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4 minute(s) of a 731 minute read
2-24-2023
More mostly non-z related content:
Had a crazy weekend in January. Background: I'm a spaceflight junkie, I try and watch all the big launches via Youtube. Been trying to coordinate a visit to my parents in Estero with the spring Falcon Heavy launch schedule, but the reality is that we need to plan months ahead due to wife's new workload. Launches aren't firmed up until a week before (or less).
I had a slow workday on a Friday and made my semi-regular launch schedule checkup. Launch tomorrow at 5pm? No plans this weekend? Sent a mostly kidding daydream message to the wife stating I could leave after work, drive straight through, arrive for launch, drive straight back afterwards. She had a slow day too apparently and replied with a Southwest itinerary. She's a keeper. Hopped on a 5am flight to Orlando Saturday morning to try and catch the Falcon Heavy launch and fly back early Sunday afternoon. Met my parents at the airport who drove up, also looking for an adventure. Saturday was scrubbed early in the day. Postponed 24 hours. Crap. Thanks to Southwest's flexible scheduling policy I was able to find a 5AM flight home Monday AM. Spent the day by the water hanging out in the truck. Launch went as planned Sunday at 5:56PM for an absolutely gorgeous sunset launch. Bucket list complete. Holy s**t that was cool.
Z-related content:
Prepping for the day spring finally shows up:
I bought a t-top lock to replace the one that broke years ago. I had no idea it was a replaceable part.
Also bought some Shin-Etsu grease to recondition the door/ttop seals with the hope of preventing the slow drip I get in heavy rain. The seals aren't hard or rotted, so I'm not sure how successful this will be.
Work on the T5 continues.
It's been a rollercoaster thus far for sure. Thankfully I can tolerate quite a few surprises given the clean body and $1000 price tag.
Last and most exciting update....lumber was on sale at Menards ($2 per 2x4!) and we had a relatively free weekend so I made a kneejerk decision and came home with supplies to build some robust shelving to add 65 sq feet of storage to previously underutilized space. What was old kitchen cabinets was filled with a variety of 'long term' spares for the 300ZX and R53. Unfortunately the size and division of the cabinets really made it not ideal for most of what I wanted to store.
Previous 'storage' cabinets visible to the far left
I started early and it was cold so I built the frame inside the garage. The Volvo is up on stands and immobile. Soon after I realized that I couldn't get the frame out of the garage vertically to finish assembly. Somehow I managed to do everything without a helping hand: from construction, to manipulation, to cabinet removal and installation. Everything that was stored in the cabinets fit onto one and a half shelves. I've effectively tripled my storage space. I built it with the intent of moving my spare transmissions, blocks, and other large equipment from the 1 car 'workshop' to this location. This was a huge first step to allowing me to clear out all of the items my workshop so I can finally accomplish my goal of 'finishing' it with insulation, drywall, lighting, and heat. It's starting to look like tackling this project might be a real possibility this summer!