slomove

Not sure what is your weather gear on the car. I run a full windscreen on my Birkin with "sun"-roof and very large wind deflectors. Otherwise the sides are fully open. When it really pours there is a bit of water mist in the cockpit and I need to wear a rain jacket to keep the arms dry but no problem for a regular unprotected Nuvi. As you can see, even the paper map survives. http://lh5.ggpht.com/_242PlvPtVpE/SlKVLyWXB8I/AAAAAAAAAGk/oIupeqxml6Q/s400/P1010211.JPG

Do yourself a favor and use ear plugs. Without you WILL suffer hearing damage after short time. I have been doing a lot of touring in the Seven with GPS and don't miss the annoying babble. Actually, even when touring in a normal car I usually turn the voice off. Looking at the GPS on the windscreen once a while is easy enough and does not take much attention off the road. I use a Nuvi (older 650 model). Get a 4.3" screen model and make sure to buy one with PC routing capability. The cheap ones don't have that but this will allow you to plan and optimize the route at home at your leisure including the twisty pieces the GPS would normally not use.

Maybe not impossible for that Lola. It reminds me of John Coomb's Lola Replica that he wanted to get through the SB100 registration process in 2008. But I never heard if that was successful. Anyway a beautiful car, true to the original except the modern engine.http://lh5.ggpht.com/_242PlvPtVpE/TDvE5QPs2NI/AAAAAAAABvw/GnvbqtZ_lTg/s800/P1000853.JPG http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/GScx6N2cGIeYzGLUJj3g8_2lmykhLv3Mjb6iuQna_dc?feat=directlink

Yes, well, maybe....at least in California the DMV was chasing a bunch of cars registered by some shady outfits in Alabama, mostly expensive Cobra replicas that were titled as 60's Mustangs for minimal price to skirt smog testing and use taxes here. I guess some folks had to pay high fines, cars impounded and other run-in with the long arms. Probably not worth the risk.

Well, that would limit you to driving up and down the I5 ;-) Hope you can make it there on Sunday. I will PM my cell number and email. Maybe we can wake up our Locost friend with the big engine in Visalia too but I don't have his contact info.

Some cars are already recording the last five seconds. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/19/AR2010051903298.html

Family out of town and no meaningful project lined up. So, I am planning to drive out on Saturday to the southern Sierra to get some fresh air (maybe this way) and return Sunday (maybe that way) I will stay in Glennville at the Bunkhouse. Anybody wants to join all or in part, let me know. Gert

I changed from the 13" stock Birkin wheel to an 11" wheel. Later I got 30% shorter steering arms for even quicker steering. Obviously that requires higher steering force,but not really bad. Even my wife did not complain about it. However, steering straight need more attention. A tiny bit of movement while looking at the scenery gets you easily into the ditch. That said, have not tried auto cross and would not know if that is more difficult with the shorter leverage.

Well, at least Guy Fawkes had a cause he believed in to blow up the establishment. I guess some folks here want to blow up the establishment of this forum just because they (the blower uppers) are assholes who like to stir up trouble. They could just leave but that would not be fun. Oh well, in this Internet age you got to live with some nuisance. I would love to see them jumping off the gallows like Guy Fawkes and break the neck but that would be asking too much :drool:

Maybe we should have a liberal section, a conservative section and, what the heck maybe an independent and libertarian section, too. Then we can call names and post BS to no end and no one is offended, everybody agrees and once a while we can lurk on the opposing sections shuddering about the lack of intelligence, citizenship and common sense.

If you swap the whole engine that is not a problem. Pretty much plug and play. You can not swap most components, though (different head, water and oil pump configuration). But why would you want to change. In terms of performance both engine are just the same (given same build stage). Only advantage of the ZX3 is the easier availability of aftermarket performance parts.

This removable rack/tray has been very useful for several long distance tours with 2 people (made it first for the USA2005 trip). It is attached to the Birkin tire rack threads on the bottom and the roll bar stays on top. It holds 2 sizable duffels, spare fuel, a gallon of water if needed and other junk. The license place can be moved to the tray. http://home.earthlink.net/%7Eslomove/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/boxstrapped.jpg Nowadays we are using these CampInn sturdy watertight duffels (about 40 bucks): http://a1472.g.akamaitech.net/f/1472/124/36h/img.ebags.com/is/image/im4/111364_1_1?&op_sharpen=1&op_usm=1,1,1&qlt=80&hei=280&wid=280 For shorter weekend trips we don't bother with the luggage tray and just strap such a duffel to the roll bar: http://lh3.ggpht.com/_242PlvPtVpE/SxHSR75CNeI/AAAAAAAAAz0/xkQQY1pBSvo/s720/MilPotrero1.JPG

Hi DB6 , good to see you again.

This is already going down the drain of the usual partisan rhetoric. I just don't get why folks here can't put up their opinions without polarizing statements. Kind of political masturbation to me. You stick it to them although you know it will only be greeted with satisfaction for how dumb and ignorant the other side is. I am a member of a motorcycle forum who just banned political posts for the same disgusting reason. Just does no good anymore.

Ooh, just learned something about it,it is natural and as healthy as real bacon (what does that mean now?): http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/squeez-bacon.html

Is it synthetic or made from mineral oil? Does it polymerize to a strip when you fry it?

I would worry about the LAWBRKR or SPRSPED depending on the local police sense of humor. Not sure about the Nevada cops but a few CHP that I had the pleasure to meet at the side of the road were no-nonsense guys. But 7SUPER7 and LIGHTW8 look good to me.

Hey, join us for next year's trip to the Back Hills (see National Events). The Seven is a fabulous touring car if properly equipped. We do use the regular "barn door" wind screen, a bimini style sun roof and half doors to make a bit comfortable without helmets and motorcycle gear. Without the sun roof I would not enjoy it that much. Frying in the sun for a day or getting soaked for longer time is not my idea of a good time. My wife and I spent probably some 15,000 miles on shorter and longer trips and we both find this to be one of the best vacation modes. As for reliability, well, as mentioned it is not a factory built Honda with service stations everywhere. To go on a long trip you MUST - build the car properly or check all possible trouble spots - carry a reasonable complement of tools - carry a few key spare parts that may not be locally available. That said, I did USA2005 (4k miles), no trouble. PNW2007 (4k miles) no trouble. Rocky Mountains 2009 (3k miles) no trouble. 2005 and 2007 we had a support vehicle on hand but that is just an insurance to keep a larger group together. Obviously if the eventual serious trouble strikes there may be a change of vacation plans. Gert

O.K., now we are talking. Maybe Stan is even going to join us again? He does not have a Seven anymore but then he did not drive the Seven on our trip to Canada, either.... As usual I am somewhat time limited to the summer school break due to Rosie's job. Furthermore August is not a good time in the Black Hills because of the Sturgis motorcycle madness. That would leave July for me and I would not mind making use of the holiday as long as we are not in a major tourist destination during this weekend. But I don't think even the major roads through Yellowstone will be too bad as long as you don't want to stop and see anything.... But second half of July would be another possibility. Tentative itinerary: Fri 7/1 481 mi towing Pasadena - Beaver Sat 7/2 462 mi towing Beaver - Jackson Sun 7/3 243 mi Jackson - Cody w/ Yellowstone - Chief Joseph Highway Mon 7/4 Cody Rest Day Tue 7/5 258 mi Cody - Gilette w/ Bighorn Mnt. Wed 7/6 212 mi Gilette - Custer Thu 7/7 Custer Rest Day (Jewel Cave & Crazy Horse Mon.) 45 mi Fri 7/8 97 mi Custer - Mt Rushmore - Hot Springs Sat 7/9 187 mi Hot Springs - Rapid City w/ Badlands NP Sun 7/10 112 mi Rapid City - Sundance w/ Spearfish Canyon Mon 7/11 Sundance Rest Day Tue 7/12 212 mi Sundance - Sheridan w/ Devil's Tower Wed 7/13 172 mi Sheridan - Red Lodge w/ Bighorn Mtns. Thu 7/14 261 mi Red - Lodge Jackson w/ Beartooth Hwy. & Yellowstone Fri 7/15 Jackson Rest Day Sat 7/16 498 mi towing Jackson - Beaver Sun 7/17 479 mi towing Beaver - Pasadena

John, that would be almost a reunion of the class of 2007 Actually I will also need 2 days to tow up to some start point and 2 days back. So far I considered Rawlins/Wyoming but thinking about it, a place like Idaho Falls or Yellowstone West might be better anyway as Start/End point (only 750 miles for you) since the drive through Yellowstone and Bighorn east is surely more interesting than through the Wyoming high desert.

Skip, the Glacier NP would be great to include. But for a 2-week trip I guess it is a bridge too far. There is about 750 miles one way between Glacier NP and Custer. It just takes too far Northwest. And I have already 1000 miles to get to the starting point of the tour. But it sounds like a real good idea for 2013 .

Thanks for the tips. Not sure about the time yet but I will look out for such special events. Gert

Cool. Another joint trip would be nice. I will probably get working at it seriously in Fall. Would you be up for a 2-week trip? Mary Jo too? How would you get to Wyoming? Tow or drive? In any case I will check with Bill G. He and Chris were good company on the Rockies trip. Maybe some of the Colorado folks may be interested, too?

Great color! I really like it. Installing the throttle bodies is easy enough. Assuming you have carbs? You just need a high pressure pump with regulator, proper plumbing, a surge tank and a return line to the tank. As for the ECU that is a different story. Not really difficult but much more involved electrically and you may need qualified help to get the mapping right. I did it on my own with a wideband lambda system but that is a a pretty tedious process. I have a ZX1, too and used Weber compatible Jenvey/Raceline throttle bodies with a pump/regulator/filter kit from MSI (not sure if that is still available). The ECU is Emerald, which I can highly recommend but there are surely other choices. Once you are at it and have money left over you may want to consider higher compression and more aggressive cams (KentCams, Piper or the like). I can give you details about part numbers etc. But it is a slippery slope....

There is nothing to feel. The head rest consist of a 3/4" plywood back plate that is bolted to the said steel plate on the roll bar. Over that I have 3" of stacked anti-fatigue foam floor mats. This stuff is very resilient and could catch a sledge hammer impact. If any it may be a bit rigid.