Syrinx

Well hi everyone, I've not posted for quite a while, but I have been reading over your shoulders! My 78 was stopped dead the other day! We ahd really cold temps, although no snow.... I started it up to go to work and it acted like the battery was dying. Well I have not had direct experience with eastern cold tempatures and batteries but I understand they get older faster. Any way, it finally chugged to a start but was very rough. It ran for a few seconds then started smoking!! BAD! I wasn't prepared for that! So I shut it down immediately, but the cab had already filled with smoke. It smelled like a cross between electrical and old oil. Looking under the hood breifly I noticed it was originating from the drivers side. I haven't had a chance to take a good look at it, and I don't know what happened yet, but a couple theories are floating around in my head. 1. The starter gear got caught on the flywheel on startup and spun out, burning up the starter. 2. Something on the engine was frozen: IE belt, water pump etc.. and refused to turn causing a fire. But those are my only two theories right now. Any Ideas? She was running like a charm just the day before under normal temps. (40-50's) Kurt

Jamie- I can understand your frustration, but you have to realize many of us old gen's opinions over the years have been ignored. The PNWSEC has catered to new "Parking lot" vehicles with no benifit to the rest of use who wanted to coninue weekenders. It sounds like the mebership interest has dwindled in direct relation to those of us who are not interested in parking our cars for 3 hours then driving back home. I personnally appreciate your work in the past and it is sad that we have such a rift between old and new. After all, we all drive performance! Good luck on whatever the outcome. Kurt

It';s certainly not perfect but it sure has been loved. Those seats are excellent? and is that rear bumper WAY to nice for the rig! Very shiny. Kurt

What did you do to prep the metal? I've found it difficult to really clean an oily metal surface for paint do to the porous nature of metal.... Kurt

rip out the dash top get to wiper motors?!! Never heard of that before. Usually they are located right against the firewall in the emgime compatment.... kurt

It's not the load capacity I'd be worried about - it's the chrome trim.. I've had two ripped off during tailgate loading. If you have nice trim, take it off and save it. Then Load away! Kurt

Wow. That sucks. I liked Jason, he was a real friendly guy. I still laugh at him having to pull Tim out of the muck at Thurston ORV a few years back. Tim's wagon was so screwed, stuck up to the door well's and Vicki (?) just sat in the passenger seat laughing and observing all of us try to get him out. (Tim standing in 2 ft of clay mud...)Then along came Jason and his wagon to yank him out... ( I think he helped fix the water pump to before Tim and the family went back home....?) Sorry you lost a good friend John, I know how much of silent partner he was, and I know you guys did a lot of work together. I obviously will not be able to make it to Oregon, but have a good time getting together and enjoy other folks' friendship. After all you never know when it will end. My wife and I will keep his family in our Prayers. Kurt

Well I finally plugged my speedo back in today. It's been unplugged for nearly a year... Oops. I had removed the gage cluster and replaced with a better looking one and forgot to plug the speedo back in. I would remember now and then like when the insurance asks you the mileage? I've told them the same exact number twice now..... 7 months apart!! But I just never found it important enough to stick my head under the dash and fix it. I grew up driving stick by engine sound, so I didn't really care if I had no speedometer. So I was under there fixing some of the stereo wiring and saw the speedo dangling, and BINGO plugged it back in. Now I'm legal again. I'm estimating it's saved me about 5000 miles! It's the best gas mileage I've ever had!! HaHa! good thing I'm not a dealer!!! Kurt

adn last one..

and more

can I do these all in one post?

Well I finally finished the project that I started 6 months ago. I just kept getting distracted. I had lower door panels that had already been cut previously for 6 x 9's. My original panels were pristine and I didn't want to cut them so I used the already cut ones. My problem was covering up the old drill holes and having a backing panel for the new 6's. I found a plastic place near my house and picked up a pile of misc Acrylic, PVC and ABS sheet. It was $1.50 by the pound, so I picked up a variety of types and colors for future projects. For the Brat I used a mirror blue acrylic that matched the interior - TOTALLY 70'S !! The face plate took some time to gently shave and sand to perfect fit, but it goes snug against the clock. Everything fits nicely and the clock even works still. All I have right now is the deck and 6's in the doors but I will add the rear speakers, CD changer and speakers in the bed later.... Check it out.. Kurt

I third the Marvel Mystery Oil. The stuff works wonders on the oil side. Kurt

1 YD of Barkdust. came to the top of the cab. Ya it sat prety low. Kurt

Gotcha. Kurt

Hey Mick what's your secret for getting power to the bed w/ out any holes? I have been thinking about puting exterior speakers back there but didn't want to run wires through the access panels. Kurt

I used 409 to remove cigar stains from my 82 brat. The interior is tan but looked quite brown before I cleaned it. Spray heavy and let soak a bit. Scrub repeatedly using a bucket of water to rinse the sponge and brush. The 409 tends to dry out the vinyl so when your done be sure to used PLENTY of armour all or other similar conditioner. It will take some elbow grease but it should come out. Kurt

I agree it must be a forester.. Hmmmmmm. kurt

They are using 4 bolt steelies with some interesting suspension. With sponsors!

hey Mick- Sorry I'm not going to make it. I am anxious to get dirty but the god's of finances and family have ruled against me. a cross country move can really suck you dry. Hope you and the kid have a great time.... Kurt

They are all off mid-80's Caddy's and Tornado's

And..

Well I finally wisited the nearest junkyard to my here in St. Louis on th "all you can carry day" All you could carry for $29.95! Only problem was there was only 4 Soobes and they were all 87 or newer. no LSD'S no 4 bolt Rear disks, nothing I could use. So I went to the MOPAR region of the yard (which was pretty much the whole yard since I'm in Missouri!) and proceded to pull air shock pumps. The rain was coming down in buckets!!!! I was drenched and I forgot my Dikes. (had every other tool I needed) So I had to rip the wires..... But I ended up with 4 air shock pumps hopefully they all work. Wiring a couple of them in tandem I will have plenty of onboard air! All for $30.00 I just wish there was some subie stuff. I would have loaded up!! There was big farm boys walking out sith small blocks, hoods on their heads full of parts. Man it was funny. And cheap. I'm going to try and attach a pic. Kurt

Hey Mick, count me in tenativley. I would be bringing my 4 year old too. Make it a Semi-Midwest Meet? Kurt

their websites still up. Kurt