Shaping 550 Fenders...

Hey, hey, hey! You're forgetting I live in the People's Republic of Hellinois, home of the state-issued junk bond.

We live right up the road from the Rivian plant, so we're filthy with BEVs here as well. I'm 100% good with them as long as they're good with me. They are.

I'd struggle with the no outdoor power equipment mandate, as well as the "it'll never happen" (you heard it right here on the SOC a while back) 2030 ban on ICE new car sales out there in the Golden State - but I struggle with the idiocy of restrictive zoning in this town as well, and we're so red the "D" team doesn't even bother to run candidates in this part of downstate. The desire to get in everybody else's business is apparently universal among the political class, and we've got a lot of layers of government here.

We've also got taxes that are arguably higher than New Jersey's and certainly higher than Kalifornia's. I'm really not sure some hamlet in Jefferson (Northern California) would be that much different than Hellinois. The weather is better. The roads are to die for. The cars... oh, my the car culture out there.

It's a nice place to visit, and that's a fact.

@LI-Rick

You missed an earlier ATC guy on here.   Back over ten years or so,  Jim Ward was a regular on here, and built “Ruby”, a “spare-no-expense” Intermeccanica built to his desires and pocketbook.  It had a TON of custom touches that made it very special.

Jim was an ATC in OKC, having been an ATC in the Air Force all over the place before his civilian gig.  

He picked up his new IM in Vancouver and drove it home to OKC by way of the west coast speedster gathering.  He was also a double lung transplant survivor which eventually was his downfall as he had a greatly suppressed immune system (so his body would not reject the transplanted lungs) and caught a virus in a gas station rest room (we think) on his way home from a west coast trip.  He never recovered from that and passed weeks later.

He was on this forum a lot and either my son, Chris, or I were go-betweens for him and the forum whenever he was on one of his road trips.  We would call him in the evening and get a dump of his day and report it to the fine SOC folks.  Those trips were a lot of fun for everyone and everyone was thrilled to meet him.  Sadly, Chris and I never did before he passed.

I remember having to make a trip to Ireland during one of his trips and still managed to call him each of his evenings (in the wee hours of the morning, Ireland time) to get an update and then post it.  Jim’s descriptions of his day were eloquent and never quite given justice by our descriptions on the forum, but we did the best we could.  

ATCs are a different breed, it seems.   Like - A bomb could go off beneath their chair and they wouldn’t really be flustered.  Thanks for being an Air Traffic Controller.  You guys and gals perform some amazing work, day in, day out, and keep all of us “road warriors” safe.

Thank You from a now-Geriatric Road Warrior (250K+ miles per year, 1988 - 2001)

@LI-Rick posted:

@Stan Galat, I made my living in ATC, a B747 needs about 10k-11k feet to get airborne.  I do like your idea of the C130, though for a short field takeoff Arajani could spring for a jato departure!  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oADoZrSG9fE

He's probably already got a couple JATO units, just waiting for something to use them in.

Would they fit on a Spyder?

Not necessary with EFI. LOL!

Guys — It has been a while since I’ve updated this thread!

After the videos of Hans driving the car, I went over to his place to collect it. The pedal felt strange. I kept depressing the pedal as Hans checked the slave cylinder. All of a sudden: a pop from the bell housing. The throw out bearing failed. It was a German Sachs — the plastic clip from one side was sitting in the bottom of the bellhousing.

Hans had been backlogged with projects for months — so @Robert M towed the car over to Metalcraft Motorsports in Sanger (Scott Sebastian). Scott got on it immediately; he changed the throw out bearing and installed a new slave cylinder from Wilwood. Thankfully Scott was able to do this without removing the transmission (he did remove the engine). It was quite a feat.

After that, Scott noted that the car had a strange hesitation. Scott and Pat scratched their heads. They took of my 45 Dells and changed them to a set of Weber IDFs. The car ran better, but not perfect. Something was going as throttle was applied. Pat ended up changing the hidden crank sensor that was reading from behind the pulley. Instead, he installed a CB crank sensor and trigger wheel. The hesitation was gone.

We then started test driving the car, but found that the brakes just didn’t stop that well. We took the drums off and sent them to CH Topping in Long Beach. They went through my drums and shoes and swapped to a new compound called Bremskerl. We changed the brake lines to stainless steel lines from CB Performance and voila — the brakes had that “bite” that I was expect from 60 mm front racing drums!

Scott fixed my rear latches by adding the adapters that were found in the original car (supplied by Rainer Cooney). The key is pretty cool — the slim side is for the rear latched and the larger side of the bar stock is for the front latches. Everything works! Scott also created a holder for the key that attaches to my steering column.

I got the car home and my buddy Brandon came over to do a paint correction. 12 hours later, the interior had been steamed, the windscreens (I have 2!) were polished, and the paint had been revived.

I drove the car a lot on Thanksgiving day — it was 70 degrees in Fresno and it was perfect. I am truly grateful to Teby, Robert, Pat, Hans, Scott, Tony Kokalis, Rainer Cooney, Andrew Hosking and Wade Lewis for all of their help with this project. None of these fellas had to do anything for me — but all helped me get it over the finish line. After driving it yesterday, I feel that my persistence (and that of my friends) was truly worth it.

Great! Given all the good you do for others, you deserve to have a car this perfect!

What an amazing achievement, @arajani. That is rolling art. Tip of the hat to you and your generous friends! Wow!!!

.

Details! Details! Details!

And speaking of which, where did you find the Hoffman service sticker for the door jamb?

.

@Sacto Mitch posted:

.

Details! Details! Details!

And speaking of which, where did you find the Hoffman service sticker for the door jamb?

.

There’s a company called Project Therapy in LA-they make them!

Spectacular! So glad you're finally on the road my OCD brother!

Stupid-cool.

That looks great and your perseverance is paying off.  

Wow!

I feel as though I’ve been looking at a car in Rainer’s shop (and we know how gorgeous those cars are!)

Just wow.    gn

This is just epic on all levels @arajani 🙏🏻🙏🏻

Anand, that car looks fabulous! Enjoy it, you deserve it.

@DannyP posted:

Anand, that car looks fabulous! Enjoy it, you deserve it.

@DannyP, @*LongFella, @Gordon Nichols, @Marty Grzynkowicz, @Stan Galat, @edsnova, @Panhandle Bob, @Michael Pickett - Thanks guys!

@americanworkmule — Thanks so much for reaching out re: the mirrors. The Raydot is super cool — I used the rectangular rearview mirror since it was already with my car.

As for the key holder, it is held on with an Adel clamp. My buddy Scott fabricated that bit for me!

If there are any parts that you need, please send me a message - happy to send you stuff!

Anand

Anand and his Spyder.

Anand, looks MUCH better with you in it and WITHOUT the silly helmet!

Now wait a minute, Danny...  I like the silly helmet.

@DannyP — the helmet is interesting for sure! Honestly, with that small single plexiglasswindscreen and country roads, there loads of flying projectiles (this shouldn’t be a surprise to me given that every car has a windshield and many are pitted or shattered by such objects). I’ve had some close calls — so that helmet has provided me with the bravery to drive my car to Scott’s place (which is out in the country a bit). Around town, I don't use it much.

I’ll need to switch to the regular plexiglass windscreen - it is a bit taller and should provide a bit more protection (and eliminate the need for the helmet)!

@arajani posted:

I’ll need to switch to the regular plexiglass windscreen - it is a bit taller and should provide a bit more protection (and eliminate the need for the helmet)!

Yeah, but when you're cruising around in a vintage event, you've got to have the helmet 🪖

You are going to have so much fun with your car! I'm glad that a guy who saves the lives of babies can have such a wonderful hobby!

@Lane Anderson posted:

Now wait a minute, Danny...  I like the silly helmet.

Me too, Lane.

I have two vintage helmets - not that I wear them, though.

I've worn a small plastic helmet for years when I'm driving my 1932 roadster without the top. A hail storm or two will convince you it was the right choice. Also it keeps my ears from getting sun burnt, the sun out of my eyes with a short bill on the front and also for extra security I always wear a bandana around my neck to keep the bees from going down my shirt. I call it roadster wear and the helmet is the key part of safe driving. If you want, try a hit in the forehead from a bumble bee at 70 mph, they don't always hit the windshield.

Dude, I've been driving a Spyder for 17 years. It does have a safety glass Speedster windshield, but I have been hit by rocks, bees, and yes, hail hurts plenty.

The hail got me in the forehead between my glasses and baseball cap.

I'm pretty sure I got hit in the shoulder by a walnut or a rock following Lane on Carlos' Deliverance run this year.

These cars aren't safe, and I understand Anand wearing the helmet. I don't have to love it though.

@Michael Pickett posted:

Yeah, but when you're cruising around in a vintage event, you've got to have the helmet 🪖

You are going to have so much fun with your car! I'm glad that a guy who saves the lives of babies can have such a wonderful hobby!

Thanks Michael!

@arajani, my much better-looking twin brother from another coastline! You look fabulous in that car, and the helmet looks cool—especially the (is that a) leather visor?

Really amps up the "Speed Racer Factor,"* which is what the public is paying for.

Wrap goggles are a must with the plexi screens; I keep a kit of these Bobster Phoenix jobbies in the door to fit over my prescription glasses. I don't wear them every time; def should though. They're plenty comfy, complete the look and protect the eyeballs a lot better than the regular shades.

And yes, Danny, you have to love it. That is how it works on this site, as everyone knows!

=

*AKA "Hopeless Dorkasaurus Factor"

Glad it’s come together for you. Beautiful car.

.

I got what would now be considered a vintage helmet with my first motorcycle, in 1966. The accessory face shield would have been another eight bucks, so I decided to forego that costly frippery.

For the first week, I stuck to city streets at city speed limits and all was cool. But that weekend, I went for a long ride on open roads through some surrounding farm country.

Never have so many bugs sacrificed so much on the teeth of so few.

Monday, I was back at the bike shop for the bubble shield.

Wear that helmet with pride, Anand. Vintage is cool — as long as it's not too vintage:

@edsnova posted:

*AKA "Hopeless Dorkasaurus Factor"

What helmet are you wearing? did you paint it yourself?

found on internet, for driving in L.A. smog

@edsnova posted:

@arajani, my much better-looking twin brother from another coastline! You look fabulous in that car, and the helmet looks cool—especially the (is that a) leather visor?

Really amps up the "Speed Racer Factor,"* which is what the public is paying for.

Wrap goggles are a must with the plexi screens; I keep a kit of these Bobster Phoenix jobbies in the door to fit over my prescription glasses. I don't wear them every time; def should though. They're plenty comfy, complete the look and protect the eyeballs a lot better than the regular shades.

And yes, Danny, you have to love it. That is how it works on this site, as everyone knows!

=

*AKA "Hopeless Dorkasaurus Factor"

Ed, this is fantastic! “Hopeless Dorkasaurus Factor” had me rolling. You’re hilarious!

N.B.:  Ed is, as you may know, a professional writer, although I'm not sure he pens a comedy column.  Nevertheless, he is a very witty guy, is very easy with the turn of a good phrase, and, if a I can be allowed, is his own man, complete with helmet and goggles.

@americanworkmule posted:

What helmet are you wearing? did you paint it yourself?

It's a bike helmet, currently on sale for the nice price.

Yeah, I sprayed it to match the car.

Even has vegan straps.  Is that like fake leather?

@edsnova posted:
......

*AKA "Hopeless Dorkasaurus Factor"

I thoroughly  feel "conspicuous" enough with these cars without adding head gear as a coup de gras....

I've got a vintage helmet a buddy of mine gave me. My wife absolutley refuses to be seen with me when I'm wearing it!(and rightly so HA HA)

@jesse postill posted:

I've got a vintage helmet a buddy of mine gave me. My wife absolutley refuses to be seen with me when I'm wearing it!(and rightly so HA HA)

Jesse do you have an older IM with P guages?  I forgot which car you had.

It's funny how we all have ideas about what headgear is appropriate for wearing in our cars. For me, vintage hats fit with vintage events or shows.

I have a big floppy hat that's great for the sun, but I only wear at the beach or when I'm working in the yard. My gut tells me it would look goofy in the speedster.

I inherited a wonderful 1930's style red newsboy cap from my dad that I think would complement the car, but, it puts the attention on me rather than the car. So nope.

I like the car simply because it makes me and others smile. The chapeau I usually feel comfortable wearing is my old Watkins Glen ball cap.

This is the roaster hat I wear. You can get yours from Moal Coachbuilders in Oakland, CA. They come in white with black leather and can be painted your favorite color. Very light

@Butcher Boy posted:

This is the roaster hat I wear. You can get yours from Moal Coachbuilders in Oakland, CA. They come in white with black leather and can be painted your favorite color. Very light

Oooo, something from Moal I MIGHT be able to afford. That guy does amazing work.