On the road

[Bayless]

Super congratulations.

 

[drooartz]

I'm really looking forward to getting the tuneup done and getting out of the break-in period. I've never driven a sports car where I could drive it as hard as one should -- heck, I've never driven one that wasn't essentially a barely drivable project!

Going to be a fun summer.

A big thanks to all of you over here in Spridget land for you assistance over the years and over the years to come -- I've still got bodywork to do, ya know.

 

[apbos]

Enjoy the summer Drew! Got to do some body work on the B/E today. Hopefully we'll get some dry weather here and I can get to work in the afternoons. I really want to be done with the car by the end of summer, but as you know work has to come first!

Paul

 

[Jim_Gruber]

So Drew looks great, what do you think of the sound of the Harley Muffler. We haven't see any pics of the install, you've been too busy driving the Tunebug.

 

[drooartz]

I wound up not using a Harley muffler at all. The muffler I had on the car before matched up nicely with the new pipe I had bent up, and it was in good shape.

I may swap it out in the future, but for now it's working fine.

 

[mrsprite]

I've never driven a sports car where I could drive it as hard as one should

Until something breaks, you haven't driven it hard enough!

 

[bugimike]

OUTSTANDING :thumbsup: :banana: :banana: :banana: !!! Now go out and

 

[JPSmit]

so, I've been thinking (on your behalf) of your next projects. was watching gearz this morning and Stacy David installed a microphone shifter, guitar pick dash cover and drum pedal gas pedal. Just seemed like any of these would be a natural for tunebug

https://www.gearztv.com/showdetails.php?episode=35

 

[drooartz]

Neat, but a bit over the top for the Tunebug.

 

[JPSmit]

Neat, but a bit over the top for the Tunebug.

Oh I don't know...

seriously, I sure do love individual touches like that. Ms Triss has a few - not particularly career specific (except maybe the holy water in the rad ) but things (like the shift knob) that are meaningful to me. I do love the fact that we can do stuff like that.

 

[DrEntropy]

Herself's B has something like the "meaningful" bits. Not so much "theme" as long associations. Hard top has been with me since '72, been on three of our MG's. Shift knob is an Amco from my original '66, same with the wood steering wheel. "Square-8's" originally intended for the +2, tonneau from the original '66. Weber DCOE and intake from back-then, originally fabbed up for my brother's '69 MGB-GT in '74. He sold the car, I kept the induction system. Paddy Hopkirk pedal, Recaro driver's seat, other little "modifications" from lessons learned over the forty-odd years of MG ownership and wrenching.

Each will take on a personality as time and mileage pile on. No doubt Tunebug will get little embellishments as that happens. Each caretaker will decide what's appropriate.
Neat to watch as it happens, too. :thumbsup:

 

[drooartz]

I've already started a few such personalizations (other than the obvious things like the new motor). The steering wheel is a handmade custom piece that I'll keep even if I ever sell the car.

Right now I'm just interested in adding miles.

 

[Trevor Jessie]

So... how much does the new engine improve the car over the tired 948?

Are you still worried about going up long steep grades?

 

[livinginthepast]

I like the pickguard material for a gauge backdrop. Pretty cool idea.

 

[drooartz]

So... how much does the new engine improve the car over the tired 948?

Are you still worried about going up long steep grades?

Don't really know yet. I'm still going through the initial tuning and break in, so I'm keeping my foot out of it right now. Did play just a bit on Saturday, though, and could feel the extra urge that's just waiting there.

Even keeping things easy it's noticeably quicker and faster than before. I can only image what it will be like once I've got things a bit better sorted out.

 

[DrEntropy]

Careful there, bub... Hap's efforts will be apparent! Borderline scary if ya ain't ready for it. :wink:

 

[Morris]

Belated congrats to you Drew... I was never able to raise the glass of McAllen I promised you. Sorry. I have not been feeling well.

I am super jealous of your "new" ride, and very impressed with your discipline in not "running her out" until you are done breaking her in. That takes determination!

 

[drooartz]

Careful there, bub... Hap's efforts will be apparent! Borderline scary if ya ain't ready for it. :wink:

I have no doubt. I still haven't really got on it yet, but can tell what I'll have just from the improvement in the light throttle I've been using. Gonna be good.

I am super jealous of your "new" ride, and very impressed with your discipline in not "running her out" until you are done breaking her in. That takes determination!

Sorry to hear you've been under the weather. Hope you're feeling better soon!

For me, it is a mix of determination and fear. I'm paranoid that I'll break something or screw something up, so it's really easy for me to stick to the procedure Hap recommended. My mom did teach me to do as I'm told, after all. Besides, just being able to drive at all is a huge motivator.

The routine now is that I go for a little drive when I get home from work, assuming it's not snowing. Warm everything up, and keep an eye on all the vitals. Won't take more than a few weeks to get all the break in miles, then I can open things up. I'm already enough through the process to need to re-torque the head and check the valve clearances. Time for a full tune as well.

 

[DrEntropy]

The last V-12 Ferrari I rebuilt got the first 500 miles put on by ME. Just to insure it didn't come back in a bucket with: "You ripped me OFF!!! It BROKE before 500 miles!"

A full week of commuting, first four days were "sedate".

But on the FIFTH day.... <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">WOOHOOO!!!!!!</span></span>

 

[Morris]

The LAST V-12 Ferrari! Holy moly!