What did you do with your car today?

. . . and so it sits, w/ cover over it, just waiting. Like since November. I look at the cloth lump every day. Been traveling too much recently to get synched w/ our crazy weather, but been really itching to take the cover off and see how many stink bugs are hiding in there. What? You never heard of stink bugs? I guess you do not live in MD or PA.

Anyway, if the weekend holds good weather, will try to fire it up then. Supposed to rain like crazy between now and then, however. May have to write March off completly, and wait for April. Also, have small oil leak in the real car (Mazda) dripping a tiny bit from somewhere, but must be landing on the exhaust because of the stink after running a while. No smoke to see. I keep checking the level w/ dip stick, and hard to tell any change -- anybody ever had a faulty screw-on oil filter that leaked just a little? If that is it, would explain everything. Anything more than that I am not anxious to find out about.

Kel:

The real question might be: Has anyone ever NEVER had a spin-on oil filter that leaked?

Spin'em on dry-ish on one side and the o-ring catches and bunches in one spot and leaks. Over-tighten them and they do the same thing and leak.

That's all she wrote.

If you get your oil changed at Spiffy Lube or a look-alike, they seldom wet the filter gaskets (it would get their finger oily) and they often leak.

I would check that first.

Anything beyond that is warranty work!

I spent the last two days messing with my 009 dizzy / Weber progressive to get rid of the flat spot. It's almost gone thru accurate timing, messing with a couple of jets and tweaking the idle jet screw. Not perfect, but acceptable. The Bride came into the shop last night and said ( like Jack ) What if this is as good as it gets?

Gordon, wrt warranty work: BWAAHAAHAAA, you're such a funny guy. All I have to do is go inside and look in the mirror to have that conversation. I roll my own, so to speak, and am pretty particular about how I do it, using lubricant on the square O-ring, tightening just so, and etc. Been doin' it for 50 years, and so far no problems. This would be part of the reason why I have not gone under there to nuke it out is that I cannot believe it is as simple as the filter, and so it must be more serious, and I do not want to hear that. And the cold weather really puts me off of screwing around w/ the mechanics, -- plus it really must be only a few drops, as the level does not go down so you'd notice. Maybe this week end I'll screw up my courage and go under to see what's what . . .

At this point, I'm ready to attach pontoons and a prop to the crank pully. Mucho rain here today!

~WB

Well, I had good intentions to work the entire day on my speedy build but, somehow ended up stopping at local car dealer and buying a nice used black Harley Davidson Edition F-150 pick up ~

But will it pull like a Dodge, Alan ? Someone once said in a 100,000 mile endurance race the Chev would come in first and the Dodge second but only because it was pulling the Ford....

Talking about spin-on oil filters. I once towed a Corvair over 30 miles to my mechanic to solve a major oil leak that suddenly showed up. He proceeded to demonstrate the screw that held on the oil filter was only finger tight. OK, I'm stupid. My point - I owned that car for 250,000 miles and did every single oil change myself. I rationalized that getting 49 out of 50 oil filters on right was a 98% success record. But I still felt real stupid that day.

As for speedy, I drove it to a friends house to help him diagnose a clutch problem with a Trivan Roustabout. What's that, you say? It is a 1/4 quarter ton, THREE wheel, flat bed truck with an air cooled engine behind the drivers seat. 137 total production numbers. I had to show him where the bell housing containing his clutch was. He had no clue, and no service materials of any kind! I concluded the damage was internal and someone more knowledgable than me needed to see that clutch/throwout bearing/actuating fork/ etc. I guess you have to be a real optimist to buy a vehicle like that if you don't know where to look for a damned bell housing?

Alan: More info pls on the F-150. What year, what engine, and how much? I am looking to maybe relace my old '84. Not many miles on that one, <100K, but maybe too many years and not enough use recently. Options are: pull the head and do a top end rebuild, junk it and buy a newer version, let it continue to rust away in the driveway . . . It is really handy to have such a vehicle for the occassional haul to the dump, etc., and I do use it as a motorized wheel barrow around the house and grounds now and then. I suppose it is worth the cost of insurance for that convenience, but not much more. I certainly would not get a new one so it could just sit around 340 of the 365 days in a year.

Kelly,

The F-150 HD Edition is for me ( Kim said it was ok :~) I really like the tuck.

I had an '08 Dodge 3500 dually with a Cummings diesel that hauled a three car carrier. Even though it was rated at 26,000 GVW , it was pure junk:
Head gasket, trans actually exploded just after the warranty expired, went through brakes AND rotors neary every two months as well as tires would wear out in 20k miles tops.

Took a few pic's

I like big butts and I cannot lie...

Looking good Vince!

Baby got back!!

Lane, all your ticket shows is that the police have no sense of humour!

Regards, Mike.

Jim, how did you get your photograph actually in the Post instead of as a tiny link-to-click below? I didn't know IMG or whatever worked here..........

Regards, Mike.

Took the Silver Spirit to the local Pep Boys to get some new windshield wipers for the Journey. Got a thumbs up and wave from a guy in a Silver 911 and a quick glance from another in a Aston Martin convertible while his passenger gave me a sweet smile.

Luftig and the Boss and I stepped on it goin to the foot hills. One or two irish coffees ( a little chilly today) and it was all good. Purred all the way (Luftig). Lovin' this classic speedy.

Bob

Drove to Delemere Forest on this fine Sunday after my sons football sorry Soccer winning 3-0 in semi final they are top of the league.

Ran some errands to warm her up. Heading back to Bremen on Wednesday for upgrades!

Still continue to walk by the red build many times every day as I am almost finished with a major bathroom renovation. Running two days behind schedule on that (had to find and fix a LOT of really amateur electrical work from the PO), but for all the work it took I think I'm doing OK.

Hope to get back to the car tomorrow to get the hood installed and latches working on both covers (front and back) and then on to the door latches. It's actually proceeding nicely, when life doesn't get in the way......

gn

Oh....and I got a Ford F250 6-litre Turbo Diesel a while back, even though my son and his friends told me that the Chevy Duramax was a better engine. It may be, but the trannys aren't and I think I got twice the "truck" for the money. One thing everyone has told me is to never "chip" a 6-liter, so I haven't. Runs plenty strong for me!

Finally got to take the IM Roadster out for a ride in western PA. My private road/ driveway finally dried up so I didn't have to drive through mud. It's supposed to be in the low 60's on Friday - top down weather!

Folding top is off, headrest fairing back on, trickle charger on, ready for tomorrow's warmth...........probably after work, and it's Friday!

Took the dashboard apart, mostly. marked all the wires. Cut a piece of new rug and test-fitted. Looks good, i think. Def will be jealous of all y'alls tomorrow, 'cause she'll be in the garage.

Using a hole saw to cut in the heater ports in the tunnel, it jambed, some of the teeth broke off, nearly broke a wrist, that was fun ~

Hole saws are female, aren't they? Hehe.

I started work on my window frames and threshold trim parts today...........only took me 4 months.

Alan that wrist thing had to hurt my friend... Today I took my tub out for a run to a local dealer that I am working with here in So Cali. lots of fun and tomorrow I'll drive her again... slight chance of rain... who cares water dries! Besides I am Mexican and water slides right off my back!

Senor "D", AKA Speedster "D"

More work on the new side windows. Should wrap them up tomorrow.

I looked at it. I'm not cleared for takeoff yet.

Walked by my build another 12,000 times today as I was working on the second bathroom renovation in two weeks.

Still haven't gotten the hood hinges bolted down, but should be done with Bath #2 later tomorrow and THEN I might get back to the car...

Of course, I did take that day off in a junk yard this week to get a mint set of $50 924 gauges....

8>)

And the weather here, lately, has been sooo perfect it ain't funny!

It's Friday the 18th of March I had to take my first day off this year to carry Mom to the doctors for some more test. (mamagram and bone dincity and trigliserides.. She had cancer in 2001.

82 degrees today I went to the tax lady ran a list of arrends ..I had the best day this year.

THe only looming thought ,,Moms mamagram results.. The D helped calm me down and relax me this evening.. Great theropy...

I had to run a little errand for Teresa today, so I took the Sloppy Jalopy.

I was waved at by a vaguely familiar-looking dude in a Boxster. It might have been that Bob guy from over the winter, or maybe not. He was smoking what must have been a good cigar -- the ash didn't blow off when he waved.

Maybe that'll be my next run ... Grab a cigar and find some idyllic country roads to cruise at my own relaxed pace ...

I got a couple of Cuban cigars from Mike Cochrane a while back that I haven't smoked yet. I'll bring 'em to Carlisle and we can enjoy 'em with a drink after dinner one evening.

I erected a 8000# capacity 4 post lift in my garage with the help of a few of my car buddies.The ramp with the hydraulic ram under it was quite heavy(440lbs.)Went together like an erector set. Had a fun time and enjoyed the beautiful 75 degree temps. In all it took about 4 hours to complete. I spent a half an hour riding up and down with Ruby on the lift. Works perfectly!!
Last night,I took Ruby for a drive to the first cruise event of the year in our area. It's was good to come out of winter hibernation and take the speedster out of the garage on an absolutely gorgeous night. Ain't life grand???

Drove my Spyder yesterday, no top! 50 degrees in the morning on the way to 70 plus, what a good day! Since I didn't put it away until December, I think this is the shortest winter season yet.....

Fixed the brake switch. Cory was right, all I had to do was connect to the unused switch at the front of the dual master cylinder. Still going to install a mechanical switch behind the brake pedal though.

Put the top down, the quarter tonneau over it, drove into town and bought a can of Seafoam. Poured into the gas tank, filled it up with gas and hit the highway to blow it out a little. Sensed a change in the amount of bogging after rapid acceleration and quick slow downs almost immediately. We'll see if it continues to improve some. Still need to get the Dellorto's tuned and probably re-jetted.

Blew past a dozen or so Miata's parked at a burger place called Ludy's on the way home. Massive thumbs up and some serious horn tooting from them. Choose your madness!

Taped off and marked the location for a new Reutter badge and Meister Schaften badge as well.

Post - church tomorrow they will go on.

Sounds like rain tomorrow so a good day to clean and polish as well.

Hope you folks are having as much fun as I am!

Bob-

Are you sure your idle jets are clear?

Stan:

I'm not sure of anything, as I am no wrench as you know. I just know there was some slight improvement but even I don't expect this to fully rectify the problem. Stop gap until I get it fixed. Only put on about 40 km today. Still need your help when you are up to it.

Hope the arm is coming along OK!

Thanks.

Finished striping the kawasaki. I think I'll register it as a 913 Replica for Carlisle ;)