5/1/12

As Mr. Paratestes pointed out in the comments section, I forgot to ‘splain myself when I mentioned the interconnect we were going to replace on Lil' Wiggly.  Said interconnect, of course, refers to the way the two carburetors are interconnected, duh, to make them synchronous.  What we originally did was to take a 12mm socket, cut off the 3/8” drive portion, and inserted it between the nuts on the shafts of the two carburetors so as to actuate the “secondary” carburetor in synchronization with the “main” carburetor.  I was never happy with this setup because it relies on the nuts keeping relative position at all times.  Unfortunately, opening the throttle is always going to be trying to loosen one of the nuts.  Once it comes loose, the synch is totally shot.  No, we really need to put in a proper synchronization linkage of we’re ever to get this thing tuned in.  Fortunately, John has sent for a duplicate lever to the one on the “main” carburetor which we will install on the “secondary” carburetor so that the linkage on the manifold operates both simultaneously with full adjustability.  We are hoping that by synchronizing the carburetors better a lot of the issues will go away.  I'm not holding my breath for that, but that is what we are hoping.  We will probably change the spark plugs and see about leaning out the mixture some as well.  I'm not sure we ever set the timing and it feels to me like it has one flat cylinder.  I'd like to check the valve lash again to make sure we’re all even there.  Wait.  No, what I meant to say is, “I’d like someone else to check the valve lash…” because checking valve lash is one of those time consuming PITA jobs which are… well, a PITA.  The car is drivable, for the most part, if you aren’t in a hurry, but that engine really should pull harder and scream like the dickens when given the beans.  Right now, meh.  So, there’s that going on.  Oh, yesterday I cut out early to get the tags for Lil' Wiggly.  I stopped by the Credit Onion to pull some cash out to pay for them.  We’d been fingering that it would be in the $75.00 to $100.00 range so I took out a “C” note… ok, I took out five twenties.  From the CU I headed to the courthouse.  I got there and pulled the ticket number thingy.  I was number 36.  They were serving number 16.  I sat down to wait.  Fortunately they had lots of windows open and it didn’t take too long.  When my number was called, I handed the lady the form and insurance card.  She typed a bit, asked if I really wanted to give up the “WIGGLY” license, and then went to retrieve my “antique” plate.  I said to pick me a good number but I'm sure she just grabbed the top plate.  When she got back she said, “Ok, that’ll be twenty one dollars.”  I was dumbfounded.  I asked if that was right and was informed that the current five-year cycle expires next March so I'm only paying for what’s left on a prorated basis.  It then dawned on me that it isn’t five years from the date of purchase; it is a five year window for ALL antique plates.  Next year I get to pay full price.  Now, what is going to suck major monkey balls is when I have Lil' Wiggly, George, and the Chickenhawk all on antique plates and the time comes to renew them.  Yes, it will still be cheaper than individual licenses every year, but it will all hit at once and rape the ever lovin’ hell out of my arse!  Then again, in six years, when all three MIGHT come up together for the first time, I otter be out from under the big car loan which is causing me to be so broke assed right now.  Oops, four.  I forgot about the Spit’.  Shit!  Five if Herman survives the cut.  The Crossbow will be licensed as a motorcycle so it won't apply… if it ever happens.  Of course The Seven is titled as a 2005 Assembled Vehicle so it isn’t twenty five years old.  Just don’t tell my inspection guy that!  Wow, I'm beginning to realize just exactly how dumb I am.  I otter sell most of these toys off.  I won't, but I otter.  Well, I think I've said enough for today.  I might have something to say tomorrow.  We’ll see.