Otis

Very cool presentation.

Very sorry we missed it, guys. Patti's in London (at the British Open, no less!) and I spent the entire weekend in the office, working. Bummer. Next time, for sure! See you at 02berfest, Herndon, etc. Best/David and Patti

Just for future reference -- and just a thought -- although I have my own spray equipment, prior to acquiring that, I "cheated" by using a Preval sprayer: www.autobodydepot.net/scripts/depot.exe?pgm=preval.bbx I found that it was good for minor touch ups, etc., and avoided having to use spray cans -- I found that I could mix with more precision. Alas, splotching and overspray led me to purchase better equipment, so now I just use my old Preval for Strik (Zymol) and other chemicals. Again, just something to consider.

Me too, Brad. Too many projects at work -- spending the weekend in the office. Hate it when that happens, but I have to pay the bills. See you and AM at Herndon and OBX, however?

Street rods, the Gulf Coast -- what could be better? Have fun, guys. Wish I could be there (street rod under construction -- ETA unknown).

Very nice, clean install. If it's not too much trouble, could we see some pictures of the A-pillars? Thanks.

That's just your car's way of saying that it loves you )

Have fun, Mike! Drive safely, and best regards/David, Patti, and Otis

Re brands, I revert back to Mr. James' book: "Over the [last] 10 years countless welding companies have been sold or merged with other companies, often forming companies with new names. The same phenomenon is still happening today. Recently, two long-time, well-known welding equipment manufacturers, Miller Electric Manufacturing Company and Hobart Brothers Company, merged under the management of Illinois Tool Works. Also under the same managemetn are PowCon, Oxo, Tri Mark, Corex, and McKay, other long-time companies in the welding business. So it's wise for anyone who wants to stay current in the welding field to visit American Welding Society meetings, visit your local welding trade schools, and attend at least two or three welding trade shows every year." I'm fortunate to have a shop like Roberts Oxygen, close by. They deal almost exclusively in Miller (some Lincoln, which formerly was Harris), so the brand decision is not much of a decision for me. But I also keep up with the new equipment by calling up the welding instructor at the local Community College -- he gets to try out all the cool new stuff, for free. Finally, where I really, really learned about this stuff -- I was fortunate to have a case that involved an ammonia and methanol facility in Geismar, La. The old timers there weld critical joints on heat-exchange machinery, some of which is firing off at 5,000 degrees (or other super heated temperatures). I just kept at them, picking their brains (for payment in the local currency -- Budweiser) until they showed me how to weld "correctly," and told me what to buy. I have many funny (and true) stories from those experiences -- for another time, I guess. Anyway, back to TIG versus MIG, I haven't looked at buying stuff in quite some time, but I understand that you can buy a modular TIG add-on that features a capacitor start or, in some products, high-frequency (best) start. That means that if you buy a MIG, you can later use its transformer to power a TIG torch. I've never tried this, but I understand it can be done -- someone correct me here if I'm wrong. BTW, don't forget about the plasma cutter (cha-ching -- $$$). Isn't spending money, fun?

I don't know, I've never bought anything off of eBay (too old fashioned and mistrusting). But from the pictures, it looks like a real buy -- I'd wonder about the history of the little fellow, however. He's on that dinky trailer, he's somewhat picked apart, he's in a state not know for rust free cars . . . things that make you go, "hmmm."

Well then, hit that button -- so that Otis has someone to play with (meeting halfway in NC, that is)!

I agree - stay away from the off brands. Consider this quote from "How to Weld Damn Near Anything" by Jesse James (of Monster Garage, Sandra Bullock, and Janine fame) -- You should know that there are cheap welders sold by stores that can't even tell you how to use the machines. You can buy arc welders for less than $100 and MIG welders for less than $200. These machines will make you think that welding is an art you can't master. Leave them at the store where you found them. If you did accidentally buy one, it is extremely unlikely that you could ever find repair parts, and it is highly unlikely that you could even get it to work the way it is advertised. ____ Also, on the subject of TIG versus MIG, one important question -- what do you intend to weld, and how critical will the welds be? For example, are you welding a roll cage or a critical suspension part -- or something less critical? TIG welding is much more controllable than MIG; MIG is faster, but TIG offers much more precise puddle control. That allows adequate time to properly add filler rod material to the puddle. You can strike an arc, form a puddle, then carefully and accurately add just the right amount of filler rod at exactly the right place in the molten weld puddle. By contrast, one of the biggest complaints about MIG concerns the normal tendency of an electrode-fed arc weld to start off cold. This means that each start of the arc is not fully penetrated for the first fractions of an inch of the weld bead. Once the MIG weld bead is established, the heat and penetration is normal, but it always starts off cold. Further, once you squeeze the trigger on the MIG gun, you're committed to move along with making a weld bead, ready or not. If you start badly, sometimes you have to stop, grind, or cut out the weld bead, and then start all over again. And in that regard, MIG is rather intolerant of any gaps inthe fit-up of the parts -- so in cutting out, you have to cut out carefully. All things considered, I just love the way that TIG ends up looking -- so if you have the time and patience to learn, I'd try TIG. But it is frustrating, as I can attest. That's why I usually go with MIG, and leave the TIG welding to the resident pro (whom I am fortunate enough to have living 2 doors down). Hope this helps.

Many people here have researched, or otherwise opined upon, the reasons why 2002s bear that number. I've read all the "official" reasons. But in light of your post, I decided to do some further research. And that research confirmed what many of us have believed or otherwise suspected all along -- that "2002" represents the maximum number of kilometers that you can drive in these cars, before something really major breaks, leaks, fouls, misfires, or otherwise simply falls completely apart. But, in some perverse way, that's what makes these cars fun. Right? What would life be, if we all drove Toyota's under warranty?

If for humanitarian reasons alone, someone, please please please liberate that poor, partially disassembled Colorado from that dinky little trailer! It makes Otis sad to see a Colorado like that (

I'm sorry, I don't know where you're located -- but might I suggest you at least ring up the boys at Roberts Oxygen in Rockville, Maryland. Friendly, helpful, absolutely no attitude. Even if Rockville is too far away, a call might be worth the investment, since the guys there offer a wealth of information. Of course, I wouldn't call early in the morning (when the contractors come in to get their gas bottles filled), and I'd start with the standard -- "I wonder if I could ask for some recommendations . . . I'm new to buying one of these machines, so . . . " The number at Roberts is 301-948-2205. My buddy Uncle Rick and I have stick, MIG, and TIG -- all Miller machines. For the life of me, I can't get TIG to look any better than "pigeon poop" - what a mess I make, but that's just me, and my lack of practice. Indeed, TIG in Uncle Rick's hands is a masterpiece in the making -- what beautiful welds he makes. As for stick, I never could master vertical-up, and 6010 rods are tough, but it's always nice to have a stick around for heavy jobs. Finally, despite my overall TIG ineptitute, give me a MIG gun, and I can be dangerous -- point and shoot, and away we go (except with the wire jams, of course).

Oh, but please, please, do not trouble yourself so -- I'll gladly offer my garage space, no problemo!

If I may be so bold as to advise, be not thou disheartened -- many of us have "been there, done that" with the water pump (and the alternator, and the fuel pump, and the subframe, and the diff, and the carbs, and the . . . where do I stop?) Specifically for the pump, etc., I am reminded of a scene in "Goodfellows." Young Henry Hall is busted for selling cigarettes. Emerging from the court house, Paulie, Jimmie and others greet him with a robust, "Congratulations, you broke your cherry!!!" I guess my point is, don't be discouraged -- just retorque, slather, adjust, kick -- whatever -- but do get right back up on that 02 horse and ride.

And as others on this board have observed many, many times, beware the mysterious 02 breeding phenomenon -- the species has a strange way of mysteriously multiplying. Once the first one takes up residence in your driveway, a second is bound to follow, etc. etc. etc.

I second the welcome. Unless I am mistaken, you have about 4 hours left to cough up 33 large ones to acquire the rarest of the rare, the Holy Grail -- A TURBO (!!!). Talk about making a big splash upon entry . . .

Zero bids, still. Curious.

Shane, there was a guy walking around V@V with an original non-tii manual for sale. He offered it to me, but I already have the original one for Otis (71 Colorado). Maybe Scott or Auggiemize knows who the guy was -- or maybe it is someone here -- his price was quite reasonable, if I recall correctly.

One of you good folks in Arizona should figure out how to add one of those way-cool misters to an 02 Cabriolet -- like they put on the golf carts. I remember one day not too many years ago, at the South Mountain Resort near Tempe, the thermometer reaching the one-three-zero mark -- but I played on, in the total comfort of the cool mist of the mister cart. Now, that's living large. Those that know Otis, know of his pink, plastic, battery powered fan from BB&B (Bed Bath & Beyond), which is more reliable than (and thus takes the workload away from) the Frigiking. Keeps the back of the noggin cool, you know. BTW -- I've been to Nogales. Had a client there -- a fruit distributor. Man, was that ever blast-furnace hot!

I might be able to offer some helpful information here. David is a good friend of mine, so take this for what it's worth. As Bill says, David is a devoted family man and has full-time job; he simply happens to be an ace machinist, and makes some parts on the side that he thinks would be useful to folks. Also, as most know, he's an Isetta nut, and has been extremely busy with a secret project, for which (1) I am sworn to secrecy, and (2) he is trying like a madman to complete in time for next year's V@V. That has left him less time for other things, and as he says, unfortunately his "factory" consists only of his own "two hands." I really don't think there's anything more to it, than that. The guy really is a salt-of-the-earth type guy, IMHO. To use an old cliche, if you needed a shirt, off his back, his would come. Those that may question him, needed only to witness Rimspoke and Ken Winters giving Isetta ride after ride to the kids (little and big alike) at V@V. But enough said in his defense, I suppose (and hope). With that, I'm otherwise ducking out of the line of scud-missile fire -- since my significant other, Otis, is a happy little car, and wishes that all 02ers "just get along" -- isn't that what it's all about, anyway? As always, happy motoring, per Otis.

Thanks, Randy. I met John Sr. and his wife at the Concours -- I believe that his personal car took second, to John McW's beautiful, championship ride. What a true gentleman (in fact, that goes for both). We entered the clean-car contest totally by accident -- the person at the gate (a vineyard worker) said, "you here for the car show?" and we said, "yes," and she said, "park over there," and the next thing you know, Richard P. gave us a third-place plaque for the E-30 -- which was a real hoot! I hope somebody underwrites the event -- it was our first year there last year, and we hope it is not the last. Nothing beats good barbecue and sweet tea -- followed by a wine chaser (!).

Brad -- I heard somewhere through a grapevine, something about the Estep shop being sold, or something like that? Unless I'm mistaken, I believe they sponsor the Shenandoah Councors event for the NCC Chapter. We showed up last year, and had a blast (even if it did mean that we had to actually clean the E-30). Wine, barbecue, smoked salmon, local arts and crafts show, beautiful sunny day, a 100+ mph jaunt down Route 66 trying to keep up with Richard Pineada in his Ferarri, etc. etc. etc. -- and a raffle at the end, during which I won some way-cool car supplies (everyone came away with a prize). So, we penciled in the event (in September), but someone mentioned that it's "up in the air" because "the sponsor was sold." Know anything about this? We met the Esteps for the first time last year, and they were tremendous, gracious, first-rate hosts. I certainly hope that they repeat the event this year. If not, maybe we should just have the 'Q (and smoked salmon) at your gala Herdon event.