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Pretty Please - add it to our Events forum(s) and add to the calendar! >> 
Progress- 12:30
- Thread starter jlaird
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ecurie_ecosse
Luke Skywalker
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It's a good feeling when everything goes well Jack. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/thumbsup.gif
You trying to get finished by Saturday,or something? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif
Stuart. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cheers.gif
You trying to get finished by Saturday,or something? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif
Stuart. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cheers.gif
blkcorvair
Jedi Knight
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Just think, not long ago you were trying to muster up the energy to take that out and your nearly complete.
69sprite
Senior Member
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I know I haven't be as active here as I should be...but I wanted to commend you, Jack, on your work and continued focus on you Sprite...
Unfortunately, I can't say the same about myself. I still have my '69 Sprite in a 'nearly' ready state...which it has been for a while, after I removed the engine and tranny to do a Rivergate swap and to refresh the engine...
At this point, I might be willing to offer a plane ticket, lodging, along with the free beer and BBQ (my award winning BBQ, of course), to someone to show up and prod/cajole/inspire/drive/assist/etc me finish this project... It shouldn't have taken more than a few days to a week to complete... then family/work/house remodel/grandkids/etc, etc/yada yada yada got in the way... know what I mean?
Larry
Unfortunately, I can't say the same about myself. I still have my '69 Sprite in a 'nearly' ready state...which it has been for a while, after I removed the engine and tranny to do a Rivergate swap and to refresh the engine...
At this point, I might be willing to offer a plane ticket, lodging, along with the free beer and BBQ (my award winning BBQ, of course), to someone to show up and prod/cajole/inspire/drive/assist/etc me finish this project... It shouldn't have taken more than a few days to a week to complete... then family/work/house remodel/grandkids/etc, etc/yada yada yada got in the way... know what I mean?
Larry
Trevor Jessie
Yoda
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So... how long has it been that way Larry?
69sprite
Senior Member
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First, let me apologize... to Jack, in case my posts and the subsequent responses hijack his original post on his progress. This was totally unintended and meant as a praise of your efforts. My second apology is to my car, as everyone will now see that I have been derelict in my duties...and I bow my head in shame. Third, I apologize to everyone else for the long post that follows:
OK.. First to Trevor. (sigh) I took the car off the road 1.5 years ago (March 2006). Not a dang thing really wrong with the LBC, other than it 'chunked' a little going into 2nd gear (probably due to PO, since it was that way when I bought it).
I planned on fixing that and just cleaning up the engine bay while the engine was out. Upon inspection, the tranny wasn't bad, but needed a little more work that just 2nd gear and a clean up. That is where the trouble started. I got a wild hair to upgrade to a Rivergate 5-spd to help the roadability. Found a good deal on the Datsun tranny out of Washington State. Had a local shop here clean it up and check it out. Ordered the Rivergate kit from the Perry's, then had work get in the way for a while. 2-3 months later got back, decided to take the engine apart (hey, it was already out and pleading me to!). Good thing. found grooves on the crank, did that.. had the head/valves/guide/etc checked and replaced guides/etc. Had the oil galleries done. Put new bearings/rings/etc as I went back together (probably other stuff done that I have forgotten I did). Then another stoppage due to a family thing. When I got back to it, decided I needed an aluminum flywheel, instead of the perfectly good original one. Had to have the aluminum flywheel milled, since the HW shoulder didn't clear the Rivergate engine backplate/seal bolts...which meant balancing too. Finally got engine/tranny put back together and had another stoppage... ok, it got HOT here. Finally got back to it in Jan 2007 to put everything back in. Engine in the bay, mounted and driveshaft connected. Then the wife decided she needed a kitchen remodel done. All that is left is to finish attaching the tranny tunnel mount and bolts, the new clutch slave, cooling system stuff, generator, peripheral back on...then put the pedal box back together and back in the car, and find the battery charger, before I can attempt to start it (ok, I probably forgot some steps here! I am not looking at the book).
One thing I also forgot to mention was, when I first started this, I also bought a powder coat gun and a small oven and went stupid with that too in the interim.
In reply to Morris: The car (and it's shameful owner) is located is Georgetown Texas... just north of Austin...
Hanging my head in shame, waiting for the flogging to begin...
Larry
OK.. First to Trevor. (sigh) I took the car off the road 1.5 years ago (March 2006). Not a dang thing really wrong with the LBC, other than it 'chunked' a little going into 2nd gear (probably due to PO, since it was that way when I bought it).
I planned on fixing that and just cleaning up the engine bay while the engine was out. Upon inspection, the tranny wasn't bad, but needed a little more work that just 2nd gear and a clean up. That is where the trouble started. I got a wild hair to upgrade to a Rivergate 5-spd to help the roadability. Found a good deal on the Datsun tranny out of Washington State. Had a local shop here clean it up and check it out. Ordered the Rivergate kit from the Perry's, then had work get in the way for a while. 2-3 months later got back, decided to take the engine apart (hey, it was already out and pleading me to!). Good thing. found grooves on the crank, did that.. had the head/valves/guide/etc checked and replaced guides/etc. Had the oil galleries done. Put new bearings/rings/etc as I went back together (probably other stuff done that I have forgotten I did). Then another stoppage due to a family thing. When I got back to it, decided I needed an aluminum flywheel, instead of the perfectly good original one. Had to have the aluminum flywheel milled, since the HW shoulder didn't clear the Rivergate engine backplate/seal bolts...which meant balancing too. Finally got engine/tranny put back together and had another stoppage... ok, it got HOT here. Finally got back to it in Jan 2007 to put everything back in. Engine in the bay, mounted and driveshaft connected. Then the wife decided she needed a kitchen remodel done. All that is left is to finish attaching the tranny tunnel mount and bolts, the new clutch slave, cooling system stuff, generator, peripheral back on...then put the pedal box back together and back in the car, and find the battery charger, before I can attempt to start it (ok, I probably forgot some steps here! I am not looking at the book).
One thing I also forgot to mention was, when I first started this, I also bought a powder coat gun and a small oven and went stupid with that too in the interim.
In reply to Morris: The car (and it's shameful owner) is located is Georgetown Texas... just north of Austin...
Hanging my head in shame, waiting for the flogging to begin...
Larry
RickB
Yoda
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Hey, life happens - in between life & other life - is LBC time!
So far I haven't seen / heard anything more shameful than what I did with my MGC-GT.
Why on earth would anyone take a running MGC and park it in the back yard on jackstands for nearly 20 years. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/crazyeyes.gif
The nearly 49 year old me does not understand the 30 year old me - at all. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/nonono.gif
So far I haven't seen / heard anything more shameful than what I did with my MGC-GT.
Why on earth would anyone take a running MGC and park it in the back yard on jackstands for nearly 20 years. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/crazyeyes.gif
The nearly 49 year old me does not understand the 30 year old me - at all. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/nonono.gif
kcbugeye1275
Jedi Knight
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The worse part of what you are talking about is a stalled project has its own momentum that keeps it stalled. I, with you comend Jack for his getting the motor out, resolve the issue that caused him to pull the motor, and is about ready to reinstall. However, to move forward on your stalled project, start with little things that can get done. As these are getting done, and you feel good about moving forward, share with us your accomplishments and failures, but also list what else that you can do so in spare moments, you can get more done. I have had my car sitting for yrs also(young children) but they are now grown. I have the good fortune of many knowledgeable and able friends who have helped me and I am thankful of that. The first step is the hardest. Good luck!!!!
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Larry, no shame involved at all. We've all had stalls in our projects for various lengths of time. Tunebug's been off the road since May or so, now is waiting on an engine build (should have in January) and a lot of things on my part -- brakes, transmission, money... I've owned the car about 1.5 years, and have driven it only a handful of times.
kcbugeye's right -- start somewhere, anywhere. A little bit of progress will get that flow going again, and then you'll be back on the road.
kcbugeye's right -- start somewhere, anywhere. A little bit of progress will get that flow going again, and then you'll be back on the road.