Thanks Martin! We can count on you to be there as one of the cat herders!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_MaJDK3VNEThis is a PM I got from John this morning.
Copied and pasted:
I always enjoyed every class George Capito taught. Ask George if he would do another carburetor rebuilding class (we could do this same thing with Jerry at Homecoming).
ONLY ... Instead of George rebuilding one carburetor in front of the class (and us trying to remember it all), tell the folks that to take the class, they need to show up with the carb they want to rebuild themselves and a rebuild kit for that carburetor. So at class time, George would be looking at a few students sitting in front of him, (possibly sharing tools or maybe some will have brought their own) each with a carb and a kit. He would then take them step by step through their rebuild and helping each with questions or suggestions as they went along. Maybe limit it to single barrel carbs for the first one (Carters and Rochesters? Maybe a Stromberg for the GMC guys. Webber? Let George decide that). Hopefully none of them would have serious issues with their carburetor that a simple rebuild wouldn't fix.
You could also do it with alternators or other simple things. Real valve adjustment? Or a simple tuneup and/or timing adjustment?
One of the things we've done at Homecoming (and to a certain extent at Winchester) is the "OR" concept (Operating Room) -- Where we set up shop in an appropriate space (at the farm, it was my shop) and the "Attending Physicians" would see patients through out the weekend. We've done engine and transmission swaps, rear axle gearing swap outs, rear main seal changes, tune ups, valve adjustments (one year, we did nothing but cycle trucks through the two bays for valve adjustments. We were slinging grease and twisting wrenches until 0200 Saturday morning that one year. Man that was a good time). With guys like Mike Wahl, Scott Ward, George Capito and Jerry Herbison (and who knows who else...), there's no reason why we can't have trucks going home from these events running better than when they arrived, and people knowing more than they did before the event.
Of course, the more complicated things that need real shop equipment aren't realistic for a show type event, but there are still simple things that can be done. Most all trucks could benefit from a valve adjustment or some tuning. Everybody has a gripe on their truck that could probably be helped by an attending guru. The measure of success for Homecoming for me has always been tired, smiling attendees with greasy hands and faces driving home in better running/driving trucks.
John Milliman, (Grand Pooh Bear)
A few years ago some dummy brought a Ford V-8 to the Reunion.
Cherry picker, motor stand and all the tools to disassemble. Including Mic's and the tools to reassemble.
It was the main attraction at HQ all weekend. Getting dirty and wrenching/learning.
Alvin kept grabbing wrenches out of my hands and pushing me out of the way!
More feedback wanted!
Don
