New mounts and blasting

Saturday morning I decided to redo the coil and relay mounts - this time I did brackets instead of bungs.  I felt like there wasn't enough clearance under the tank when the coil was mounted horizontally - the wire rubbers were rubbing the tank.  The relays are bundled together now which I think is tidier.

Today, I media blasted - I went through 120 lbs of media - mostly coal slag from Tractor Supply, which is nice and cheap.  Unfortunately I didn't finish as I ran out of media.  I didn't get to the frame or the rear swing arm, and I didn't finish the front forks.  But everything else is done.  I'll ask the powder coater to finish the rest.  I'm going to use Chester County Coatings in Honeybrook, Pa. on my brother's recommendation.

I always think it will be economical to do my own blasting, but I forget what a huge pain in the ass it is. A few little pieces is fine, but most of a bike sucks.  Balancing the time, hassle, and supply cost vs paying someone to do it - I vote pay someone else.  That said, I do like the intimacy that the process affords - each sweep uncovering blemishes, cast marks, and serial numbers - it's stuff I'd never see if I didn't strip the parts myself.

I really like Eastwood - I think their stuff is a good balance of quality and price.  Growing up, they had a store in Frazer, Pa that I loved to go to.  It's closed, Pottstown isn't that far away.  For blasting, I've got both their 100lb blasting pot and their cheapy siphon gun.  I much prefer the little gun.  You can make one of these pretty easily with just an air gun attachment (my kids gave me this one for x-mas).

Once the coating is done and the engine is done, it will be time to assemble and wire.  Painting the tins will wait for another day - I'm tired of spending money and I know I'be got one more substantial order from Benchmark Works before it's all done.

Parts!

Right - Ava is completely broken down.  I picked out everything I need to media blast and then get powder coated:

Maybe next weekend I'll get a chance to blast - I just need to find enough time to get it all done at once and then drop it off for powder coat.  Tech tip: Barrington Motor Work's /2 restoration book has section on what parts should be matte black and which gloss - one of the best x- mas presents ever.

I dropped off my 74 r90/6 engine and tranny withTom Cutter at Rubber Chicken Racing in Yardly Pa. In that I know nothing about the engine that came with this project and that the '74 had inherent problems, I wanted someone who knew their business to go through it.  I may have bitten off a bit too much but we'll see.  Tom has promised me basically a brand new engine - better than stock.  I just know it won't be cheap.  But, the money I get from the Rabbit should cover it, plus, he's been cool enough to let me come over and do some of the grunt cleaning and polishing work to save some cash.

In the dog house is Tom Epperson frrom Epco mufflers.  I ordered conversion headers two and a half years ago and have seen nothing.  I didn't actually pay for them until September 2013 (at which time I added a set of mufflers too)  - to the tune of $1,000.  Through last November, I've talked to Tom at least a dozen times and it was always: "oh, I'm looking at them, they'll be sent out in a couple days" - I hate that kind of bullshit.  However, now that I've paid, I can't even raise him on the phone.  Tomorrow, I'll be talking to the credit card company to see if I can reverse the charges.  I really don't want to lose the $1,000.