The Stampie's do things

Lil Stampie and I were talking the other day about what to do this summer.  I'm off on Fridays and summer means not only do I not have to get up at 6:15 on my day off but we also have all day to do things. He said that he wanted to work on car projects specially all of the projects we have been putting off on our Miata.

Yesterday was a Team Stampie day but while we were doing that I let Lil Stampie get started on some things. We needed to install our side latches for the hardtop and after doing that we discovered that his window hit the hardtop now that it was lower.

The latch install went smooth. I broke free the cross bar bolts (later discovered that we didn't need to) and instructed him on everything else that needed to come out. We got them installed and I told him to put the bar back in while I went to check on something. This is where I learned that a 10 year old with a 1/2 drive racket can really crank down on a bolt. As I walked back I looked through the rear window and the driver's side bolt just didn't look right. Sure enough it was cross threaded and deep in there. I got it out but it was so buggered I'm going to have to tap it to fix it. The internet says M12x1.25 so we shall see.  Here's the aftermath of the cross threading.

Next we found out that his window was hitting the hardtop when he closed it. That side looks to have been previously repaired and not well so I sanded down the offending edge. While doing it he asked why we wet the sandpaper.  Teaching him the little things like that is why I enjoy working with him. At one point he felt bad about the bolt and said that I knew so much more than him. I explained that I only knew more because I have 36 more years of experience and learning from my mistakes. Anyway here's the hardtop and hopefully we'll have a lot more updates this summer. 

Good job dad. 

Plus one on the good job.  Pride is an intangible.  Pride in yourself, in Lil Stampie, and his own pride in a job well done, while learning.   Mistakes are how we all learned.  As for me, my nickname is Jimmy Two Times, so I know about making mistakes.  Carry on!  

Wisdom comes from experience. Experience comes from making mistakes.  

Go Team Stampie!

Nice score on the hard top.  Good to see you hanging out and spending quality time with the next generation.

I've  had my kids ask me how I know how to fix things. "Because I've broken a lot of stuff"

We learn by doing, so do stuff. Keep at it. 

what year is this miata?

It is a 96. I almost forgot we also tightened the alternator belt. He got to learn how to use channel locks to remove hose clamps.  

Ok I need to admit. I'm a daily driver abuser. I have a talk with the car when I buy them as a daily driver. I make sure they understand their place in the pack. That said my alternator belt has been loose since October when I fixed the devil hose leak. I got really berking good at two quick revs in the driveway to get the belt to stop squealing before driving off. So yesterday we took the 10 minutes to tighten the belt. That's why we have a long list of projects for the Miata. 

Sorry for the lack of updates. The week after the stripped bolt we got our tap in the mail. Here's the offender with his tap.

We were able to clean up the threads but I didn't want to run the new bolt in yet as we have a roll bar in soon. 

Next thing that came up on the list was changing the spark plugs and wires in the Silverado. Here him trying to get one out. 

That didn't last long and it about kicked my ass. Pretty sure these are the original 170,000 plugs and Dephi wires. They did not want to come out. 

Today was when Lil Stampie learned that working on cars isn't all fun and games but I only heard about how bored he was a few times. 

I just saw your post about the alternator belt and it made me laugh. It also made me look up when I bought the battery terminals I just put on my truck last week. 

It was last July... 

And I only replaced them because I borrowed the battery and broke the cheap bolt-on terminals trying to get it out. 

How old is Lil Stampie? He's about the same age I went off the deep end. 

He's 10. I might have stated him to early. At 3 he would ride on my shoulders at car shows yelling out which cars had headers and which ones had manifolds. 

Little Saturday afternoon project. A while ago (years?) Lil Stampie got a garden kart from Northern Tool. Today we converted it to front steer.

Added bonus is how much steer angle he gets at lock. 

We then had a discussion about how it's a production based four wheel vehicle and measured for the 1 to 1 rule.