Week Four- Archie Project- June 18 2014- Update

This is Week four with Archie!  The group that was a little smaller this time.  Still, with the ladies providing support and comfort food, the group was 15 strong.    Teams were formed and organized themselves around different tasks.  Dennis worked on getting the steering system totally removed - no small task!  At the front end, John Mennucci, John Sylvia, ands Gene Andre continued with engine work.  At times all three were under Archie working on getting the rod bearing caps  out and then returning them to their places after ensuring that the spacing was correct.  This meant filing and measuring, and testing, and repeating this process.  Bob Osborne had to leave the group to retrieve some emery cloth to get spacing more precise, and this process was added.   Charlie Howard and John Silvia  were the supervisor and team leaders this evening. Richard Preliasco and Sue Cromack-Dunn worked on the oil pump together - cleaning parts and re-assembling the piece.  Richard and Al Bowder also worked on cleaning up the transmission.   Al Silvia was everywhere, all the time and produced a sawhorse table like magic to assist Dennis with cleaning the Steering column.  Dennis also came to the session with a new clutch, which he installed under the watchful eyes of the group.  The mosquitoes were abundant this week, as the days are getting longer, warmer, and the humidity was up, too.  The ladies were busy working their magic on food and drink!  Pizza from Twisted Pizza came right on time, and was served with salad along with lots of desserts including a great chocolate cream pie from  Ruth, Friendship Bread from Sandy Bowder, and a great cake from Dennis Allsop!  Bob  O went to Tam's this week and also went to Moe Rousseau's home to work on his milling machine to slot the cross member brackets to accept the second transmission.  He also went with Al Bowder to the Bowder's  son David's home to get the cross member brackets  welded as we move towards re-building the chassis.      Be sure to see the pictures below....

4th Session June 18, 2014 "Archie Project" Pictures

Archie Project- UPDATE - 3rd session - June 11, 2014

Another great week with Archie!


Paula Taylor and Richard Mowry joined the group and were very willing and able contributors! The teams again were working on separate projects - The new motor mount went in at the front end, followed by draining the oil and removing the oil pan. It was exciting to see the crank in place, and working as it should. The crank shaft bearings were checked out by Bob and John Mennucci, and found they are in need of adjustments.

At the other end - the team working with the springs had a very difficult task removing the shackle bushings, but were successful! Then came getting the old springs greased up and "squished" together. Replacing the springs was another adventure - several methods were tried - using the many tools brought by team members for that purpose. What finally made it happen were ratchet straps and a lot of effort, Al Bowder's great idea!

In the middle, the second transmission was taken off only after half of the universal joint was removed. This allowed the transmission after many expletives to want to jump from the car. Then, Paula Taylor with Gene Andre's assistance, removed the clutch.

Lessons continued for Sue, and all who attended left more enlightened about the many ways each task could be approached! Dale Silvia and Joan Mowry joined the ladies group this week.

Dinner was scrumptious – Roselie Pagliarini made a delicious Lasagna, - we also had salad, garlic bread and some great brownies brought by Dale Silvia along with the cookies we did not finish at the meeting of the 8th! Along with many other deserts the ladies brought to share.

Thanks to the Howards, yet again!

Saturday was additional work day for Bob. He removed the cross member which mounts the second transmission. A re-build of the cross member is needed.

Check out the pictures below.....Next work session is on June 18th…

Archie Project- Pictures from week 3 - June 11

Archie Project Week 3 June 11 more pictures

"ARCHIE PROJECT" 2nd Gathering - June 4, 2014

The group met for a second time on June 4th - Despite the scary weather reports through the early week, it was a good night for working on the old car. The rain held off and the evening was cool. The 12 member group separated into three teams. Members of the teams switched places off and on, and everybody was getting a look at what the others were doing and sometimes contributed another layer of manpower or expertise to the difficult tasks. The three "teams" tackled the engine/front end, the transmission in the middle, and the rear end team took on the removal of the spring(s) or suspension. The group at the front end was able to assemble the engine head - replacing the head gasket and then gapping and placing the spark plugs. A "fourth" team was a tutoring "team" who were teaching anyone who wanted to listen about what was going on. Susan Crowmack-Dunn was a willing student who benefited from working with John Mennucci, Ray Pagliarini, Albert Silvia, and Gene Andre and others. She was able to actually torque down the head bolts, gap the sparkplugs, and assist in replacing the distributor. Bob Osborne and Richard Preliasco were able to remove the second transmission with much effort. The group at the rear end included Dennis Allsop, Al Bowder, John Silvia, Moe Rousseau and others who came by to lend a hand and some muscle. Charlie Howard was a great support, and supervisor who was able to find and bring some of the tools needed to complete tasks. WD-40, a MAPP torch, and special pry bars, wrenches, and a grinding wheel produced a bit of excitement. The ladies brought food and comfort to the group - Rosalie and Ray Paliarini provided finger sandwiches, pies, and potato salad. In addition, the ladies also brought an assortment of pizza, cookies, cakes, chips & dips, etc.. Drinks were in abundance! Thanks to Dawn Mennucci, Ruth Andre, and Pat Howard. Again, Thanks to the Howards for providing the space and food and drinks! Looking forward to the third session on JUNE 11th... **If anyone would like to come and join the fun or have any questions about the “Archie Project” please call Bob Osborne @ 401-397-7725 We meet on Wednesdays, with a rain date of Thursdays.. **If you’re signed up and there’s a cancellation you’ll get a phone call. CHECK OUT THE PICTURES BELOW... MORE PICUTRES TO COME FROM OUR 3RD MEETING ON 6/11/14

June 4th "Archie Project" More Pictures