Everyone,

I have some terrible news...


I was up at Twisted Tavern last night, on a date with this one guy, and found that something completely awful as happened..


Are you sitting down...?




Vivian, our asian eye-candy waitress, the one that scored us the discount, knows our drinks, knows when we need to be left alone, knows when to sneak up behind us and give us refills... Has been let go.

Apparently, she was dating the owner of Twisted, and they got into an argument one night. Emotional, Vivian went a bit too far with the policy that employees CAN drink on shift and got hammered. As a result, Marcus fired her.


I didn't get all hot and bothered, but I made sure they knew that Vivian had taken wonderful care of a rather large group of people that could be relied upon to give them business every month. I also said that one could only hope that Marcus reconsiders her employment at Twisted, as she was the highlight of our visit and we feel that few other waiters/waitresses could ensure that everyone had a good time, received great service, and always admitted her mistakes.

So, let us all take a moment of silence, to remember our fallen homegurl, and hope that by some miracle she returns to active duty by the next meet!


On a completely random note, I washed, vacuumed and really half-heartedly detailed the Maxima today. 348mi since my first fill-up, and the gas needle sits between 1/4 and E, and the fuel light isn't on yet. Damn!

It's pathetic how slow I drive in this thing... It doesn't inspire me to accelerate very quickly, it doesn't inspire me to tackle any corners, and it doesn't even inspire me to heel and toe on my downshifts. Actually, I don't downshift in this thing at all. There really isn't much a reason to, because it's got quite a lot of torque.

The downside to this car, however, is the tan interior. Good lord, I scrubbed and scrubbed like the women's curling team and I simply cannot get the blackened stains out of the tan vinyl door panels!

 

Wow, this is going to take a while to absorb. I can't believe they did that to Vivian. Maybe we should think about an alternative meeting site?

On the Maxima thing Collin, I am not so sympathetic. I mean, how much can you expect to squeeze out of a Maxi Pad?

Have you tried removing the driver's side floor mat yet? I hear that helps.

 

Lulz.

 

vivian should dress up in her normal work wear and pose with all our cars for a calendar.

 

I wish I had gotten her number so I could invite her to the meet so she can at least hang out and finally get to see the cars.

Drove Wanda for the first time in over a week today. I think I need to tighten the fittings on my new clutch hydraulics, or maybe I'm just so used to the soft, consistent pedal feel of the Maxima now.. I dunno. It was a lot of fun, regardless!

That, and driving a big lump sedan really makes you appreciate what power these little cars make..

To sort of contradict that, I actually put my foot down in Maxine for the first time since I bought her.. I was.. actually rather impressed. Wheelspin in first, a little in second, and third chirped a bit.

 

Collin, the wheels are probably spinning because they are trying to get all that weight moving. The Maxima is a nice car, no doubt, lots of conveniences and performance advantages an 85 GSL couldn't imagine, so have fun, but don't sell Wanda.

Here's a new reason why 12A's rule. Today Cathy was trying to get the roto tiller going so she could do the garden, but it was running very poorly, stalling out every 30 seconds or so. A little diagnosis, with the help of neighbor Bobbie, discovered that the spark plug was faulty, grounding out nearly all the spark.

So I went to the shed to find another spark plug and the only one I could find that looks anything like the one from the honda mower in the tiller was one of my used NGK BR8EQ-14 plugs from the 12A. Similar dimensions, but 4 posts instead of 1 and the gaps are about twice as wide as the honda plug.

Well of course the 12A plug in the honda roto tiller motor works great, what else would you expect? Cathy tilled away all afternoon.

 

Ray, I have no intentions of selling Wanda! What I was saying was, driving a big boring sedan around really makes you APPRECIATE your less powerful but more focused sporty runabout. AKA Wanda.

I really need a properly working head unit in Maxine though All the BOSE speakers sound wonderful and are all I will ever want/need in this car, but the head unit is typical BOSE (Actually, the head unit is made by Clarion, yet it has BOSE plastered all over it) and has quite a few issues.

I did realize tonight though, something that scares me. I am so incredibly sick of driving anywhere! I let Kristy drive Maxine on our way to Dave & Busters tonight and was thinking: Damn... I can just sit back and relax..

School is creeping up on me again...with stress. I'm not totally sure that traditional college is really for me. But if I don't do it, how can I ever expect to get a decent job making halfway decent money to afford decent things and live apart from my family? Sad to think about...

Does anyone need any really random FC or FB parts? I might have them... I am running short on money again. But before anyone goes and says: But you just said you went to D&B's tonight! -- I got a free $25 gift card to the place and I skipped eating lunch at school for two days to offset the gas.

 

Anyone else enjoying the weather?

 

+1

I was driving the Maxima today, looking at all the Corvettes and S2000's and 350Z's and Miata's, wishing the FC was drivable. Someday soon, I'm slowly progressing...

 

i enjoyed it del sol top off it was all good until the damn rain

 

Well, there's more bad news I'm afraid..

Sabine has very little/no compression on the rear rotor.

Clint (SunkenKarma) came up to my house so I could help him trouble shoot and maybe fix what was going on, but as soon as I heard the car in person I already had my suspicions reinforced. Upon getting to my house, I first listened to it and checked the timing for ***** and giggles. Then I pulled the front plugs out and cranked it over. Typical, consistent 'whoosh-whoosh-whoosh, ...). Why I always do the front rotor, I'll never know..
Then I pulled a plug out of the rear housing and repeated the process. Basically, you just hear the starter. There isn't even the faintest of pops coming from it.

As a last-ditch effort to help him out, I gave up a can of seafoam and went to town on it, which helped by allowing the car to barely idle, but when I pulled the rear plug again and repeated the starting, there was no difference at all.

So the good news is, there's an extremely thin chance that the seals are stuck. The bad news is, it's unlikely.

I gave him instructions to go buy another can of seafoam and a syringe, and to fill the rear chamber with a good bit of the stuff, very gently turning the motor in short movements to inject more and as to not push out much through the exhaust. I also instructed him to repeat that filling/short movement procedure for a few weeks. With any luck, giving those apex seals a nice bath will free them, but I'm not convinced. I learned the trick from Crit, by the way. So credit to him for the idea.

Credit to Ray for loaning me the timing light on short notice.

All in all, Clint, I hope that the bath works. If it doesn't, we'll work something out on swapping that motor with another.

The good news is that he loves the car :-D


In my own world, however, I have been thinking I really need a blog for this ****!

 

It was nice. Still too early to take the roof off, so I enjoyed a nice drive in the FB. I gotta get the stock wheels with the crappy tires off there though.

May be getting nice enough to start thinking about a mountain drive soon.

 

This weekend was great. Diving the 88 Vert with the top down and listening to 70's and 80's music.

 

Damn Larry, I didn't know you were into 70's/80's music, I love that stuff!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq5pLi0huhw

So Clint is "Sunkenkarma"? Now I get it, he bought Sabine, his "88 GXL" that used to be yours. Small world. Clint soak that rotor well for several days with the sea foam sloshed around, who knows, might work. Did the guy you bought it from tell you the rotor was bad? You might want to mention it to him.

Collin, no need of a blog when you've got OGTA to communicate with, we have all the answers! For example, in reading this recent entry"

"I really need a properly working head unit in Maxine though All the BOSE speakers sound wonderful and are all I will ever want/need in this car, but the head unit is typical BOSE (Actually, the head unit is made by Clarion, yet it has BOSE plastered all over it) and has quite a few issues.

I did realize tonight though, something that scares me. I am so incredibly sick of driving anywhere! I let Kristy drive Maxine on our way to Dave & Busters tonight and was thinking: Damn... I can just sit back and relax..

School is creeping up on me again...with stress. I'm not totally sure that traditional college is really for me. But if I don't do it, how can I ever expect to get a decent job making halfway decent money to afford decent things and live apart from my family? Sad to think about...

Does anyone need any really random FC or FB parts? I might have them... I am running short on money again. But before anyone goes and says: But you just said you went to D&B's tonight! -- I got a free $25 gift card to the place and I skipped eating lunch at school for two days to offset the gas."

It occurred to me that there is a very simple answer for all these problems: Sell MaxiPad II and get back with Wanda. You'll have cash galore and more fun too!

 

But being able to hold a conversation at a comfortable level is just so awesome! I drove Wanda today to meet up with Clint and lead him back to my house, and I do miss driving her every day..

 

I actually spent the weekend at the lake, and only now got back. The old carbed 2-stroke on the boat never started as easily as the EFI engine did yesterday - she's ready for spring! When are y'all coming up?

 

Definitely. We need to schedule Mountain Day and Crit and Dena's Lake House Event. Anybody got any ideas?

Check this out, I like everything except those 2nd gen shock mount covers:

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-gen-general-discussion-207/my-fb-new-look-powerfull-elegant-888890/

 

Hey Ray I thought of you the other day.
I revceived a letter from Mercer!
Unfortunately it turned out to be an insurance-dependent-**** our company hired to weed out inelidgible dependents on our health insurance.
.....or is that really part of your esteemed institution?????

 

Yeah, everyone around here is excited about that new contract. I'll be bringing my plethometer to the next meeting to check you out for our report so be sure to avoid all solid foods for 12 hours before the meeting.

 

^

 

Yeah, let's get these on the calendar.

The Mountain Day needs to be before Easter. Thats when all the tourist start going up to the mountains. I suggest March 20. Far enough out for people to plan, 1st day of spring, and before Easter.

The Lake House is an August event, traditionally. Crit, pick the Saturday in August that works best for you and your family. Thats the date.


Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks. 17" wheels, Holley carb, electric fan, MSD ignition, AC, and Ray says,
I never thought I would see the day. Just wait a little longer, Ray and you'll be begging me for my 2nd gen shock mount covers.

 

Hey what about the Mitty? Anyone going to that this year?

I am definitely doing Zoomfest and Crits Lakehouse this year.

So make sure you come to one of those Ray

 

I'll be there Tim, Plethometer in hand!

If you guys confirm those dates before the March meeting next tuesday I can print up a few calendars with all the dates.

Those of you waiting for your calendars, thanks for being patient, they are getting mailed out today.

Mike, did you mention 2nd gen shock mount covers?

 

I'm hitting the Mitty this year Tim. Missed it last year and was upset. Great event with lots of vintage races and awsome rotary powered race cars 3&4 rotors FTW!!! And I have a calander for you and Stu when the printing run is finished.

 

+1^^ on the Mitty

Great event. I went 2 years ago and really enjoyed it. It would be cool if we could put on good showing for those Datsun guys. They have some nice, expensive, restored cars, but we are not exactly chopped liver. Two years ago we had to park down the hill from them. A couple of guys came by looking at our cars and found a bolt on the ground. They got a good laugh, like our cars are falling apart. Well, that might have been true, but...

I hope to get to the Mitty this year, but with Michelle being ill I won't be able to commit until the last minute.