9/4/13

Ok, how long ago did I come up with “the plan” for the cars?  Was it yesterday?  Friday?  Well, I've changed my mind already.  After going back and forth with John over the “merits” of the Goldwing versus the Datsun A-series in the Mini, I think I'm going to say, “Damn the expense!” and go back to the Honduh D15Z1 engine as the official plan… sort of thing.  I have two years, two months, and ten days to complete the thing before my fiftieth birthday.  Going with a pre-engineered kit otter get things going quicker and easier than all of the fabrication and mucking about that the other ideas will entail.  Now I just have to finger out HOW I'm going to damn said expense!  According to a spreadsheet elsewhere in this laptop, I need just shy of $6,000.00 for the mechanical bits.  That includes the whole suspension system, brakes, and the kit to install the Honduh engine.  If I do like I suggested and plop all “surplus” monies ($700.00 from the sale of George, $3,000.00 to $4,000.00 from the sale of Lil' Wiggly, etc.) in the Unity One credit onion and use that credit card for the purchases, I think it might just be doable.  Of course once we’re out of Beenbroke, I'll have an additional $400.00 a month burnin’ up my checking account.  Hmm, if I sold Fiona I'd have another $600.00 a month surplus, what with insurance and car payment and stuff.  No, I'm not going to try and sell Fiona.  Now, if someone offered me $19,000.00 or more for it… hell, $18,500.00 could probably prize the thing away think to come of it.  Anyhoo, I'm not going down that road.  Where was I?  Ok, so I think we have another plan in the books... for now.  If this car is to be my fiftieth birthday present to myself, it really needs to be done right.  I think the Honduh engine is the right way to go.  Yes, I am trying to convince myself.  It is working for the time being.  We’ll just have to wait and see how I feel at a later date.  Well, I just went to Mini Mania and the kit which was on sale last week is back to regular price.  Dang.  However, they had a complete D16 kit, including engine, on sale for $9,000.00!  If I were further along and ready to buy a kit, I might consider that one.  As it stands though, I think the D15Z1 engine will suffice.  It should have 54 more horsepower and 45 more “torques” than the stock Mini lump.  To quote Shrek, “That’ll do donkey.  That’ll do.”  The D16 isn’t that much more powerful than the D15Z1 anyway… not for that kind of money!  Besides, by starting with a fuel-economy engine, one which supposubly got something like 50 miles per gallon in a Civic, the Mini will be fast AND green… not that I give two shits about the environment.  I'll probably never be below the VTEC crossover in the thing except in first gear for about a half a second.  I just erased a long bit where I ‘splained how this engine’s VTEC differs from the normal VTEC.  If you want to know, look it up on Rumorpædia.  Try this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VTEC#VTEC-E .  Well, I'm just about talked out for today.  I think I'll call it a rant.  Toodles.