The last proper update here was mid-December. November slipped by almost unnoticed, December disappeared in a blur, and before you know it, February is already knocking. That’s how it goes sometimes, especially when time is spent not behind a keyboard, but in the workshop.

So instead of trying to pretend everything happens neatly on schedule, this felt like the right moment to sit down and put everything together in one proper update. Because a lot has happened, both in the garage and behind the scenes.

Flathead Six Engine Tear-Down: Doing It Once, Doing It Right

One of the main projects over the past weeks has been the teardown of a flathead six-cylinder engine. These engines are often described as simple and robust, and for good reason. But decades of use always leave their mark.

Once the engine was apart, five pistons appeared serviceable. The sixth piston clearly was not. Wear was excessive, and closer inspection revealed that the cylinder bore itself was slightly out of round, not by a huge margin, but enough to rule out a quick fix.

At that point, you know you'll need to hone the cylinders and get six new oversized pistons.

Inside the Axle: Slow, Dirty, Necessary Work

While we're waiting for the engine parts, work continued elsewhere. One of the axles was taken apart, and the differential was fully cleaned and inspected.

This is the kind of work that doesn’t photograph well and doesn’t generate much excitement, but it’s essential. Old grease, dirt, and neglect hide problems. Cleaning everything down to bare components on such old machines helps to know what you’re working with, and you eliminate uncertainty.

Progress Outside the Workshop

Not all progress happens in the workshop, of course. There were also plenty of “to-do” items at home, the kind that don’t involve engines, but still eat up time and mental bandwidth.

It’s not exciting content, but it matters. Clearing space, organizing, fixing things that have been postponed for too long, all of it feeds back into being able to focus properly on the projects that actually inspire you.

New Designs: Pistons, Pinups, and Carburetors

While mechanical work continued, creative work didn’t stand still.

The third design in the Piston Pinups collection is just released. continuing a series that blends mechanical themes with a slightly playful, retro-inspired aesthetic.

At the same time, a completely new chapter started with the Carburator Club collection. The first design in that series is now out, and it marks an important car part when cars were still mechanical.

These designs aren’t about trends or seasons. They just celebrate the good 'ol days when cars were real and not smartphones on wheels.

If you’re curious to see the latest designs, you’ll find them in the New Arrivals section of the shop

Why Documentation and Process Still Matter

Whether it’s rebuilding an engine, opening an axle, or releasing a new design, the common thread is intention. Classic cars, and the culture around them, are built on understanding how things work and why decisions are made.

That mindset carries over into everything else: documenting progress, preserving history, and appreciating the details that often get overlooked. It’s the same reason collectors value service records, build sheets, and original documentation.

We value documentation so much that we even turned the idea into a design: the “Every Legend Has a Build Card” T-shirt.

Looking Ahead

This winter period has been a reminder of how these projects really move forward: small steps that add up over time. Because there’s value in documenting the process and there are annoying setbacks.

Classic cars aren’t created by accident, and neither are the things inspired by them. They’re built slowly, thoughtfully, and with an eye on the long term.

Thanks for sticking around, reading along, and supporting the work — whether that’s by following the builds, reading the blog, or wearing the designs.

More updates soon.