Monday, April 27, 2009
Radio Blues
Installed some speakers in the Beetle today. It was a rush job but the job is somewhat aesthetically pleasing. I've had a radio in the car since before last winter. The whole purpose was not just music but to plug the hole in the dash through which cold air flooded the vehicle. But with my tax refund I've decided to finally get music in the car. There may be a plan afoot to fix Zazu's biggest issue. I'm thinking an extended range fuel tank and a larger oil capacity. And a new motor. This would drastically increase the range I can travel. Time shall tell.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Summer Guessing Games
It was a nice day out so I took the Beetle out for a spin. Woman is coming for a visit so I made sure to brim my tank. One of the nicer things about this car is the tank sits right around 10 gallons. Figuring out how much money it will take to fill the tank is easy you simply move the decimal point on the price of a gallon. Or if you only want half a tank you move the decimal and halve the amount. Lovely!
During the winter the speedometer went on strike. On a whim today I screwed it back in. And it worked like it should. I didn't know I had a speedo that only works in good weather. The car DID come from California I guess. Of course eventually I got it stuck at 15mph but a rap on the glass brought it stuttering back to life. This is one of the cool things about old cars, you can give the most awesome instructions to a new driver.
My buddy Scott got the honor of driving Zazu into town and back yesterday. He's never been formally trained in a proper, or manual, gearbox. So it was a crash course. He did all right all things considered. "Dude your car scares the hell out of me" was repeated several times but he's simply not used to the, how do you say. eccentricities of a old car!
On my old car the list is long. The brakes WILL work. Just straighten your leg out and try and push the pedal through the floor. They'll work. If the speedometer futzs out on you you can drive by the tachometer. 65mph is 3000rpm in 4th, 35 is 2000rmp in 3rd, and when it sounds like the car will tear itself apart in 1st, call it 15mph. You need to move the CB mike to open the glove compartment and remember the gas fill is on the passenger side at the front of the car. And last but not least remember the engine is in the back.
We all made it safe and sound and even Scott was head to give accolades to my little car that can. That says a lot about a car built eleven years before I was. It's nice to have the summer back, it's motoring season!
During the winter the speedometer went on strike. On a whim today I screwed it back in. And it worked like it should. I didn't know I had a speedo that only works in good weather. The car DID come from California I guess. Of course eventually I got it stuck at 15mph but a rap on the glass brought it stuttering back to life. This is one of the cool things about old cars, you can give the most awesome instructions to a new driver.
My buddy Scott got the honor of driving Zazu into town and back yesterday. He's never been formally trained in a proper, or manual, gearbox. So it was a crash course. He did all right all things considered. "Dude your car scares the hell out of me" was repeated several times but he's simply not used to the, how do you say. eccentricities of a old car!
On my old car the list is long. The brakes WILL work. Just straighten your leg out and try and push the pedal through the floor. They'll work. If the speedometer futzs out on you you can drive by the tachometer. 65mph is 3000rpm in 4th, 35 is 2000rmp in 3rd, and when it sounds like the car will tear itself apart in 1st, call it 15mph. You need to move the CB mike to open the glove compartment and remember the gas fill is on the passenger side at the front of the car. And last but not least remember the engine is in the back.
We all made it safe and sound and even Scott was head to give accolades to my little car that can. That says a lot about a car built eleven years before I was. It's nice to have the summer back, it's motoring season!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Updates
It's been a trying couple of weeks. Zazu got me the through the winter in style. And then I stopped driving him for about a month. And he got jealous. In the last two weeks he's been towed twice and in the shop three times. I'm thinking I need to make a sign at Curt's saying "Reserved for the private auto collection of James D. Maxwell" But it was a simple short, it's always simple with my car, and he's been washed and cleaned. I added some oil so he'll be good to go for the next few weeks. I hope. I have to keep constantly remind myself to put down the urge to take him for a distance drive. I think that in all practicality, Frenchtown to the west, Stevensville to the south, Garrison to the east and the Wye to the north are the limits of Zazu's range. And that I'm afraid is his Achilles heel. I have mountain ranges in all directions and hundreds of miles of driving to get anywhere of use. But I love driving my bug. I really do. I was talking to Woman a few days ago and I she commented how if the bug was worth it. I replied sometimes it's not but then I get in and drive it and it's worth every penny and busted knuckle. I'm driving history here. Then I started waxing all romantic and she almost hung up on me. The joys of the Old Car Club. Now to pay some more money to the man who fixes it.
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