1973 2.0L Rustoration, Restoration turned OT garage build Options

[Superhawk996]

We used to get more moose but between logging, development and predators it seems like we are getting them less frequently than we used to.

I can’t claim photo credit on this one. It’s my neighbor’s game cam. Pretty unusual to catch two together. Wish Brent could comment. I’m thinking it’s a mother and her offspring but probably getting close to the point where they would separate?

Luckily they don’t seem to have had any effect on the population of pet deer.


So far the only cat pictures I’ve captured with my game cam are little bobcats.


When I was a kid living out here it was pretty rare to see eagles. Thankfully they are making a great comeback. There was a count of them this year that was close to 300. They eventually migrate off around late January when the Kokanee spawn is done and the food source runs out.



What are Kokanee you ask?


Kokanee is also a beer (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer3.gif)

[Superhawk996]

Looks like you are on the home stretch. Congrats (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

Yeah . . . Well not even close really.

Beside the need to do the exterior stuff the interior hasn’t really been moved along much other than getting some insulation into the walls. Couldn’t insulate the ceiling because I need access for electrical and plumbing first.



I still need to do electrical, plumbing, drywall, finish trim. The to do list is endless and goes slow when your doing it all solo.

I might have been a bit overly ambitious on what I could accomplish on an ageing body. My body doesn’t seem to be able to deliver 16 hr days 7 days a week anymore. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

The interior is “done” enough that I’ve pressed it into service to do other projects that were getting critical. I’m able to work indoors during the winter and at least I’m no longer working on stuff in the dirt.

The tractor has barely had brakes the past 3 years. That doesn’t sound too bad until you realize we live on the side of a mountain and there isn’t hardly a lick of flat road around here. It was great having brakes this past winter.



Apparently brakes don’t work well when the differential is leaking gear lube onto them. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) As you can probably tell, this wasn’t a recent development.


The old girl is 77 years old and still working as my snow plow so who can really complain.

New seals for the differential and new brake discs - hopefully good for a couple more decades.

[Superhawk996]

My 91’ Mazda “dump truck” and lumber hauler finally got a long needed front end rebuild.



It seems to have an appetite for exhaust system bits since the exhaust from the catalyst back is mild steel. Doesn’t have the durability of modern stainless steel exhaust pipe.



My TIG is still in storage but my little 110v Italian made MIG welder is saving my (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bootyshake.gif). I think I bought this thing for about $100 used from a co-worker in 1996. Still making sparks and gluing metal together. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif)



I do miss my TIG. Now that I have electrical out to the garage I suppose I could bring it back but at this point it would just be another thing to move around once I get back to doing the interior.

[Superhawk996]

Speaking of electrical . . . The price of copper wiring has gone insane. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/barf.gif)



Not to mention that even here it’s now locked up due to the thieves. Sad days.

And this is only 10/2 for 30 amp circuits like the air compressor. To run the TIG I need a 50A circuit. And eventually the radiant floor boiler needs a 70A circuit.

Lots of money going to wiring this fall.

[Superhawk996]

I’m an engineer and need problems in my life to solve. The BMW provides plenty of entertainment.



For anyone that thinks working on a 914 is a PITA try a semi-modern BMW. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)

In the process of working on the thermostat I found out the air intake tube was due for a replacement. Here’s the thermostat with a bright light behind it. Not sealing & opening prematurely.



It’s crazy how you can’t even find some issues just by visual inspection - they only show up once you have stuff apart and can actually see things you normally can’t.



Don’t even get me started on electrical gremlins (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ar15.gif)

[Superhawk996]

Not to be left out the 98’ Camry needed a couple minor oil leaks addressed before we used it to go back to Michigan for my father in laws funeral. Crazy enough this used to be my mother in laws car before she passed. Classic little old lady car. Something like only 80k miles on this still and I’ve had it since 2022. It can’t make it up the mountain in the winter (need AWD or 4x4) but it is a great summer car.





Ran great but I still have a minor leak off the camshaft plug that needs to be addressed. Hard to complain when it’s almost 30 years old now.

[Superhawk996]

So 2025 was a lot of catching up on deferred vehicle maintenance that slowed garage build progress. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Might be time to consider other simpler, alternative transportation that requires less maintenance?