SPRING??

[Woodie]

Well it is 14 degrees F here. Sparky has been stored since 1 Dec. So can't wait for spring. I have a list of projects, for Sparky, but all I really want to do is zoom around in something other than a damned minivan.

I have
new rear shock conversion,
new seat covers
new window cranks
alternator conversion
new hood pull
custom center console on order
rad cowl repair
wiper motor clean and repack
and several other minor jobs (all expected to be 15 minute to 3 day jobs)

Nothing there to stop me from driving. April 4 is my goal to get Sparky out of storage.

 

[SilentUnicorn]

THINK SPRING (really really hard)

 

[Jim_Gruber]

Supposed to be 51 and sunny this PM here in Dayton. Got some errands to run and Bugsy is going to get some exercise later this afternoon. Since I replaced the front wheel bearings and seemed to have solved my woobly wheel syndrome Bugsy has not been at speed, just out 2 times running around the neighborhood. This should be an excuse to put 20-30 miles on today running errands and I will take the long country road way to get there.

 

[Jim_Gruber]

Supposed to be 51 and sunny this PM here in Dayton. Got some errands to run and Bugsy is going to get some exercise later this afternoon. Since I replaced the front wheel bearings and seemed to have solved my woobly wheel syndrome Bugsy has not been at speed, just out 2 times running around the neighborhood. This should be an excuse to put 20-30 miles on today running errands and I will take the long country road way to get there.

Crocus are starting to pop up and neighbor says his witch hazel has already bloomed. It's not that far away guys. Hope springs eternal. Now if I can find another job soon Spring will be perfect.

 

[jvandyke]

Yesterday weatherman said our first 70 degree day averages out to March 28 (we still get snow into April but by then it's the exception, not the rule). So I figure I have 1 month to get my car back together. Time to get crack'n. (although temps are plummeting again later this week).

 

[jhorton3]

I drove Midgie to work in mid 50's weather for part of the day. Plan on driving her tomorrow if they rain holds off.

 

[tweety]

"custom center console on order"

What custom center console would that be? I'm pondering this upgrade myself. The ones moss and VB sell don't look that great to me. Considering making one myself.

 

[jvandyke]

That's a great idea, nice to have a cupholder, sunglass holder, iPod holder....great, thanks now I have ANOTHER project....

 

[JPSmit]

That's a great idea, nice to have a cupholder, sunglass holder, iPod holder....great, thanks now I have ANOTHER project....

Welcome to the wonderful world of MG ownership and this board, a never ending list projects that you didn't realize you needed to do till you read about them and then you had to :lol:

https://tinyurl.com/cjlsnl

 

[Jim_Gruber]

One of those foldable cup holders from the MOSS Catalog is perfect and I mean perfect as a cup holder. Install on PS of tranny hump and it will be perfect. Only thing I've found that works well. Needs two screws through carpet to install. Then no need for console to clutter things up, sunglasses fit into their case slid between seat and tranny hump.

Now if I can get someone elses ideas on mounting / fabricating a bracket for the XM Radio to sit in easy view. Thinking about something attached to the PS of the Windshield Rod Center bracket up on the dash in easy sight line.

 

[jvandyke]

I wondered about those foldable cup holders, thanks for the report.
I still think a center console would be handy, maybe next winter's project.
As for radio install, I couldn't make myself cut my dash up and I made this box out of a cigar box I found at a cigar shop (they sell the boxes for about $1 and you can sift through the pile for the perfect size). The base is wedges I cut from scrap, have since sanded it, hit it with a few layers of a textured black paint. Only ran the car once since I made it and it stayed put with no fasteners so far, but if it moves I'll bolt it down with something.

 

[Jim_Gruber]

Since I drive Bugsy by myself, 99% of the time, an issue with better half and fear of small open cars and wind in her face, installing the cup holder on the PS works perfectly for me.

Radio Consoles I was able to pick one up for $25 or so. I see them on e-Bay all of the time. You can probably find one from someone on this list who is parting out a car. Radio falling off will distract you and potentially cause you to take your eyes off of the road at a critical moment. Get it secured.

Your CD Player, or at least the Sony CD player that is in Bugsy fits in console with bottom of console 3/4" out from normal mounting position. A AM/FM/MP3 that has wiring coming out of side rather than from rear of unit is preferred.

Now with your custome dash not sure exactly how it would look but you can certainly mock up something that looks great.

A tip, I rigged up a small microswitch that I installed on the bottom of the DS dash bracket / strap. I think I used a SPDT switch, 3 pins on the bottom. Center pin goes to the radio, left pin goes to an always on source on the solenoid or in the fusebox, right pin goes to a switched source that goes on when the key is turned. Now radio gets power always to keep clock going and station presets alive.

Since Spridgets don't have accessory positions on the key switch, I can run the radio with engine off by simply flipping the switch concealed up under the dash. Works great and is a simple solution to keep the music going. Of course you need to properly fuse everything. Hope this helps.

 

[Morris]

It's been hot and sunny here all winter. But, I just pulled the car off the road. My registration and inspection ran out and figured it's time to start making this thing look pretty. *sigh* Maybe I should just learn to live with ugly.

 

[jvandyke]

The later midget radio consoles were too big for me. Installing out in front of passenger too inaccessible and it's too deep to fit anywhere else. I'll probably hook the radio up hot all the time (with inline fuse), not much reason not too. This radio has a function to turn itself off after a certain time of inactivity, in other words, if it's on it stays on but if you turn it off, it powers down after 10 minutes so therefore no battery drain except for the clock and to maintain presets. Worked fine that way all summer. My box ended up being a good press fit between firewall and carpet ridge on opening to the shifter. I threw it through some fast corners and it didn't budge but a quick screw somewhere would be prudent. I spent some time getting the angle right for easy access but not in the way of the shift hand. CD access is a bit limited but I use an iPod anyway. As it is, I can unplug the harness and antennae and remove the whole unit in seconds, nice to get access to under dash work or put the whole stereo in the trunk to avoid theft.

 

[JPSmit]

figured it's time to start making this thing look pretty. *sigh* Maybe I should just learn to live with ugly.

Funny, my wife says that a lot but I don't think she means the car.

 

[Jim_Gruber]

Morris,

I drove Bugsy with 5 different colors of paint on him, including several variations of rust for more than 5 years before he finally became all the same color of Rustoleum BRG. I didn't let him look nice for more than 6 months before I added the BE Bonnet which has another 4-5 colors, dents, and rust and is in 15 y.o. primer in July last year. Still ugly and the promise to fit bonnet properly and get it painted over the winter is just not going to happen real soon. But yet, Bugsy is mechanically sound and gets driven regularly. He may be ugly but he's getting driven.

 

[JPSmit]

He may be ugly but he's getting driven.

see, once again just exactly what my wife says about me :lol:

OK, I'll shut up now - it's just cabin fever