Great idea. Many years ago I had a Chevy that needed work on the motor. I took it to a local Junior College and offered it to the auto shop teacher to use as a hands on project. He was delighted and so was I when I got the car back. Low cost, supervised work by a professional and a nice job. I suppose there still are some auto shop teachers around who are familiar with older cars. Quint ----- Original Message ----- From: "Henry Hopkins" <hhrp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: November 05, 2003 10:19 AM Subject: IML: Blueberry Suggestion > I, too, have been following this thread. Suggestion, one which we are > seriously considering: > > Contact area Junior colleges or High schools. Are there auto mechanics > classes there? Are there students who would work for lower wages after > classes, say two to three hours per day, to work on Mrs. Blueberry and learn > MORE about autos and perhaps begin to pick up a specialty--working on older > cars?? > > I am thinking of remove and replace tasks--engines, driveshafts, brake > drums, power steering pumps, master cylinders, and whatever other things > Mrs. Blueberry might need. > > Would something like this help in the $$ crunch and help to get the car up > and running again? Possibly one can afford parts, but the labor can be > expensive if one doesn't do it alone. Students work for less. Also as one > gets older, one is less enthusiastic about muscle straining tasks. > > Just a suggestion. We will try this and "supervise" and assist as we try to > get our half dozen half done projects much closer to completion. > > Henry Hopkins, Richmond CA > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Hugh & Therese" <hugtrees@xxxxxxxx> > To: "Imperial Mailing List" <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2003 10:16 PM > Subject: IML: Money, logic and Mrs. Blueberry > > > > This unexpected thread has been quite touching. However, what we are > really > > talking about is money. I am a poor man in a rich man's hobby. In > > addition, I am middle aged, so do not have the free time of either youth > or > > old age. So, Mrs. Blueberry needs a ring job. She will probably get a > > bunch more stuff done. You may be sure she will get a new spin on oil > > filter. It is the oil leaks that are most pressing. > > > > I won't be able to take her out on long hauls for a while. I will need to > > get an engine hoist and arrange to be allowed to occupy a large amount of > > space at the museum. The good news is that Mrs. Blueberry really is a car > > that engenders affection from people. I am hoping some friends from the > > Mopar club will help out when needed. I'd love to do the transmission > > myself, with help, as well. I'm delighted to say that most folks in my > > local club want to see it kept running. > > > > Many of these people have two cars. Their show car and their go car. One > > is for shows, obviously, but the other is for fun. This is not a one > > dimensional hobby. I know of people who like buying basket cases and then > > working on them to bring them back to their former glory. Once the > project > > is done they lose interest and can't wait to unload it for another old > > wreck. Then there are others who, when you visit them, proudly show you > all > > their trophies. I won this with such and such a car, and this one for > > another. The getting of trophies is their aim and they buy and sell cars > > quite quickly in order to be able to campaign yet another one. There are > > other types as well, in between these extremes. I know one guy who likes > > cars from 1971. The make, the body style, etc, doesn't matter so much as > > when it was built. > > > > Its all good and everyone's having fun. This Imperial, my Imperial, which > > isn't even really mine, except it really is, is my responsibility for the > > long haul. I'm confident that my present income woes will resolve. I am > > also confident that with sufficient applied effort on my part, the help of > > friends and the generous advice I need only ask for from this fine group, > my > > 1958 will end up better than it has ever been since I have had it. > > > > Gosh, but I'll hate to see those stickers go. > > > > Hugh > > > > > > > >