats, T shirts, and hoodies with my businesses logo and various Datsun models printed on them. The idea was to give a potential customer more choices. A customer would not walk away from my stall without buying something, if not a part, than maybe a shirt or a hat. I was investigating going even further with stickers and key chains. Different price points to secure a sales.

At first I had a large inventory and sales were strong. I enjoyed networking with other vendors. Some who were investing in producing their own reproduction components.

My shop was primarily used as a storage space. Not exactly what I planned for. This was a huge expense that couldn't be financially justified, (or really sustained ), but I was locked into a year long lease.

Still, it was exciting for me to walk inside, look around and dream. I was hoping that I could keep the business running until it developed it's own momentum. I was deluding, er, convincing myself, that I could create something, something that would take on a life of it's own.

This book is a great read and gives us a glimpse into the lives
of other Americans.

The idea that I could create "something" that could develop and grow was my driving force. Studs Terkel, (look him up!) wrote a great line in his classic book,"Working." He described conversations that he had with his garbage man, who was quite informed on many subjects and had sound opinions to go along with his insights. Who would expect that from a garbage man? Our Middle Class bias is showing! Studs made the poignant observation that most of us "have jobs that are too small for us." I was no different in that respect.

Of course, that's a painful but truthful observation.

The swap meet business was a lot of work and a lot of driving.

This was a very busy time in my life. With my job, my renovation work on my property and running the business.

Are you familiar with the term "vanity publishing"?

It's a term to describe books that are self published by the author. These are books that are not picked up by a publisher for large scale production and distribution. Usually because the publisher feels that these just don't have the widespread appeal and potential for large sales and subsequent profit.

So the author himself pays to have it printed. He becomes a published author at his own expense. Is that a legitimate path to follow? Distribution is up to the author who gives out copies of his book to his family and friends. Many times they just end up with several cases of their now forgotten books taking up space in their garage.

With the birth of the Internet would be authors have found a new home, and an opportunity to "self publish" at no expense. There are also so many opportunities to self promote and reach a potential audience.

My business was becoming a vanity project. I had strong enough sales for a short time, but it primarily existed with a constant transfusion of my out of pocket money. I'm aware that most businesses don't pay their own way for quite a while and success requires patience and dedication. However I had made the mistake of setting up my business in a manner that required a lot of money to sustain. Renting that shop was great fun, but poor financial planning. For the bucks down guy the best plan is to start out small, and build up from there and expand as your sales grow. Without venture capital partners the small businessman has to be careful. Time to cut back.

Two steps forward, one step back!

Avoiding the "Gumption Trap!"

Pirsig thought that the term
"gumption" had a quaint ring.

In his book Robert Pirsig writes about the hazard of the "Gumption Trap." This isn't something that you fall into and are trapped like in quicksand. Instead it is a state of running out of gumption which causes you to come to a a halt in a project or endeavor. "Running out of gas" would be a similar metaphor for the same predicament.

For some reason (and there will be plenty!) you find yourself losing the resolve that you had when you started the project. Everything then grinds to a halt. Sometimes never to be completed.

This usually isn't your fault, at least not directly. Most of the time it's just that competing aspects of your life have to take precedence over the project at hand. Obviously, we have to set priorities in our lives.  Nursing, fixing, and fussing over an older hobby car usually isn't one of them.

This is the "Life" that gets in the way. This is also the reason that cars and motorcycles often end up as basket cases or future barn finds!

There is no point in putting on the judgement hat.

These things just happen.

It's overcoming these delays, distractions and diversions that tells the real story.

But, sometimes it's not about competing demands. Sometimes it happens because we run into a dead end and don't know what to do and just how to proceed.

Sometimes it's just the realization that the task we've taken on is just harder and much more tedious than we anticipated.

I remember when I was changing out the transmission on the XJS. Removing the transmission cooler lines. There was very restricted access, (what a surprise!) I could only turn my wrench one eighth of a turn at a time.The threaded fitting was almost an inch long, and there were two of them! There I was lying on my back asking myself "how did I get into this mess?"

I was feeling pretty disgusted and frustrated, so I stopped what I was doing and slid out from under the car.

I got something to drink and sat down outside clearing my head.

I remembered an article that I had read in a past issue of Skinned Knuckles magazine written by Matt Joseph. He was sitting in his shop with some of his old buddies. Matt had just moved his little restoration shop to a new location and he wanted to make a good impression with his new neighbors.  He would often do little jobs as a favor for his neighbors. I may be a little wrong in remembering the exact details, but the gist of the story remains the same.

A local gent brought in a cast iron end plate from an agricultural implement gearbox. There was a bearing race pressed into a boss cast in the end plate. The bearing race needed to come out for replacement. It looked like a simple job.

It appears that the bearing had broken up and the inner race and balls had fallen apart, leaving just the outer bearing race.

Matt figured that he could whip out this job in a couple of minutes, impressing this local yokel. At first Matt figured that he would just use one of his many pullers to lift the race out of it's place. He tried but just couldn't get any purchase to pull it out. Then he looked at the back of the end plate hoping to find a small hole that would allow him to insert a thin punch and drive the race out. There wasn't any hole in sight, so he thoroughly cleaned the accumulated grease expecting to find the hole.

No hole, and the race did not have an exposed edge where a chisel could strike from the opposite side.

One of the buddies suggested that they heat the end plate and then strike the back of the plate with a hammer, that should allow the race to just "pop out."

That sounded like a great idea, and Matt triumphantly fired up the torch to heat up the unit. With a smug look on his face Matt grabbed a large mallet and started pounding on the back of the end plate, expecting to it pop out and land with a clear ringing sound on the shop floor. But, no dice.

The fifteen minute job had now taken more than two hours. Now an intense discussion arose among Matt and his friends. The local farmer listened to this discussion as various ideas were rehashed. After a time the farmer remarked, "I guess you city guys can just figure a way to talk the thing out!"

Obviously something had to be done. A previous idea had been proposed that perhaps the race could be burned out with a torch. This idea had been rapidly rejected because of possible damage to the end plate. Matt asked the farmer if he would accept the risk. He just replied that the part was of no use to him the way it was.

Matt wrapped the part in some wet rags, fired up the torch and managed to burn a small hole in the race. A punch was then used and the race popped free. Finally!

Matt recognized that sometimes that you just need to use the best resources available to you and make a decision.

Maybe I just needed to grab another helping of gumption.

So I crawled back under the car and resolved myself to a very tedious process. And the task proceeded until it was done.

I've said this many, many, times, sometimes You just have to do the work.

Other times You just have to walk away ... at least for awhile.

I guess that sometimes the most important thing to do is actually to do nothing at all, especially if there is no compelling reason or need to do anything. Drive your  other cars. Just let the damn thing sit.

But only for a while.


                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------


Today I finally had some free time. My poor XJ6 has been sitting for three weeks at least. I've been wanting to start it up and drive it, at least a little bit. I began to wonder if the car would even start. I actually had misplaced my keys a couple of weeks back. I didn't want to start it with the spare key as that would probably trip the alarm. I later found the keys in the pocket of the jacket that I had been wearing.

I got in the car and turned the key. It started instantly, without any noises or drama, settling down into a steady idle. I backed it out of the driveway and took it for a little tour of my greater neighborhood. Ten miles later I was reminded just how much I liked this car. I don't need another car, I don't even want another car. I just need to fix this one!

Speedsters and board track motorcycle racers.

This sculpture reduces the elements of the automobile to the bare elements.
photo source: The Old Motor.com

The distilled essence of speed, romance and adventure.

The Stutz Bearcat.

Cars can be used for practical transportation.

In fact, that's what most people use them for.

To the enthusiast however,  a car means so much more.

Some are competitors who use them to test themselves on a track or road course.

Others use them as a method of self expression.



For me, cars and motorcycles are all about going places.

The sculpture pictured above reduces the equation to the engine, wheels and last but not least, the driver.

Visually, without the driver/operator the car is just a static assemblage of mechanical parts.

Artistically it could be seen as a static sculpture.


It is like a musical instrument that sits idly collecting dust, like a grand piano that has fallen silent.

It awaits the hands of the artist to come to life.

And it needs a venue to perform.

Driving has been reduced by modern conditions to a chore, commuting in stop and go traffic in a late model Camry or SUV.

There is no renewal of the soul taking place out there.

Years ago I read a very insightful article published in Easyriders magazine

In it, the author related an exchange between himself, a motorcycle rider, and a tourist that arrived at the outlook at the Grand Canyon in a motor home. They had been engaged in a casual conversation when the tourist had remarked that the road had been fairly easy to manage in his RV. Then he asked the cyclist how he had arrived at the Grand Canyon. The biker replied that he and his buddy had ridden up on their motorcycles.

The tourist glanced at the machines then blurted out that he could never understand why anyone would ride "those things."

They were loud and dangerous and that some of the riders were real "weirdos!"

The cyclist was quite surprised by the tourists lack of tact but only replied "whatever floats your boat."

As the tourist couple returned to their recreational vehicle, the biker mused about the differences in their choices.

That "citizen" was traveling in a huge wasteful contraption that was essentially transporting themselves within their own house. They were completely cut off from any direct experience with the roadway surface, the weather, and even the experience of camping out or even sleeping in a different hotel or inn.

They could travel with their own beds and food and even a TV. Actually their entire trip was like watching it through the windscreen as if it were a TV program. Everything could be easily ignored.

As the tourist drove away in his RV, the author concluded that there was actually nothing "recreational" about it.

Recreation means to re-create, To experience something that has an effect on the person. It introduces new experiences and challenges that contribute to a new understanding.

The RV was bland and removed any challenge from the traveling experience.


On the other hand travel by motorcycle immerses the rider totally in the road and environment and provides a 360 degree exposure.

The cold and heat, The fatigue of wind blast and bumpy pavement.

Camping in the woods.

Even in Today's modern world traveling by Motorcycle is an adventure.

The rider feels like a pioneer travelling across the unknown prairie to a destination that has only been hoped about.

Bikers buy into the romantic myths of the American West. Some of us long for the freedom of the iconic American Cowboy.

Look back at that photo of Cannonball Baker and his speedster. It was stripped down to increase it's speed. Light and fast, it was set up to break long distance endurance records.

The essence of the motorcycle.
This is my favorite photo of a motorcycle.

Back in their day all that the racers wore was a leather aviation helmet.

Cannonball Baker, again. The man did not like to sit still.

There's just something about these machines that gets my juices flowing.

I just discovered a couple of new (to me, at least ) websites that can satisfy my need for visual speed.

The first is the old Motor.com

http://theoldmotor.com/?p=149685

This is a well designed site displaying beautiful photography.  It covers many aspects of early transportation. The lead photo of my post is just an example of what you'll find there.

The second is entitled Classic Speedsters.com

https://www.classicspeedsters.com/

This site covers the history of the manufacturers of early speedsters as well as home brew examples.
Speedsters have a long history in the American car scene. Even Today, the name is still occasionally used.

Both sites are well worth visiting. It's easy to spend a couple of hours dreaming about the past.

On a personal note.

I have been sooo busy with other pressing matters that my XJS project has come to a complete halt. Last month has been incredibly busy and it seems like it'll be another couple of weeks more. Everyone's been there at one time or another. It'll be a bit before I can get back on track.

Until then, whenever I have a spare second I can daydream about roaring down a country road in my Stutz Bearcat!

Trying out my idea, Part Two

This drawing is just to set the stage. It's not the XJS set up.

Day Two.

First, I wanted to raise the car a bit higher. I slipped two 1-1/2 in. wood squares under each end of the ramp to give me another three inches of height. I placed my old floor jack under the left suspension arm as a back up. I always have several jack stands supporting the car at all times.

Bottom view of the driver's side. The lower bolt has the nut on the outside.
The upper bolt has the nut on the inside.

Here it is loose. It only took one eighth turn at a time to loosen the nut.

The passenger side dropped down easily.

The first job was to unbolt the steering rack from the frame. The underside of the car is covered in a nice dirty film of oil, exactly what you would expect from a thirty year old car. There are three bolts holding down the rack, the left side has two 13mm bolts. I was on my back removing the two lower bolts. The second left side bolt was located above the lower one. I couldn't fit a box wrench on the inside nut because of interference with the transmission bellhousing. I'm going to grind that bolt down a bit so that I can slip the box wrench on for re installation. I also discovered that the easiest way would be to remove the left wheel and use a long extension on the upper bolt. I actually had to wire a long 13mm wrench in place to restrain the inside nut. Three hands would have come in handy.

I pried the rack loose and it moved down a bit. It looks like the pivot bolt will be able to clear the rack arm. I'm crossing my fingers.

I know that I'm getting old. Honestly, working on my back and craning my neck to look up takes it's toll. While I don't actually get dizzy, I do find myself getting a little nauseous and end up with a headache. I took a little break then returned to work. I was silently cursing the Jaguar designers that engineered this vehicle. Every XJS owner who ever turns a wrench on his car knows how densely the innards are packed. I was telling myself that I need to get rid of this thing and buy something that has better access and is easier to work on. Pleasant sepia toned memories of my 1970 six cylinder Mustang floated through my consciousness.

Talk about rose colored glasses!

Yes, I know that this is a rich mans's car. It cost just under 60,000 dollars when it was new. (Thirty years ago!) I may have paid just 1,200 bucks for the thing, but that doesn't mean that the cost of maintenance has depreciated at the same rate. I have a copy of the official Jaguar factory manual. The recommended repair procedure is to remove the front sub frame from the car. Proceed from there!

As a proud member of the Jaguar Driveway Club I just have to suck it up and force my hands into the cramped recess of the under carriage.

I took a deep breath then got down to work. One eighth of a turn at a time. By the time I was finished I needed a long break. I took a seat on the front porch and read my latest novel.

The biggest question that has to resolved was whether of not the pivot bolt will be able to slide out of it's position.

I unbolted the big castellated nut and I can see just how much that rubber bushing had "perished" (British usage). Take a look! I don't think that I will even need that removal tool.

Thee's just a bit over 100k on the chasis.

This is what happens when the tires aren't held in place properly.

Plenty of slop to go around

The pivot pin moved easily on my first try. 
The question is, "will it come out?"

As I finished up for the day I placed a jack stand under the steering rack to relieve any pressure on the fluid lines. I don't want to add any more stress to the assembly.

The car will have to sit for a while.
Life is getting in the way.

I hadn't even ordered the bushings yet!

I got on the web and ordered them from Rock Auto. Well of course it's not like SNG Barret but it is a lot cheaper. I had looked at a couple of other sites but they wanted way too much for shipping. You have to keep an eye on shipping charges, sometimes those charges negate any good prices that you find


Considering how much is involved it would probably make sense to replace the bushings with the best quality units available. I've been advised of that by several forum members. I don't disagree with this.

At this point I'm not even sure if the pivot pins will have enough clearance to come out. At least they are not seized up or rusted in place. At least not on the driver's side.

My post on the Jaguar forum has resulted in quite a few replies. Several warn me of the potential danger from the stored energy of the spring, as If I'd just drive the pin out without taking any precautions!

Others have warned me that the pivot pin cannot be removed withe engine in place, that I will have to at least drop the rear of the subframe. That might be true, but I'd never read that it was necessary in any of the posts I've followed.

I still don't have any time available to work on my car, I still quite heavily involved in a property renovation project. My little Explorer has been invaluable in this task. It's bearing down on 260k and hopefully is still going strong.

My bushings arrived from Rock Auto this week. They are sold under the Beck Arnley label and are manufactured in China, of course. I am going to do a little research and find out more about bushings from different suppliers. I'll probably start out by calling the Jaguar dealer and getting a price and manufacturer/supplier name. Perhaps they'll have OEM units available. I would imagine that this would be the most expensive alternative.

I admit it, I'm a cat lover.

There is a British business by the name of KWE that specializes in the XJS, among other Jags. I should do some research and send them an e-mail inquiry. I've read that improving the suspension was one of the companies main goals.

Look at all those XJS cars.
Either gold mine or "grief pit"!

There is a local British auto parts and service shop nearby. My first experience with the proprietor was not very positive. He didn't seem very friendly and gave me the feeling that he thought that my inquiries were just wasting his time. That doesn't seem like an approach that would gain him many new customers. His yelp reviews pretty much confirmed my first impression.


Just a thought about bushings and the XJS. They a rubber wrapped design. The lack of an outside steel shell appears to lessen the lessen the areas that can rust together. If the rubber is shredded then I 'm guessing that the steel tube can be driven out pretty easily. This all depends on the pivot bolt not being rusted in place.

Updates on this project will follow.  Although it might be awhile!