So. Everybody's staring at their cars 'cuz it's cold. ...

And this is the time of year when we all gather 'round the old confuser and read each others' amusing posts about what projects we're supposedly going to accomplish between now and the first cruise of the spring.
How about this; before we get to those frost-borne annual "resolutions," what was the stoopidest thing you did to your Speedster in the last 12 months? That way, since we all learn from each others' mistakes anyway, we won't be destined to repeat them this year?
For example, I hit my shift knob with a three-pound hammer because I couldn't get the little Allen-hex-thingie on the side of the ball to grab. Now, I'll never, ever be able to remove the shift knob without a torch.
Someone, please, tell me I'm not alone. Carey's in the running for TV shenannigans involving a show dedicated to blowing up cars, but that was a Spyder. Somebody HAS to have chipped up some fiberglass by intentionally hitting their car with a ratchet in frustration, or maybe someone "cleaned" their alloy wheels with muratic acid ...
Any takers? This ought to be fun!

I don't know if it's stupid, Cory.
I just decided to call a spade a spade.........

Cold, hell. It's been unusually warm here (preceding the coldest weather of the season, we're being told), so I've spent a couple of days working on the car. That in itself is pretty stupid as I should be driving it in this weather.

Oh yeah, I also got my replacement steel-braided brake hose from CB, installed it, and it leaks TOO!!!! I MUST be doing something stoopud! May have to replace the hard line leading to it, or just live with three steel and one rubber hose. I may, repeat, MAY, have found and resolved my oil leak. Just buttoned it back up and I'm too tired and sore to go for a test drive.

Part II...

Part III...

Part IV....

Part V....

Part VI.....

Part VII...

Part VIII...already dark....

Brother Cory; I don't want to spoil the party but it's been alright for driving around over here. In fact; I'm embedding a couple of videos shot two days ago on a trip around the island. I know you'll like them since you've been requesting them for some time. Here's my chance to make it up to you!! By the way guys; the videos are in Spanish but I know you don't care....

Terry, that's the funniest thing I've ever seen on the SOC.
Ricardo, you ROCK! Keep those coming all winter, and we'll buy your dang plane ticket to Carlisle!
Lane, have you checked the thread patterns on the brake lines? I decided not to use stainless on my CB setup because the threads were off.

Ricardo, where were you driving during th vids? I lived in PR in Rincon off and on during the 80's and then spent time in Fajardo at Isleta Marina doing a yacht re-fit. I love PR but even in the 90's traffic was pretty scary for a Speedy! Cool vids, thanks.

Ricardo - ORALE ESE VATO!! Nice view of the Island from behind the wheel of a Speedster (con dos mucho Guapo hombres)!!

i cracked the postive cable on my battery terminal saturday morning.
immediatelty took it to JPS to get a new one and got a great surprise.
AWESOME AWESOME red coup
drop dead gorgeous, didnt ask john who ordered it but wow. He had a couple of speedsters leaving for Europe

Cory: Ummmm.... No, I didn't realize I needed to. It only seems to be a problem with that one connection, but that could certainly be it.

Oh yeah, I don't think I fixed my oil leak, either. So let's see - two days busting my butt when I coulda been driving, and so far it looks like I'm 0 for 2. Great, just great. I think that fits your classification of automotive stupidity.

OK, back on thread: I noticed that the engine forward tin (vertical piece at the "fire" wall) does not match the hole cut in said wall very well on the right side [Poor manufacture, IMHO.] Lots of road debris was ending up in the engine compartment because the space here was like a couple of inches of mismatch. Liots of clear sight right to the ground. The "wall" is plywood, and so is cut to allow the engine to fit up; the arc was cut too high on this side. Anyway, I thought some bus "H" foam rubber material (like what seals of the horizontal tins from the sides of the car) would go in there and seal this off too. Got some, stuffed it in there. Lasted about 20 mins. Although I did not know that at the time. The "H" rubber thingy got loose and was sucked into the fan, where it stayed for a few miles. Engine got really hot, which I also did not notice right away, until I got home. Holy poop!! Found the rubber wedged up in the fan, took it out, waited for engine to cool, and all seems to be OK. Engine ran w/ oil temps way over on the right side for a few minutes. Oh well. Decided to staple some screen over the large opening so the air could keep coming in this way, but keep the dirt, leaves, pebbles, etc. out. SO far so good. One lesson: do not underestimate the suction power of the fan. Another lesson; watch the oil temp gauge ALL the time. Better still: how about a big red light that lights up or blinks if the engine oil temp goes above a certain preset value? Anybody ever invent one of those? I'd put one of those in if they exist, as I have a couple of extra unused lamps in my combi gauge.

Second stupid item #2: (I bet there are many others w/ stories like this.) Was downtown, where taller buildings preclude good view of the atmosphere at a distance. Also, a little dark. Thought weather was OK for a while. Was wrong. Got about 3.5 minutes out of parking lot, just long enough to get up on the interstate, and whammy: thunder, lightning, and rain at the horizontal. So I was on the too-narrow shoulder putting up the top in the dark, in the rain, in the wind, on the interstate. Lesson #3: always carry a towel. PS to Cory: just don't start about weather resistant clothing, wusses who think they need tops, etc.

Ricardo
This is awesome!!!!!!Keep them coming. Thanks.

Kelly:
http://www.geneberg.com/cat.php?cPath=5_118_2734
then click on GB227

~WB

Terry, That is by far the coolest emblem ever. I wish I had thought of it.
-=theron

Thanks for the compliments Jimbo and gang! Will, we were driving on Road #2 and basically went around the island. First on the northern coast driving West going by Arecibo, Aguadilla, Mayaguez and then on the southern coast by Ponce and up through the mountains on Rd #52. We were lucky we didn't get rained on; especially on the mountains.

With respect to traffic you're right; it's probably the worse I've ever seen; including New Orleans which can be pretty bad.

Ricardo, Great film! I lived in Puerto Rico for 41/2years, doing Public Health dentistry. I love the Island and the people, and still have many friends there. What a great place to have a Speedster. My best buddy lives in Guanica, and practices Orthodontics in Ponce. His name is Luis Arroyo. Brought back some fond memories! Happy New Year. P.S. The Blue Bomb is in Wisconsin, should arrive late this week.

One on the back end as well, Theron

....or you coulda got one of these and snipped off the 914-6.
http://www.pbase.com/9146gt/image/27003053

That's great Howard! Enjoy "the bomb"!!

There are times I wish I had some of your cold, especially in the summer. My build is going slow but should be driving by May or June. This photo was taken in early December here in Phoenix, AZ. When I do get it rolling I will be driving most of the year except during the day in the hottest part of summer.

Bill: I assume you have one of these? If so, reliable?? Also assume that it goes in and out easily, and so is also used to check oil level. or do you need to keep old DS nearby to check level? Seems kinda cool idea, and have seen reference to this thing now and then here on the Forum -- never really understood what it was. Not too much $$ either. Txs.

Kelly: Don't have one. I use a dipstick thermometer in conjunction with my temp gauge. I've heard that these do work though. I guess you can scribe level marks on them to match the old dipstick.

Ricardo:

Cool Videos! I used to recruit at the Engineering school at Mayaguez and stayed at a Parador in Aguadilla. Terrific area. I especially enjoyed visiting the small eateries along the shore in Ponce, and then taking a boat out onto the bay at night to see the phosphorescent glow in the water - Way cool!

Come to think of it, I got down there every February for a few years, and that was, as I recall, "Monsoon Season" on that side of the island. Heaviest rain I had ever seen up to that point.

The Engineering school at Mayaguez has one of the most beautiful campuses I've ever seen.

gn

i flew over PR once on my way to Argentina... it looked small.

On New Years' Day, Cory and I took out the Hoopty for a spin around the corner for lunch.

I, of course, was in the drivers' seat. Cory was hanging on for dear life (while taking picture with the camera on his phone).

It was the PERFECT chance to try out my new flying helmet ... it's a WWII US Army Air Corps helmet. It doesn't have a liner, so I wore a hat under it. We plan on making a fleece liner for it.

Thanks for the compliments, Gord and gang. Yes Od, it's a pretty small place (around 3,500 sq. miles) with a lot of people (almost 4 million).

BERT - Those pics should be captioned...

...PEOPLE OF EARTH!!!!....WE MEAN YOU NO HARM!!!!

Make sure the bride and groom on the wedding cake have those helmets on...........

not wearing your seat belts! shame

Ricardo, of course my sarcasm only humours me. Every time I go to PR I have a reason to stay at least another day.

my resolution this year is not to drink and post.

Ricardo: Brought back great memories of my days in PR. I lived in Viejo San Juan and Isla Verde from 99-01. I really enjoy the videos!! Gracias!!

Much obliged, guys!!

Ricardo, I just watched your YouTube for about the 500th time.
We're having record weather in these parts, so I will be driving the Hoopty into work tomorrow morning. Very nice scenery you have there, and very much what the doctor ordered.
I think we should consider a "Drive Your Speedster to Work Day." We pick a date, everybody tools off to the old salt mine in their Hawaiian shirts and then gets someone to take their picture for a thread here.
Retired guys can pretend they're going to work somewhere. Gordon, for example, can drive to a restaurant he and his missus eat breakfast at regularly, and then get the valet to snap the shot.
Hmmm?

I'd get hauled away by the MPs if I did that. They don't like cameras very much where I work.