JANUARY 2006
January 7
The trailer at Wheelers
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January 7
Step 1 Out and Rolled!
(see video)
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January 7
Next move...to the trailer
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January 7
View from an empty shop (first time in 2+ years)
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January 7
Almost there
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January 7
Step 2 ON the trailer
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January 7
Step 3 In Larrys shop
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January 7
Larry, Peter, Rob and Alan - it's lunch time!
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January 21
Chief, Scooter and a drop-in helper Tom, sealing the interior
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January 21
Completed! (view from back)
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January 21
Completed! (view from front)
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January 21
Spoiler
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January 21
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January 21
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January 21
Chiefs "new"look
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January 28
Ron Jones SR. watching as we lower our mock up engine into the boat for gearbox location
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January 28
Lower...lower...lower...lower... oh boy!
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January 28
In position (well...sort of)
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January 28
Ron and Rob discussing Strut location
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January 28
Ron checking to see if the strut we have will work...it won't!
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MARCH 2006
March 4
Checking the new configuration.
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March 4
Hold downs
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March 4
Sponson support side
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March 4
Almost full tilt in Larry's shop
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March 4
Trailers out, hull is now on Dixon's roll arounds
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March 4
Front view
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March 4
Chief, Steve and Larry working on dry fitting the aft battens
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March 4
New engine parts by Ron Brown
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March 4
After the aft battens were fitted, Chief just couldn't resist breaking out the cowlings.
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March 4
Chief REALLY can't wait!
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March 4
Ahhhh...to dream of what will be
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March 11
Battens, Battens and MORE Battens!
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March 11
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March 11
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March 11
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March 11
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APRIL 2006
April 1
Engine & Hull together for the first time!
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April 1
Larry getting ready to drill the hole for the thru hull rudder water pickup fittings.
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April 1
Fitting plate in place.
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April 1
Water pickup from the right sponson (just above the fuel tank)
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April 1
Fittings in place
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April 1
Alan and Larry working on the right sponson water pickup - Stuart and Rob sanding the interior getting ready to apply the final seal coat.
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April 1
Skid Fin
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April 1
Skid Fin
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April 8
Steve hand planing one of the battens
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April 8
Rob drilling a pin hole on the second engine
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April 8
Hand plane shavings
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April 8
Steve Checking the batten alignment
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April 15
Rob drilling holes for the hose raceway
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April 15
Sand, Sand, Sand, Sand...
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April 15
Engine bank cooling overboard discharge
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April 15
Bank discharge lines and fule pump return line
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April 15
Fuel pump return line
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April 22
More hose support conduit
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April 22
Water hose
Battery cable
Stuffing box cooling check valve
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April 22
Right side fuel spout & cooling discharge
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April 22
Hoses will droop in this area to clear the intake hose & fuel spout
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April 22
Chief with skid fin
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April 22
SHARK!
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April 22
Ready to roll
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April 22
Rolling...
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April 22
Are you SURE we want to do this?!
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April 22
Skid fin - final check
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April 22
Alan putting the finishing touches on the spoiler
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April 22
Now there's a TOO familiar site
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April 22
Partial bank used to test fit the locating block
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April 29
Steve & Ron laying out the jig location
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April 29
Alan & Rob removing as many screws as they can
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April 29
This is where we WANT to go.
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April 29
The Start
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April 29
Through the bottom at the first frame
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April 29
Keeping things lubed up with parafin
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April 29
Alan doing the same from below
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April 29
Top side crew, Lloyd on the wax, Ron and Larry on the drill, Chief on the watch
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April 29
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April 29
Approaching the second frame
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April 29
Almost through
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April 29
Just another couple of inches!
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April 29
Looks like where we WANTED it!
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April 29
Polish, polish, polish, polish...
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MAY 2006
May 6
Lary and Steve polishing, Rob welding
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May 6
Rob TRYING to get a good shot of the transom...just too bright!
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May 6
Exhaust stacks removed getting ready for a test start in a couple of weeks.
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May 6
Our SDP1300 Oil screen mounted (bracket by Wheeler)
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May 6
That's a lot of aluminum to polish!!!!!
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May 13
Stuarts reflection in the non-trip.
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May 20
MORE Polish, polish, polish
Lloyd, Chief, Alan and Stuart
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May 20
Dueling Drills
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May 20
Steve cleaning the Hysol out of the pilot holes
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May 20
Chief and Alan installing the Right Primary
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May 20
Chief and Larry installing the Skid Fin
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May 20
Right Sponson with all hardware in place
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May 20
Left Sponson
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May 20
Left Sponson
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May 20
Left Sponson
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May 20
Shiney and DONE!
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May 27
Larry's 1955 GMC
WITH new windshield
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May 27
Shop Oil tank
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May 27
Masking, masking, masking...
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May 27
MORE masking
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May 27
Chief and Steve blowing off the dust
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May 27
Rob put on the first two coats
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May 27
Larry's turn!
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May 27
Steve was the Mix Master
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May 27
Shiney...
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May 27
Steve checking to see if it's dry to the touch
It WAS!
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JUNE 2006
June 3
Steve working on the combings
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June 3
New combing pieces in place.
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June 3
The crew working on the combings
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June 3
The new signature board
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June 17
The signature wall...finished!
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June 17
Steve & Chief installing the combing - Stu on vacuum detail
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June 17
Flotation installed
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June 17
Aluminum clips bolted & hysoled in place to hold combings
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June 17
Custom tube clamps by Wheeler
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June 24
Engine and cockpit combings coated and faired.
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June 24
Oil overflow tank brackets by Wheeler (1)
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June 24
Oil overflow tank brackets by Wheeler (2)
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June 24
Engine ID
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June 24
Ron putting the "touch" on the chine
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June 24
Ron establishing the shear line
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June 24
Right sponson shear line
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AUGUST 2006
August 13
Summer Party at the Fullers
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August 13
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August 13
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August 13
Old Cars
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August 13
More Old cars
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August 13
The Fuller Race Course
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August 13
The "Pits"
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August 13
Heat 1B(eer)
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August 13
The Start!
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August 13
Winner Jere Heiser with Runner-up Don Mock
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August 19
Rob and Larry working on the lifting rings
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August 19
Engine compartment deck corner pieces will be laminated Mahogany plywood
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August 26
Larry putting the final planing on the engine compartment combings
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August 26
Robs 1961 Dodge Army truck
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August 26
U-60 engine rail material
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August 26
The engine rails of the U-3
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August 26
Rob scribing the tail cowlings
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August 26
Getting closer
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August 26
Alan needed to see how everything fits
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NOVEMBER 2006
November 4
Larry trying to take Chiefs "Sparky" nickname away
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November 4
The "Wheeler Spring" method of holding the butt block
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November 4
Battery tray
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November 4
Fuel pump and Fire bottle
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November 4
Another angle to show actual location
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November 4
Chief modifying the fire wall
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November 4
Rob getting the bow ready for deck
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November 4
Alan sanding on one of the lifing eyes
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November 4
Sponson butt blocks
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November 4
Just needs fairing then DECK!
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November 5
Alan working on installing the lifting eyes
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November 5
Front of engine compartment filler pieces
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November 6
First piece clamped and getting pilot drilled
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November 6
Glue's spread so now it's getting attached for real
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November 6
Larry installed the lifting eyes and Chief's designing the fuel block
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November 6
The first deck piece is installed!
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November 6
Bow cleat fits!
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November 7
This is how we hold the compound curve in place while we fit the joint
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November 7
Right bow deck
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November 8
The bow pieces in place
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November 8
The decking team!
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November 9
More Deck pieces are being formed
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November 9
Chief and Scooter putting the seal coat on the back of the next pieces to be attached
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November 10
Completed bow with cleat
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November 10
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November 18
Steve fitting the last deck piece
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November 18
The hull ALMOST complete
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November 25
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November 25
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November 25
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November 25
Left side deck curve doublers being glued
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DECEMBER 2006
December 9
Steve getting ready to install the second sheet on the tail
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December 9
Larry is sanding on the Left side deck curve, Alan is cleaning up glue drips and Stuart is detailing the engine bay.
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December 9
Dash cowl with stainless engine turn and cowling support pieces attached
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December 9
On the boat!
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December 9
Our collection of gauges for the dash
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December 9
Flash pan corner supports
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December 9
Right side deck curve doublers Done!!!!
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December 9
Left side deck curve doublers Done!!!!
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December 30
Steering box & dash cowl attached
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December 30
Electrical harness connection
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December 30
Oil tank and Flash pans in place
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December 30
Screw line attaching the deck to the airtrap
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December 30
Wheeler on the mill...smokin'!
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December 30
Do you think it will line up?
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December 30
I dunno...let's make some bushings and put the shaft in to see!
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December 30
Oh my....it DOES!
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