I'll keep the best for last.
Woke up feeling sick, so I called into work and took the day off. About
9ish, couldn't stay in house anymore. Maybe I'll feel better if I work on
the Midget. That way I get some fresh air. Besides, I need to get it
ready for inspection as I've been driving it for almost a month without one.
Now that I think about it, maybe I should put in the differential I wanted
to put in this week. So I started about 9:30. Took me till 12 to swap out
the 3.9 for the 3.7. Runs good, no noise, and a slightly noticeable
difference. I'm very happy with it. Thanks Paul. And thanks to all who
emailed me, especially Frank's play by play and tech tips. What a bastard
getting the new one up and into the housing, though. Finally accomplished
it from the rear facing forward. TO everyone, Frank's tip was to complete
one side of the car (axle, gasket, drum, and wheel), and lower it to the
ground so the axle rear axle is on a slant to one side. Then fill the
diffy from the hole where the other axle should be. Check by removing the
filler nut and stop when it overflows.
Now came the inspection stuff. My dash lights work now, at least for the
most part. I ordered the wrong bulbs, so need to reorder. And my
aftermarket oil gauge light burnt out, so I need to get that. I installed
my new Hazard light, and changed all the bulbs that go with the switches.
I couldn't get the damn reverse lights to work though. Finally gave up and
DPO'd it. Hooked them up to a green illuminated toggle switch so that when
I go in reverse, all I have to do is hit the switch. I know I know, but it
was getting dark and I only really care b/c it needs to work for inspection.
Then I fixed the radio, which was on the blink.
All successful jobs with only 2 annoyances. I spilled the whole bucket of
old diffy oil on my mother's concrete driveway (spent two hours cleaning it
up). And kept losing all my stuff. At least until I looked up at the right
time and found my grandmother picking up my tools and parts and nuts and
bolts and whatever else she could pick up and putting them in the garbage.
She's old, what can I do.
And now for the BEST part of the day. Went for a spin on the highway.
60MPH at 3,400 RPM. Very acceptable. Got off the highway after two exits
and decided to take the streets home (Brooklyn streets, btw. Not some
country roads) About halfway there, I'm the first person at a light (one
of many) and two kids in their early twenties pull up next to me (one lane
each way) in their Toyota Camry with a muffler big enough that I could
probably drive the Midget into it. You all know the type. Light turns
green and they try and get in front of me, but have to cancel out b/c they
waited too long and would have hit some parked cars. The next light comes
up and once again I'm the first car. They pull up next to me, again. Only
this time, there aren't any parked cars for the first 100 yards of the next
block. Do I smell a race? I'm thinking, I really should baby it, new
engine and all. Then I think, I babied it for 600 miles, and I've taken all
I can take. I blip the throttle to let them know they're not getting in
front of me. Light turns green. Stomp on gas and let up clutch. Tires
squeal and car takes off. Guys in Camry take off too. Nose to nose. At 5K
RPM I pop it into second and stomp on gas. Tires squeal again. At 5K shift
to third and look over. Camry is two cars behind. Heh heh. Eat that you
bastards. May you skid out on my oil slick. Get to next light, Camry
window rolls down; "Wow. That's one fast car. Where can I get one of
those?" LMAO. I drove the rest of the way home with this BIG STUPID grin
on my face and I've still got it plastered there. Now I've had my race for
the year. I'm happy.
Folks, the Midget flies. All those modifications really paid off. If I
can squeal the tires (longer than just a chirp) in both 1st and 2nd with the
3.7, then I know there's a significant difference. I couldn't get even a
chirp from the old engine with the 3.9. Yes, I tried. Set off countless
alarms on that street, btw. I've decided I like the Monza.
That was my day. I played hooky, worked on the car, accomplished a hellova
lot on it, and tought some foolish guidos that they can't make a car fast by
installing a free flow muffler and an 8" high tail pipe. <grin> Can it get
any better than this?
Graz
(knocking on some wood, just in case)
'78 Midget
'97 300ZX
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