996Outpost.com

Got the X1/9 out of the shop yesterday after having the new tires mounted. Good news is that I've got 6" wide wheels - they are aftermarket basketweave wheels that are wider than the stock 5" or 5 1/2" wheels. Whoo hoo! Offset is 102 mm, 4 x 98 mm bolt pattern. The new tires look sharp. I'll post a pic once I get the car home and the wheels & tires detailed up.

The bad news is that when we pulled the wheels off, it was evident that I need new pads all the way around, and definitely need new front rotors. Figured I'd just replace the rear rotors also as they had noticeable grooves. The good news is that I ordered a full set of pads and rotors all the way around, plus 4 chrome lug nuts to replace the stupid wheel locks, plus shipping for a grand total of $136.90. And that's from Midwest Bayless, which is the expert "go to" parts source for the X1/9 (Warehouse33auto.com doesn't do X1/9s or I'd have bought from them).

The remaining projects I have are:

1. Dye the door panels and seat inserts Charcoal Gray
2. Get the seat sliders working properly
3. Replace pads and rotors all the way around
4. Finish detailing the interior
5. Do some very minor paint touch up
6. Install a new speedometer cable
7. Remove, heat up and straighten the warped speedometer needle

At that point, I'm pretty confident the car will be sorted out. I still will not have functioning air conditioning, but the conventional wisdom on AC for these cars seems to be "let it go."

Dying seats is hard freaking work. Ask me how I know.

FRUNKenstein wrote: ↑Wed May 29, 2019 11:10 pm Dying seats is hard freaking work. Ask me how I know.

Can't be that bad...wad the seat covers up, put rubber bands around them in various places, dip in orange Rit dye, remove rubber band then dip in purple Rit dye, remove rubber band then dip in yellow Rit dye, then dip in vinegar, let dry, reinstall, light up a doobie and roll on down the road.

Always worked well in the 60's.

32wildbilly wrote: ↑Thu May 30, 2019 5:14 am

FRUNKenstein wrote: ↑Wed May 29, 2019 11:10 pm Dying seats is hard freaking work. Ask me how I know.

Can't be that bad...wad the seat covers up, put rubber bands around them in various places, dip in orange Rit dye, remove rubber band then dip in purple Rit dye, remove rubber band then dip in yellow Rit dye, then dip in vinegar, let dry, reinstall, light up a doobie and roll on down the road.

Always worked well in the 60's.

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I felt like I needed one of those giant fatties last night around 1:00 am.

FRUNKenstein wrote: ↑Thu May 30, 2019 3:08 pm

32wildbilly wrote: ↑Thu May 30, 2019 5:14 am

Can't be that bad...wad the seat covers up, put rubber bands around them in various places, dip in orange Rit dye, remove rubber band then dip in purple Rit dye, remove rubber band then dip in yellow Rit dye, then dip in vinegar, let dry, reinstall, light up a doobie and roll on down the road.

Always worked well in the 60's.

giphy-28.gif

I felt like I needed one of those giant fatties last night around 1:00 am.

I can't even imagine how much fun that wasn't

Was up until 5:30 am twice this week to get the car ready for the "Oddballs and Oddities" show tomorrow at the auto museum. I still need to do the speedometer cable and touch up a couple of minor paint blemishes, but otherwise it's coming around nicely. I'm driving it to PCA breakfast in the morning, then on to the auto museum. It actually drives nicely and I've almost figured out how to enter and exit gracefully.

FRUNKenstein wrote: ↑Fri Jun 07, 2019 7:53 pm Was up until 5:30 am twice this week to get the car ready for the "Oddballs and Oddities" show tomorrow at the auto museum. I still need to do the speedometer cable and touch up a couple of minor paint blemishes, but otherwise it's coming around nicely. I'm driving it to PCA breakfast in the morning, then on to the auto museum. It actually drives nicely and I've almost figured out how to enter and exit gracefully.

Still think that looks kinda cool in a weird 1980's way. The seats turned out well, however, I'm not sure about the blue anodized tailpipe extension.

Thanks Billy! It was a lot of fun at Porsche breakfast and the auto museum show.

FRUNKenstein wrote: ↑Sat Jun 08, 2019 9:35 am Thanks Billy! It was a lot of fun at Porsche breakfast and the auto museum show.

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Since the wife has probably cooled down by now, you should keep the car. Maybe turn it into a track weapon as DT suggested.

FRUNKenstein wrote: ↑Sat Jun 08, 2019 9:35 am Thanks Billy! It was a lot of fun at Porsche breakfast and the auto museum show.

20190608_102742.jpg

Ooohhh! Is that a VW Rabbit in the background? Makes me wish I would have kept my 1975 Scirocco.