3.12.23
It was hard to climb out of bed this morning. There is still a good chill in the air, and it was tempting to stay a while longer snuggled under the covers next to Darrell, but the urge to write was upon me so I dutifully obliged the call. This is such a funny start to the year. From bitterly cold days and nights to somewhat balmy ones then back to the cold with a good dose of snow added to the mix. Mother Nature is keeping us on our toes! Yesterday the sun was glorious on the snow that covered the ground from the day before but there was still a bite to the wind that made us decide a day working in the shop would be a good plan.
Darrell’s current project car, as you may recall, is a 1951 Chevrolet two door hardtop. He decided to replace the old engine and in so doing, also decided – since this car could be called a modified hot-rod – to add side pipe mufflers. Now this entails installing a whole new muffler system, something we usually leave to the muffler shops, but really, how hard can it be? The fitting of new pipes with their curves and turns going from the engine manifold to the muffler side pipes, a bit of welding here and there, no problem! So, Darrell and I decided to take on the task of doing it ourselves.
A shop day was planned as this really is a two-person job since we found out when installing the side pipes, an extra pair of hands made all the difference in the world. Darrell had made special brackets which allowed him to secure the heavy mufflers to the frame of the car in just the place he wanted the side pipes mounted. After sketching out a rough plan of how the new muffler system would come together, figuring out where the elbow sweeps would go, what odds and ends we needed to buy to make it work, yesterday was The Day. Muffler Day.
When milking was done, all the animals fed and watered and after a quick bacon sandwich for us, we retired to the shop where Darrell already had a good fire going in the woodstove. We decided to start on the passenger side of the car since that was where the new exhaust manifold was going to give us the most challenge – Darrell had ended up having to use the old manifold on the driver’s side since the new fancy one would not fit. On the passenger side, we had to cut new pipe, weld a new flange on the end of said pipe at just the right angle so it would bolt nicely to the engine manifold before assembling all the other elbows, connectors, and such to hook up to the gleaming side pipes.
With me laying on the floor under the car on one side and Darrell in the same position on the other, we measured and discussed and measured some more. Up and down, up and down we went between the floor and the work bench where I would secure new sections of tailpipe in the vice and mark it for Darrell to cut. Then back under the car to try holding it all together to make sure it would fit before the welding and clamping began. Oh, what we would give for a car hoist at this moment, for as blazing as the fire was, the cement of the garage floor was awfully chilly on one’s back!
Finally, we were ready to do some welding, well I was ready to do some welding! I love to weld but must admit it has been a few years since I donned my helmet. We pulled the wire-feed welder Darrell bought me years ago away from its customary resting place in the corner of the garage and Darrell helped me get the pieces of pipe ready to be worked on. The elbow to connector section was welded first then the new flange to pipe job came next. This was the challenging part because the flange had to sit on a slight angle to the pipe. I had marked it well but had my fingers crossed it was right! Since we do not have a welding table, a cinder block and some ingenious clamping ideas from Darrell got the two pieces of steel set in place so I could tack them together. Once that was done, I was able to unclamp from the cinder block and finish my weld around the entire flange.
Back under the car we went and piece by piece, bolt by bolt, working side by side we got the first of the two mufflers successfully hooked up to the engine. What a sense of satisfaction that was to see all that new pipe neatly and very securely installed in place! Chilled, dusty and dirty we slid for the last time that day out from underneath the car. I had planned on making fish and chips for dinner, but Darrell would have none of that, a pizza popped in the oven would do us just fine he said. So, the shop lights were turned off, the door closed for the day and hand in hand we walked back to the house. Tired but content at what we had accomplished.
I love helping Darrell in the shop and he loves having me there beside him. Are there other things we could have been doing? Of course! There always are other things to do, but nothing is as important as sharing precious time together.
Last night, as I quickly checked the weather forecast for today and the coming week, I saw a notice on the computer that a very dear lady we know had passed away. For a while now she had been battling cancer. From her notes she would post it seemed as if for a while she was winning the war, but it was taking a toll on her. It was a shock to read she passed away yesterday. Midge and her husband John had bought a 1957 Chevy from Darrell years ago and restored it to near showroom condition. They had been married for over 50 years and both shared a passion for old Chevys, just like Darrell and I do.
As I sit here this morning, glancing out the window at the sun streaming through the trees, Darrell just put another cup of tea on the brew for me. Today we will go back in the shop to tackle the muffler installation on the other side of the car. Side by side we will lay on the cold, dusty floor and work companionably to get the job done. I could be sitting inside the house doing our taxes, I could be making soap or a myriad of other things, but I won’t. I would much rather be out there on that cold, dusty floor, having bits of dirt and goodness knows what fall in my hair and on my face as I lay side by side with my dearest plugging away on installing that muffler. Life is short, life can end in a flash, make the most of it.
Carpe Diem – seize the day my friends.
