Holiday Projects

[J. Huber]

I decided to ring in the New Year with a couple basic DIY maintenance items the last few days and today:

Changed the Oil and Filter
Cleaned the battery Connections and twisted fuses
Removed battery tray and freshened it up with paint
Topped off fluids -- checked coolant, brake fluid, & IP Oil.
Checked tire pressure
Replaced points and timed things to 30/3000**

Went for a nice New Years Day spin with newly re-hoisted hardtop -- always a neat change of pace.

Here are a couple interesting sidelights (to me anyway!)...

Each December 31 for the last several years I have noted my mileage so I can readily figure out how many miles (or KMs -- mines a Euro) I put on each year. For 2008 I went exactly 4813 Kilometers. In 2007, I did 6127 KMs. So a little less driving in 08. Not for lack of trying!

** Points: The points I replaced today were put in in 2003. Exactly 27,339 kilometers ago (before today's drive). Adjusted twice along the way. That strikes me as a very good lifespan. Let's hope these last the same!

On a less exciting note: after all this I noted a little fuel leak back by the fuel pump. Seems to be coming from the soft fuel line that feeds fuel to the engine. But that's another thread (sooooon)...

Anyway, just wanted to share my Holiday tinkering -- kept me out of trouble. Anyone else start their Winter projects yet?

[Richard Madison]

Winter has been a lilttle skittish here in the Big Apple. We had 65 degrees (18 C.) a week ago...and on New Year's Eve, the tourists in Times Square were treated to a Wind Chill of about 5 degrees (-15 C).

Ole Beige is under wraps in a heated garage with me fussing about from time to time. Of course she was out and about on the 65 degree day.

For Winter tasks, I'm trying to paint the hub caps, reinstalling the Italian Fender markers, bringing the front bumper up to Pagoda standard, getting the proper right side mirror fitted, installing the missing upper rear chrome molding strip on the right side. (This NLA piece has just become available again from KK  Manufacturing.)

I'm naive enough to think not much else is needed.

Oh well, for us Rust Belt Northerners in just 12 weeks, as Willy Nelson sings, We're "On the road again..."

Richard M, NYC