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Pythias

Pythias

Jedi Knight
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It's taken a while, but I finally got the red thing back from the shop. I had taken it in because right after I had the tranny rebuilt I had taken it for a drive and at the end of 50 or so miles, when I parked, the clutch wouldn't disengage enough for me to get the car into reverse. On the drive home (from Astoria) the car wouldn't shift into any gear at one point. That is I tried to downshift and was locked out of gear. I had pulled over, turned off the car, put it in first and drove away, being able to shift up to third, where I left it for the rest of the drive. Of course I took it back to where I had the work done. They couldn't find anything wrong, but re-bled the clutch and I told them to go ahead and drive the wheels off to try to find the problem. They've been doing that and in so doing found that the rear U-joint had gone gunny sack. They fixed that and added Dyna-Mat to the tranny tunnel. They drove it in the heat of summer in town and on long drives and found nothing. They took it to the tranny shop where they had sub-contracted and pronounced it as good. In the midst of all this, they lost one of they're mechanics which can be devastating to a small shop (where do you find someone who is versed in Old British Cars in todays work force?) but found another, accounting for the delay in the return of my auto.

Anyway I got it back yesterday (in time for the PDX-ABFM!!!) and drove it home up I-5. I started by keeping it to about 60 mph, but it wanted to cruise at about 68 mph, the 1275 smoothing out noticeably at the higher speed. When I wanted to pass it jumped up effortlessly to 80 or more. What a hoot! I'll be doing the drive this weekend two or three times back down I-5 to PIR for the ABFM and enjoying every mile :excitement:
 
Glad to hear it Bill. In the Midwest its getting into one of the nicest driving season's.

Kurt.
 
Hope to see it there (at the ABFM) Bill. I'll be there.
I'm pretty sure Peter will be there (in the MGA).
 
When I try to get my Sprite up past 72 - 73 mph, all I seem to get is more noise and barely any perceptible increase in speed. It will cruise all day between 65 and 70, although that's not really where these cars are at their best.
 
I've set mine up for freeway cruising by installing or having installed a 5 speed and a 3.9 rear end. 1000 rpm for every 20 mph makes 80 mph just 4000 rpm. Admittedly the car becomes a little darty at those speeds, that's why only the quick foray not long term travel. I could always go faster with a hat on because I wasn't getting beat to death by the wind, but a the wind blocker is a game changer in that department.
 
Glad to hear your back on the Bill!!!

Rich
 
AND.... AND... you won 3rd place in the People's Choice awards (for "Later Sprites"). :smile:
 
Yes I did. It's the first time I've won anything in Portland, AND the first time I've received an award where there were more cars in the category than awards being made. In Missouri (at the 50th) I got a first, but I was the ONLY. In Seattle a couple of years ago, I got a first out of two. This time is was 3rd out of SIX? Whoooweee. I can sell it as an award winner!
 
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