"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
10/27/2016 at 09:00 • Filed to: Because Racecar!
4
28|
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
10/27/2016 at 09:00 • Filed to: Because Racecar! | 4
| 28 |
It’s now been almost a week since I purchased XJDano’s Metro for a trifling. We spent day 1 swapping transmissions to one that mostly works right (it doesn’t like to downshift into 2nd or 1st). Since it still has a valid Missouri license plate, and I’m within the 7-day window where I can retroactively buy insurance if I hit somebody, I decided to take it for one last spin as a street car today. Apparently, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . I knew we worked in the same general area, but it’s still amazing what a small world it can be. I had enough time to stop and take a few pictures of it too.
It’s like a car, only smaller!
So, what am I going to do next to the Metro? First I need to take off the front bumper, and see if I can figure out a safe way to attach a generic tow bar to it. I have no intention to register or insure this car. They make Metro specific attachments for tow bars, but those would blow my meager budget. Once that sorted, I may make a “crash bumper” out of electrical conduit or gas pipe, depending on how fancy I’m feeling.
I may also paint the hood, not because I care how it looks, but because my daughter keeps rubbing her hands on it and getting them all dirty. Once that is all sorted, it’ll be time to pack it away for the winter. There is precisely two inches of clearance to spare between my garage and my neighbor’s fence. I think I’ll stick it back there for the winter, so my wife doesn’t have to look at it as much (she HATES it). XJDano had the foresight to put fuel stabilizer in it, when he filled up the tank one last time. I’ll stick the battery on the tender, and await next year’s rallycross season. I have a feeling this is going to be a looooooong winter for me.
EDIT: Oh yeah, I might take it ice racing this winter. That would be fun too!
crowmolly
> shop-teacher
10/27/2016 at 09:57 |
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This thing is begging for a roller paint job.
EL_ULY
> shop-teacher
10/27/2016 at 10:00 |
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Long live the battle Metro!
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shop-teacher
> crowmolly
10/27/2016 at 10:21 |
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And I’m just the kind of guy to deliver that.
punkgoose17
> shop-teacher
10/27/2016 at 10:25 |
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What kinds of leftover paint do you have sitting in your house / what are your color options?
uofime-2
> shop-teacher
10/27/2016 at 10:30 |
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I wonder if one you strip it you’ll have enough access to push that big dent in the rear quarter out.
Also while I kind of doubt it’d stick very well you could maybe just use clear coat on the hood so you don’t loose that sweet patina.
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crowmolly
> shop-teacher
10/27/2016 at 10:33 |
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Or.... you can use a HF purple HVLP gun with rustoleum cut 50/50. Not that I’ve done that.
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shop-teacher
> crowmolly
10/27/2016 at 11:07 |
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Eh, too much work!
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shop-teacher
> punkgoose17
10/27/2016 at 11:08 |
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I’ve got a can of dark green exterior laytex paint in the basement.
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shop-teacher
> EL_ULY
10/27/2016 at 11:08 |
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Yus!
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shop-teacher
> uofime-2
10/27/2016 at 11:12 |
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I don’t plan to strip the interior, that’d move me out of the stock class.
I was thinking of trying clear so I could keep the patina. Worst case scenario I cover over it later, if it doesn’t work.
vicali
> shop-teacher
10/27/2016 at 11:21 |
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Matte clearcoat would be sweet.
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uofime-2
> crowmolly
10/27/2016 at 11:42 |
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That gun is shockingly decent!
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uofime-2
> shop-teacher
10/27/2016 at 11:43 |
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The real question here is what livery is it going to have?
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crowmolly
> uofime-2
10/27/2016 at 11:44 |
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I know, right? Granted it’s no Iwata, but it’s NINE BUCKS. Great for a primer gun or for spraying floor pans, etc.
Good spray jockeys (not me) can get a good color out of it but I don’t trust myself.
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uofime-2
> crowmolly
10/27/2016 at 11:50 |
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We used them back in the day to paint our formula SAE car, full primer, base and clear, sprayed by a complete bufoon in a make shift booth things came out pretty OK. More than good enough for a race car haha
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shop-teacher
> uofime-2
10/27/2016 at 11:53 |
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I don’t know yet. I can’t go too crazy, I don’t want it too attract too much attention in the driveway.
XJDano
> shop-teacher
10/27/2016 at 19:52 |
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I read this earlier at work but didn’t really have time to respond. for more clearance the passenger mirror is only being held on by a single screw. I removed it before for less wind resistance. But also got pulled over for that, but technically not illegal so I just put the mirror back on.
I don’t think I mentioned it when I was there but when I got the aftermarket replacement hood it was a primer black and I put what was left of a clear coat that was in some spray cans on it. It stayed for about 2 years then jus began to go back to earth in the form of decomposition.
It’s weird to see photos of it that I didn’t take.
A reminder as well, check the tire pressure up front. Although you may not be worried about it, it actually makes the car easier to steer as there is less contact with the ground. I kept them at 40 PSI when I filled them. It’s not a lot but you will be able to tell the difference.
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shop-teacher
> XJDano
10/27/2016 at 21:47 |
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I figured you were busy at work, I just didn’t want you to miss the goings-on.
I think I’m going to try plasti-dipping the hood. I’ve never used that stuff before, and that would be a good thing to practice on.
I wish I’d thought to fill up the tires before I drove it today, I was really having to muscle it around :)
I just picked up some lightly used snow tires for $50. They’ll be perfect for rallycrossing, and I may try ice racing it too.
Jobjoris
> shop-teacher
10/28/2016 at 06:53 |
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think I’ll stick it back there for the winter, so my wife doesn’t have to look at it as much (she HATES it).
Really? Hahaha. I love it. Too bad you need to paint that hood. Better for getting it through winter as well.
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shop-teacher
> Jobjoris
10/28/2016 at 15:35 |
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I’m looking forward to hooning the crap out of it :)
I scored some lightly used snow tires for it last night. Only cost me $50.
vdubyajohn
> shop-teacher
10/29/2016 at 20:11 |
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I hope you’ll use a Go-Pro when you race, I’d sure like to ride along vicariously!
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shop-teacher
> vdubyajohn
10/29/2016 at 20:27 |
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I don’t own one, and letting me buy this car is my Christmas and birthday present, so that will only happen if another Oppo lends me theirs.
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vdubyajohn
> shop-teacher
10/29/2016 at 20:46 |
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OK, we need a gofundme page!
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shop-teacher
> vdubyajohn
10/29/2016 at 22:19 |
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Hehe, somebody else was threatening to start a gofundme to pay for a hyabusa swap in the Metro. Popular little car around here, it seems :)
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vdubyajohn
> shop-teacher
10/30/2016 at 12:27 |
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Oh, I’d contribute to that one!
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shop-teacher
> vdubyajohn
10/30/2016 at 22:36 |
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I’m afraid that is beyond my skills, even if I did have the money.
fourvalleys
> shop-teacher
11/02/2016 at 11:46 |
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I’ve got a GoPro that mostly works that you can borrow whenever, as long as you can come grab it (or meet me nearby-ish). It’ll be worth it for the videos :-D
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shop-teacher
> fourvalleys
11/02/2016 at 11:50 |
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Sounds good to me! :)