So I picked up a new project last week, a 1966 Honda S90 motorcycle. Price was too good, and I couldn’t resist. It’s in excellent shape, just needs a good thorough going-through before trying to fire it up. A bit of a distraction, but at least it’s a small (size and price) one.

Tunebug’s old engine is out, and I’m trying to ramp up the motivation to get to work on the brakes and suspension. I’ve got most of the refurbished bits on hand, just need to set aside the time to get things installed. It is slowly getting warmer here (though it snowed today), so maybe that motivation will come on stronger now.

I’m still on track to have the Tunebug drivable this year, though it’s looking more like it will be later in the season before that’s a reality. At least progress is being made, if slowly.

It’s been a cold, snowy, long winter this year, and I’d like to report that I’ve made tremendous progress on the Tunebug. Unfortunately, I’ve spent too much time running the snow blower, and not enough time in the garage making progress. I do have lots of bits ready to be installed, and a long list of small pieces still to order. Might even get the bonnet off next week and get started!

I’m still aiming for a mid-June finish date, but we’ll see how well that really goes. Will be done this summer, though, as I want to be clear of most of the projects before next season. 2009 is Tunebug’s 50th birthday, so ne needs to be up and running!

I’ve been in touch with Hap (my engine builder) and it looks like work should begin on Tunebug’s new motor right after the first of the year. Very exciting stuff! The winter gig season has been fruitful so far, so I’ve got the necessary funding to get everything completed by springtime. Now I just need to get going.

I was going back through some old postings on the British Car Forum and ran across this very early post of mine, from right after my first drive in a British sports car (a Bugeye).

Now, many of y’all have driven many a LBC in your lives. Some even had them when they were new. Me, I’ve only ever sat in one once (an MG TD) and never drove one.

Until today.

I went to see a Bugeye that a local guy has up on eBay. Nice car, and as advertised. What an amazing feeling to finally get to sit down in the driver’s seat, turn the key, and pull out the starter. Just drove it around the block, but what a sensation. Smells of leather, metal, sounds of engine, exhaust. Wow.

I know it’s a bit silly, but I think this short little drive set the hook for good. Heck, I even fit (I’m 6′ 1″). Still don’t know what flavor of LBC is in store for me, and now I’m not sure it even matters. I’m addicted…

A good reminder to me of what lies ahead. Vroom vroom!

The Tunebug motor is now (hopefully) safe and sound in South Carolina. Turns out my packing job wasn’t quite as good as I had thought it was. One box arrived just fine, the other 2 had some shipping issues. Heavy items not absolutely packed solidly cause all sorts of issues with UPS. Yikes!

So now the task is to wait… I hate waiting! The motor should be done in early January, and I’ve got plenty to do until then. Suspension bits need to be cleaned and installed, new brake lines run, new fuel lines run, the list goes on and on. Luckily, some of these projects don’t cost me anything, so I’ll be able to get them tackled before it gets too cold for garage work.

So how many boxes does it take to hold a Sprite motor? Turns out, it takes 4 boxes:

1. Engine block (about 76 lbs)
2. Head and carbs
3. Crank, oil pan, assorted bits
4. Small box with the flywheel and a few more bits

The engine is now winging its way to South Carolina for the winter rebuild. Each of the boxes was shipable by UPS, a nice extra touch. The completed engine will have to be truck shipped back, but that’s for another day. I’m really excited that the plan is moving forwards — now I’ve got to get busy on the suspension and brakes, to get the Tunebug ready for the next phase. We’ll be driving in the spring!