Every once in a while a project seems to take a whole lot longer than it should. When we moved onto our small acreage fifteen years ago one of the first things I started was a 'building' for the large commercial trash container. True to our style it wasn't to be ordinary. The 'building' would be a hollowed out mountain with giant metal doors on the front. But before I could finish Trash Mountain things got busy and the project was put on hold temporarily. By the time work commenced once more the following year the location had moved temporarily. Trash Mountain would move two more times through the years as we rerouted the driveway and then built the new house. The tree was finished and set on top. Four years ago the concrete pad was poured and the structural frame was bolted down permanently at last. Through the last two summers we've finished welding the framework and applied the metal lath. This year we are determined to finish the structure at long last. With the onset of the first warm spring days the crew sculpted the giant timbers around the door today and they look fabulous!
Metal to the pedal!
The more mundane bits of a project are never as much fun as the first blocking out of the piece. Those tasks seem to take longer too! The first fender is always much more interesting than the second one. The inner fenders are a bit of a chore compared to the more visible pieces. I spent the day doing those less exciting things and made great progress. I rewarded myself with some new fun bits. The gas and brake pedal assemblies are now fabricated and mounted. The headlights are in place as well. Next up is the hood and windshield before I begin the mounting of the engine and rear axle assembly. By week's end the fun little rig should be ready for a test drive!
Two wheelin - soon four wheelin
Work continues on the little Jeep as I find the time. So far the body is largely complete save for one front fender and the hood. The frame is complete and the front axle installed along with the steering mechanism. With that work finished I can start on the inner fenders and then the gas and brake pedals along with the control linkages. The rear axle assembly is being built by our friends at a local machine shop and should be ready by the end of the week. It won't be long until it is time for a test drive!
