Freddy's Coffee House 6/30/12

Thanx Jeff but hell, I can only use one at a time.

jkabdoors wrote:nice tractor freetown, are you looking for another? I just might know where there is 1 for sale. Jeff

Freetown Fred doesn't have a hyperactive 'collector chromosome' in his DNA.. Most people who have one 8N have to have another or more !

It's been hectic since I got back from the Western Michigan Pierce Arrow meet. I had an 'emergency' transmission job show up on Monday AM,
I worked hard on it, got it done [it was a carry-in trans]. He picked it up, took it back to his place,, then an hour later he calls.. I kind of gulp
when a customer calls that soon, I think missing parts, etc..
He pulled it out of his truck, put it on the forklift, didn't strap it to the forks... and the trans slid off, flipped on it's back, and broke the main case
and the tailshaft/overdrive case.. big cracks 2/3 the way around.. the trans must have landed just right to do that much damage..
So I have the trans back in my shop, going to swap the internal parts into another case/tailshaft housing..

I haven't even removed my '25 touring car from the trailer yet.. I need to do that, the heat in the trailer can't be good for it.. gonna be 97* today
and all sun.. so the trailer temps may hit 110* +.

Big storms came through yesterday,, all of them either went just north or just south, or didn't really get 'kickin' untill they were east of me..
Grumpy got hammered, hail, inches of rain, and his power is out. but he has an auto-start genset, so he should be OK..

While I was gone to the west side of the state, our area had a power outage, it got hot, the demand went up and DTE dropped the ball,
yet AGAIN. Thankfully none of the freezers or stored food got warm or thawed..

Well time to get out to the shop and see what I can do for the broken trans..

Greg L

Hell Greg, I've got the chromosome, I'm just on a Freetown budget.

Yeah, I got that.. I think that I'll be on a 'Craigslist-Retirement Program' when I can't work anymore.. I'll have YEARS of stuff to sell..

Here are some photos from the party at my place the weekend of the 23/24th.







I didn't get many photos on Sunday when the whole crowd was in the back yard, I think we had around 120 guests. unfortunately I bought food for 150 very hungry people, so I have lots of leftovers. Pulled Pork Sandwich anyone??

The mini-tour on Saturday went well, we had a good lunch at the only restaurant that would take us, all the other ones either would NOT take reservations or not take a group of 15-20, or would limit your menu etc etc.. This pub was glad to have us, was all set up, waiting, good food, good service Then we were off to the next stop:

I used a 'trump card' from the Sheriff Deputies that hunt my property, one of them called a buddy Deputy on duty, and we had the 4-lane road blocked for us, so we could exit the restaurant as one group. !! That went well !!

We then toured to the Cooke's Farm Dairy for some icecream. Best stuff in SE Michigan.
Then on back to the farm for a catered night of drinks and Hor'sdourvres. And of course Car talk.

The next day was the big BBQ party. We started with a catered brunch, about 50 people showed up for that, then we had a very short tour into town, about 4 miles, to rummage through all the antique shops. Several people found items to purchase. We also went into two local museums that I'd never been in, they were very interesting.

Then back to the farm at 4pm for the BBQ and party.. An addtional 10 or so cars showed up, from the '70's on back to a '37 ford,
A neighbor brought over a tractor and haywagon and gave tours out to the lake and the back property.

All in all a great weekend,
Then starting monday was the big national meet of the Pierce Arrow society in Western Michigan.. that lasted until July 1st.

Greg L

Those cars are sooo mint! If I owned one I'd have to use it as a daily driver. That wouldn't bother me one bit - just have to park on the other side of the lot, away from other cars, & walk ... but I do that now anyway. Would outlast anything coming out of Detroit these days.

You've got the perfect "party yard".

That John Deere looks like the same exact one my neighbor has. ... He's been trying to sell it, and a few others for a while now without much luck. Market sucks now ...

Thanks Smitty, I could have handled three times the trailers, old cars and parked cars. and was prepared to do so, but it's amazing the number of people
who said they'd not miss the party and BBQ for anything, but didn't show up..
To be honest, I spent a ton of cash setting this up, buying food, hiring caterers etc.. and to have people not stop by even for 30 minutes and grab a BBQ sandwich and a beer or soda.. kinda pisses me off..
An yet it was quite gratifying to have some people show up that said they didn't think it would be possible to come over, too much going on. but THEY made time and once here stayed for hours..

Anyway, all in all it went very well, and the house/farm/shop has never been this neat, orderly and painted/spiffed up. And probably never will again !!

Greg L

Wow Greg the cars are great!!!! Nice party also. Did i see Miss Daisy? Jeff

Great photos Greg! Thanks for posting them. Sounds like you've had a busy few weeks.

Greg, sign me up for a pork sandwich. Yummmmm.

LsFarm wrote:the trans must have landed just right to do that much damage..

Ahhhh.... wouldn't that be "dropped just wrong"? Ouch... sorry to hear. Can a new/used case be found? If not, ship the parts in this direction. I have a friend that loves a welding challenge.

Sorry not everyone showed up....bummer to waste food money, but, they missed a good show for sure.

Thanks for the pics!

VERY Busy, and now that I'm home, truck transmission work started showing up.
I haven't got the '25 touring car out of the trailer yet, or my bags or boxes of parts unpacked, but fresh work is showing up for the shop.. I hate to turn
any down, but I may have to.. I'm too tired to do too much.

Greg L

Happy Independence Day!

God I LOVE this country!!