Terry,
I can TOTALLY relate to your apprehension while driving at first. I was
especially gun-shy after having the wheel fall off on me earlier -- and I'm
always thinking "but I'M the one who rebuilt the brakes, not a
professional!", but so far, I've clocked about 250 miles on the car now and
it's been a blast. Since my floorpan under the driver's seat is a bit on
the thin side, I also wonder if I'm going to drop to the pavement everytime
I hit a bump in the road, trying to anticipate my "strategy" of what I'll
try and grab onto if the seat falls out from under me. Talk about a thrill
ride!
So far, my absolute favorite jaunt has been on an isolated two lane highway
close to my home. It travels along the tree-lined edge of the valley below,
alongside an undeveloped agricultural preserve. The road is twisty with
very little traffic and the feeling of driving down that road, late in the
day with the long shadow of the trees crossing my path is almost
breathtaking.
Yesterday was cloudy. Today, the weather should be perfect for top-down
driving. I can't wait.
Jeff in San Diego
----- Original Message -----
From: Banbury, Terrence <Terrence.Banbury@dnr.state.oh.us>
To: <spitfires@autox.team.net>; 'Bowen, Patrick A RP2'
<PABowen@sar.med.navy.mil>
Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2000 7:29 AM
Subject: RE: Todays update on Restoration
>
> Sounds like you've got momentum going. Mine peaked when I put new tires
and
> wheels on and recieved my insurance and plates. Now I'm road worthy and
> legit...a dangerous combination. I put ten (whole) miles (count'em) on it
> in one drive! Doesn't sound like a big deal, but after a lot of winter
work
> and not being sure of the dependability, it is a big deal. It was fun.
At
> one point I was going to return home, but...I followed the urge to turn in
> the opposite direction and put some 'open road' miles on it. Ran
> great...Can't wait to get it out again.
>
> I think I have the Lucas touch. BOTH my office and home PC (3 month old
> Dell) hd's failed within three days of each other...but my Spit runs
great.
>
> Terry Banbury
> Mk III
>
> > ----------
> > From: Bowen, Patrick A RP2[SMTP:PABowen@sar.med.navy.mil]
> > Reply To: Bowen, Patrick A RP2
> > Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2000 8:25 AM
> > To: 'spitfires@autox.team.net'
> > Subject: Todays update on Restoration
> >
> >
> > Stayed up till 0300 (thats 3 am for you civilian types) I am sure my
> > neighbors really appreciated the compressor operating that early in the
> > morning, since it is right outside their bedroom window - oops. And I
got
> > the interior of the car painted and the firewall etched and primed. I
am
> > starting to move on this!!
> >
> > I placed heavy duty fibreglass/tar sound deading matts on the inside of
> > the
> > firewall, on the front sections of the floorboard and up over the area
> > where
> > the differential sits. I anticipate this, combined with heavy heat and
> > sound insulation under the carpeting to hopefully make for a nice quiet
> > cool ride.
> >
> > On the down side, I brushed up against my front drivers side tire and it
> > rocked back and forth, so I came to the irritating reality that I set
the
> > bearing too loose and will shortly have to redo this :^( Not too much
> > trouble, I just have better things to do right now.
> >
> > I have been commanded by the Commander in Chief, Home front to take a
> > break
> > today for my birthday. So no work for a day or so.
> >
> > Preparing to roll out the all new, yet unnamed 1979 Spit
> >
> > Patrick Bowen
> > '79 Spitfire - on its way
> >
>
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