Hardtops and Windshield Washers

It's sunny. Time to wash.

I put the hardtop on the car back in October, but I've never had the chance to actually clean it. It sat in a closet for a number of years before getting use this winter, so it was a good opportunity to get it cleaned and put a coat of wax on it. My able detailing and repair assistant is pictured above, as she helped me out quite a bit today.

The windshield washer fluid nozzles stopped working this week, so I popped them out of the hood. They are currently in an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner, trying to get the gunk out. I disconnected the tubes, had my assistant push the washer button while I ran fluid into a cup. It worked fine, but there was a lot of dirt in the fluid - maybe from the tank? In any case, that gunk seems to have gummed up the nozzles. We'll give the jewelry cleaner a shot, and if it doesn't work, I've already found replacements online that I can get easily.

Just checking in

Not much really happening - the bathroom is done. I won't post any new pictures because the one of the shower is pretty much the best view. Since then, I sweat pipes for the first time, replacing a hose bib that had gone bad at the house. Other than that, I felt it was important to update the blog before Google takes it away from me.

I am starting on a list for 2009, and the Benz will be part of that for sure. I really miss the sunshine right now and am looking forward to the days when we can cruise again. The immediate plan calls for a thorough exterior detail, and to get the hardtop cleaned. That should be straightforward. I'm also planning on redoing the brakes. There's no warning light, but they just don't feel right, and I think it will make a big difference. It's a pretty straightforward procedure, and I think I can save a few hundred bucks by doing it myself. The existence or lack of a tax refund will determine what suspension work gets done.

Happy New Year!

Significant Completion

The bathroom is mostly done. I need to seal the tile and get a shower door installed, but it's a matter of waiting at this point. It's been a big project. We started Demo the last weekend in September, so it's been about two months to this point. We haven't moved back into the space completely, but it's close enough. The picture above is our new shower, with a glass block window where the old one used to be.

In addition to saving thousands of dollars, I also amassed the following tools and supplies, which can be used at a future date:

A Jigsaw
A Tile Saw
Several miscellaneous plumbing fittings
Extra tile that I may use for a mosaic at some point
A 12 gallon shop vac

I also picked up some plumbing and electrical tips from my dad when we has out to help.

Now, I'm going to try and avoid as many home projects as I can over the holidays.

Well...

Life has been crazy. As mentioned earlier, we've been working on our main bath remodel. We started around the 1st weekend in October, and we're getting to the point of impatience with the family. My parents, who were in town to help out are long gone, so it's back to the routine of trying to perform at my day job, then doing what I can in the evening to complete projects. We are really close, and completing the tile shower is all that's left. It's complicated by the fact that I've never ever tiled anything before in my life, and that the shower is really the centerpiece of the bathroom remodel. We're working on the cheap, but I'm trying to shield the world from realizing it. Consequently, we're trying to take our time, and make it look really nice. Here's a quick pic.

As for our Benz, with the hardtop on (pic forthcoming), I'm still getting it out and about. I thought about canceling the insurance and letting it sit, but there are several reasons to keep driving it. So, as long as it's not raining too hard (or snowy), I get a chance to get it out and enjoy. It still runs really strong, and I'm looking forward to getting some projects done in the spring before top-down season starts again.

Enjoy-

Fall is here

I got the hardtop on the Benz a couple of weeks ago. It makes it a much more comfortable car, and we're still putting it to good use on a regular basis so long as it doesn't rain too hard. Last night, Kim and I went to a charity auction. We were dressed nicely - I was in a tuxedo - and we received numerous complements from the valets at the hotel. In a city where late model Benzes, Porsches, and an occasional Bentley can be found, it's nice to know that a 27-year old roadster still gets complements.

As for the bathroom, we're pretty much to the point of significant completion. There is some minor trim and drywall finishing to do, plus hanging accessories like towel racks, and some small touch-up painting to do. After that, we'll probably move most of our stuff back, and then get to the tiling. Neither of us has done tiling before, so we're trying to take our time with it and come up with a good plan. Nonetheless, we can at least start to use the space we've got done. The new vanity area is in the picture above.

Putting it back together...

We're to the point where the demolition and the ugly drain plumbing move is complete. We spent most of the weekend putting the floor back together. The picture above is the framing for the new shower. Contractors are coming on Wednesday to install the shower pan and backing material for the tile, so the plumbing rough-in has to be complete by then. I think we'll make it, and have a plan B in case something gets fouled up with the supply piping.

After that, it's a matter of peeling the rest of the wallpaper, painting, installing the floor, patching wallboard, installing the vanity, connecting the plumbing, replacing the toilet, and tiling the shower.

No sweat.

Where have I been?

Haven't done much over the last couple of weeks except for work and remodeling the bathroom. We had to pull up the floor to get to the drain pipes, which need to be moved. It's a cascade of things that need to get taken care of, but we have a plan, most of the materials, and contractors willing to work small jobs without a lot of lead time. I'll post pictures as we move along. We're in the middle of moving plumbing (supply and drain), electrical and framing in a pan for the shower. Once that's done, onto flooring and installing the new vanity. I'll try to do better with updates.