Studebaker Update...

Summer is going by so fast!  I made a little time to work on our old '47 Studebaker truck engine.  There's much to do to get this old motor back to working again.  It's a very simple design with a lot of cleaver design nuances. Built to last a life time!

The old '47 Commander 226 cu in  Engine was built strong.  The materials science, fuel quality and more accurate multi-body dynamics allow a crankshaft this beefy to drive a few hundred HP.  This old '47 made 94 peak HP. 

Wire nuts kept the main bearing caps from getting loose.

The size of these bearing journals are so big, it's no wonder why these engines are still in service to this day.  Look at the rear main!  You usually see such long bearings in marine applications.  The fluid film thickness must be very thick.  Next weekend the cam and crank will come out.  Everything is seized, so this is really a labor of love.  Getting this old M16 back on the road is a giant challenge. 

Time to take a little time to enjoy summer!

Hazel has become a good boater too!

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Summer rolls on...

Summer is going by so fast!  The crowds were out at the Madison Farmer's Market today...

So darned busy I haven't done a Studebaker update in a while.  Well I pulled the old inline six out and have started

What a challenge... Seized pistons, stuck valves - she'll run again but a lot more work than I was thinking!

LOL... a B-Day gift!

As evening came - a little rain and  a warm breeze... Summer is the best time of the year!

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A rainy 4th of July parade this year!

Even though it poured.... everybody had a good time.  It's been a while sinceI had the pleasure of being out in a mid-summer rain.

The color guard... and just a hint of a drop of rain...

Then, it started

and kept getting stronger...

Kids had a great time!

The parade turned into a down pour.  Most people stayed, kids played, and the whole atmosphere turned into something very unique... as everybody just decided to get soaked, laughter prevailed.

fun in the summertime

Not sure what a person in a bear costume has to do with the 4th of July, but what the heck...

one of those cars that is also a boat

We walked back to the car down this beautiful path...

Happy 4th of July everbody!

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Happy B-Day JRO

AML Dad

Stuck at America's WORST airport again...

Near the K gates... this is the only spot where tv's aren't loudly blaring and a flat surface will allow the normal human a spot to recline...

Sorry!  See ya at 4:30

If you ever get stuck at KORD... and NO hotels are available... this delightful wander through (some say the worst airport int the US) Ohare might give you a few ideas of what to expect.


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Bluegrass in the park...

Some days are amazing! 

Loon, cranes and now eagles... what a great day!

Cool... we went to a local park to hear a bluegrass band this evening and this super nice Jag was in the parking lot!

Then this super cool bike rolled in...

AND there was a big fish on a pipe - LOL... Summer in Wisconsin!

Gosh these folks were good...

Hand-Picked Bluegrass...

Dancing in the park too!

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Dragon Flies and Loons

Every morning and sometimes in the evening the nesting pair of loons call to each other... the Dragon Flies flit back and forth... humming birds visit the garden and every now and then giggling excited visitors motor by on water skis or while being pulled on a raft... Summer is a wonderful time of the year!

The lake was stocked last fall... looks like these little guys made it through the winter and are doing well!

Sort of a cool pic, in my opinion anyway.  Reflected clouds among the lily pads.

My friend the Dragon Fly

I was sitting in the brush by the shore line actually trying to get a picture of a fisher, when I head this loon scamper into flight from across the lake.  By the time I could zoom out, find him and track him while holding the Nikon with the 500mm lens I barely had enough time to get this shot.  It happened so fast that I didn't have time to stabilize the camera so fuzzy I know - but that's one of our loons!

When these Dragon Flys land to rest they rotate their wings down and forward so they become stable in a breeze. These little guys eat a lot of misquitoes...

Fun stuff!

Uh-oh, an up-side-down lily pad... 

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