November 11th 2026 Not much activity this past week, waitin' on tool and parts deliveries. Machinist friend, Jon Carey, is back in town and he texted me on Tuesday that he could visit the BillyBob Shop on Wednesday to take up where we left off on the Latham adapter fit up a month ago. When Jon arrived, we reviewed progress and measurements, enjoyed a beer and he left with the 4-71 blower manifold and plywood Latham template. Jon found more problems with the front Latham support thermostat housing interference than I did. This little setback put me in a Deep Ponder Mode funk for the rest of the afternoon.
https://www.laroke.com/larryk4674/2026/ds110926am.jpgJon mentioned an adjustable right angle thermostat housing he saw somewhere. I found a ninety degree housing with a separate o-ringed flange at Summit that might work. Took a gamble and ordered it. It should arrive at the Krash Kubicle on Monday. We removed the front Latham support bracket from the Latham. Jon's plan is to make a longer bracket (front to back) that locates the throttle rod behind the thermostat housing and the support rods further forward. Beer of the day is Lucky Bucket Brewing Company's Pre-Prohibition Style Lager. Background music was Steve Winwood The Finer Things Box Set. I became a Winwood fan in 1967, listening to "Gimme some lovin'" at the Penn State Hub's Friday night mixers and "I'm wasted and I can't find my way home" was my eighties anthem.
https://www.laroke.com/larryk4674/2026/ds110926bm.jpg
