I finished up filling some gaps around the VIN and painted it. If you look at it closely, you can tell it is not original. But from 10 ft away, if you can see it, it looks pretty good. Good enough for the registration.
A few more items checked off the list. I filled the transmission and differential with the appropriate lubricants. Throttle linkage hooked up. I blocked in the battery from my lawn tractor on the rear deck temporarily along with a plastic jug of gas. I held them down with some bungee cords in true low-cost fashion. I ran battery cables and some plastic fuel line.
Then I committed to starting. To my surprise it turned over and ran! Pretty good, even with only preset positions for the idle and high speed jets. I then took it around the lawn for its maiden voyage. WooHoo!
I just had to take it around the block. It has some pretty good power in 1st and 2nd gear. The jump into 3rd (top) gear is pretty wide. The engine slows down pretty much but has a bit of power. This thing is a bit scary. I feel so vulnerable. More so than the Locost. You sit up in the air. I don't have the cab on it yet, no windshield and not yet used to the 1F2R setup. it can turn on a dime. Of course being an ex-meter-maid vehicle, I guess it is expected to.
I have a long way to go yet. But this is a major milestone. Pics (and maybe a video) in a few days. I just had to say something. As the Brits say, "I'm chuffed to bits"
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Chuck.
“Any suspension will work if you don’t let it.” - Colin Chapman
Visit my ongoing MGB Rustoration log:
over HEREOr my Wankel powered Locost log :
over HEREAnd don't forget my Cushman Truckster resto Locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=17766