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What is the shaft sourced from? Sorry, just realized you already answered that. What is the diameter and spline count? A release for pinto or vw might be the same splines. The spline pattern is the real key. Randall

Hi Ron, my car is packed in the trailer about to head to my new home in Port Angeles, WA. No day trips for me I'm afraid.

SeaPort Airlines of Portland, Oregon is apparently experiencing difficulty finding commercial pilots. They were supposed to fly a commuter route between Port Angeles and Seattle, but couldn't find enough pilots to make it happen. Randall

Apparently Lego has decided to go into production with this. http://www.autoblog.com/2016/03/11/lego-ideas-caterham-super-seven-kit-approved/

Thanks. The house is pretty nice, too, with a great view.

Houses are for girls, anyway. I will be in the detached workshop most of the time....

Quick update.... We are in escrow on a nice house in Port Angeles. We anticipate closing next month and moving in May. Hope to meet you guys soon thereafter. Randall

Right now I can use a bit of good fortune. I'll be in P.A. on Monday and Tuesday and plan to make an offer on an amazing house. Wish me luck.... Randall

Will do. Randall

Gert, as I understand it, when the Cascadia lets go, it'll shake up the whole west coast. When the San Andreas goes, it will be mostly a local event. So, I see it as a reduced risk. :-) Bill, since we are seriously looking at Port Angeles (I hope to make an offer on a house next week), I will take you up on your offer. Randall

Care to elaborate? Randall

Hi all, My wife and I are looking to move to the Olympic Peninsula. I know there are Seven owners in the PNW...would anyone care to opine on whether I should keep or sell my Birkin before we move? Randall

Can't commit, but I'd be interested in joining you at Willow Springs. Maybe Buttonwillow. Randall

It is trivial to turn one tie rod out, and the other in the same amount, to correct an off-center steering wheel. Randall

Looks too muck like an ordinary sand rail for my taste. Randall

Here's what Woody's kit consisted of: BIRKIN S-3 RADIUS ROD UPGRADE PARTS & PRICE LIST DESCRIPTION LOCATION PART # QUANT Aluminum Radius Rod RR5105 4 Rod end, right hand AU-MM-8TY 4 Rod end, left hand AU-MB-8TY 4 Jam nut, right hand SJNL08 4 Jam nut, left hand SJNR08 4 Tapered spacer, 1/4" forward inner rr pick-up BNA119-0001 4 Tapered retainer spacer forward outer rr pick-up BNA119-0003 4 Tapered spacer, 3/8" rear rr pick-up BNA119-0004 8 Road spring, rear by application 2 Rod end ID bushing BNA119-0006 8 You can easily duplicate this with parts from Pegasus. Just measure the rod length (12 inches, IIRC) and order to match. If you buy metric, you can avoid the cheesy "Rod end ID bushing" spacers Woody used to convert Imperial bearings to metric mounting bolts. This mod *will* bring a noticeable improvement in handling. Randall

One more thing that will give you scary handling is having your steering tie rods mounted on top of the steering arm rather than beneath them where they're supposed to be. Easy mistake, but easy to fix, too,

Does it latch in, or just tie on? Randall

Is this the part you need? http://www.ebay.com/itm/W0133-1781802-OES-Genuine-Oil-Pump-Chain-Rail-/231521573765?hash=item35e7c2db85&vxp=mtr

Rustoleum makes a line of hammer finish paint. Available at Home Depot, etc. The quality is very good, but I don't know if they have the right shade of green (I use the silver for my projects). Randall

Yeah. But this is specifically a Seven...not someone-else's fantasy. I'd like to have one to go along with my Matchbox Caterhams (six colors, so far)

On June 28, there is an Ironman competition in Coeur d' Alene. That may affect getting into the city and lodging availability on the 29th.

Something to be aware of...on the 28th, going to Balfour requires a ferry ride across Kootenay Lake. The ferry service says, "The angle of the ferry ramp with the shore ramp may cause difficulties for low clearance vehicles and over-length vehicles such as fifth wheels and motor-homes or long trailers." I've looked for images, but only found one, so far. In that one, it appears that we won't have any issues on at least one end of the ferry ride. But, there must be a reason for the warning.

Gert, Might I suggest driving a bit further on the 29th, so that the 30th isn't a grueling, un-enjoyable day. For example, we could continue past Cour d'Alene to Moscow or Lewiston. That would shift a hour and a half of driving from a really long day to one of the shortest. Likewise, on the 1st, we could continue to Whitehall or Three Forks, which would shift about an hour from the 282 mile day to the shorter 127 mile day. Poking at your itinerary some more, how about stopping in Red Lodge on the first day to shorten that day a bit--first day is always a delayed start, and who knows what the traffic hold ups will be in and around the park. The following day seems to be pretty flat and featureless terrain, so wouldn't be affected much by some added miles.

This looks interesting. It'd be nice to see the "Black Hills Gang" again, too. I might be able to make it...put me down as 'tentative.' Randall