The Car Thread ... !

[bunnspecial]

You can also buy universal rubber slip ons for the stands so there's more contact friction and not metal on metal. There's flat surface and there's ones that require the use of a slit stand. They sell rubbers for those, too. A set of rubbers should last a few years depending on how often you jack things up and the storage environment.

I'd be extremely uncomfortable with rubber on top of my jack stands. I want a well-formed saddle and I want them in a place of the car where they can make firm contact.

Metal on metal isn't going anywhere with the weight of a car resting on it-I don't want a rubber pad that the car can slip and slide around on.

I don't EVER recall seeing stands with rubber pads in use in a garage.

The shop building my MGA works on a lot of high dollar muscle cars and other collectible cars, and their jack stands are a lot mangier looking than my personal ones. They care more about the cars being secure than having pretty or fancy stands.

 

[0388631]

It's not a pad per se. It's something you slip on and hammer in. Car isn't going anywhere. I've been using them for over 20 years. In fact, I tried to damage my first car with them because I hated them so much. Going as far as charging the car. Nothing happened, aside from a bruised arm and sore shoulder. The rubber protects the car's underside from being crushed from metal on metal, if it's a lipped area, and increases friction so it doesn't budge. It also helps distribute the pressure on the area.

Rubber pads aren't common in garages because at the rate they use them, they disintegrate. No point in having to saw off the remaining rubber and pop on a new rubber. A few garages here use car lifts with thick rubber mounts. Dealers use something else or have a variety of lifts. All with thick hard rubber.

I hated that LTD.

 

[bunnspecial]

New tappets and pushrods for the MGB. I have to run them by the machine shop tomorrow and have 1/4" chopped off them, and then hopefully I'll be good to go.

 

[0388631]

I don't remember asking, but do you plan on getting the car repainted or sticking with the original paint?

 

[bunnspecial]

I don't remember asking, but do you plan on getting the car repainted or sticking with the original paint?

The MGB?

It's already been repainted once, albeit it's an older repaint. I have no reason to repaint it. It's the color I want, albeit not strictly a factory color, and the paint is in great condition despite being a bit older. The color is quite close to the original Dark BRG-in fact even most MG folks won't pick it out as non-original color unless they look under the dash.

What's left on the A is Orient Red. It's going to be painted Old English White and have a red interior. My guy was trying to talk me into a wood dash for it, but I convinced him how sharp an original steel dash in body color would look.

 

[0388631]

The MGB?

It's already been repainted once, albeit it's an older repaint. I have no reason to repaint it. It's the color I want, albeit not strictly a factory color, and the paint is in great condition despite being a bit older. The color is quite close to the original Dark BRG-in fact even most MG folks won't pick it out as non-original color unless they look under the dash.

What's left on the A is Orient Red. It's going to be painted Old English White and have a red interior. My guy was trying to talk me into a wood dash for it, but I convinced him how sharp an original steel dash in body color would look.

Yep.

That sounds very good. The MGA, is the Old English White anything like Vintage White or are they the same? Also, I'm I mistaken to think that the MGA came with three wheel choices courtesy of various images I've found or are the knockoffs covered with a chromed dome?

 

[D.T.]

I scored a Steeda delrin reverse lockout/collar, it's a nice flat black, but also way more durable vs. the plastic OEM piece, matching that up with an OEM GT350 knob (custom tapped to the GT thread spec), should look terrific, and I love that style knob. Considered a couple of aftermarket options, but I like doing "intra-model" modifications

 

[bunnspecial]

Old English White is sort of a cream color-it's almost pale yellow in the right light.

MGAs usually came with gray painted 15" WWs with a two-eared chrome knock-off. Chrome wheels were optional some years.

The Twin Cam and Deluxe came with special Dunlop disk wheels. They are splined and held on with a knock-off, but also rely on four "pegs" that are in the same location as the lug studs on MGBs(and that hold the splines in place on MGA and MGB wires) to locate them.

 

[0388631]

A fine color, then. I can't wait to see the finished product. The orient red interior is going to contrast beautifully. Has anyone ever done a non traditional color? What's the typical repaint style? Single stage or multi stage with clear or multi coat with clear, for modern repaints, that is. Though I suppose that would require a near complete teardown of the car if you wanted to sandblast it and go with a new color. I've been looking at MGBs with fine metallic flake finishes, almost satin like under the sun. They look nice, but I can't help but wonder how much their value plummets by doing that.

@quagmire Here's a tool you should pick up (since you haven't stated what you'd want exactly). You can also find similar tools on Amazon and they may be cheaper. Buy a few of these. These are fantastic for cleaning dust in hard to reach or tight areas. Use another set to apply minimal amounts of cleaner and clean around buttons and then wipe the foam up. Use a third set to clean in and around your lug nut areas. They're surprisingly ergonomic for what's essentially a brush, but you can buy rubber grips for them, too, I believe, unless they stopped making them. I've tried out other brushes and even foam wands, but nothing does it right like these.

http://www.autogeek.net/boars-hair-detailing-brush.html

Doesn't have to be a natural hair, but I find they clean better. There are a lot of brands out there or other styles of hair brushes that work the same or better. Pick what you need and don't overspend.

For cleaning the wheel brushes, you can spray on your degreaser and wash it off in hot water. Whip the brush back and forth, and then let it air dry.

And buy a 3,000 pack of Q-Tip brand Qtips. You'll be surprised at how useful they are!

 

[Huntn]

Got a paver pad installed in my back yard for the Mustang. Next I'll have a metal roof carport installed over that. It'll be one foot shorter than the fence, so ought to keep the car as well protected as I can ask for while keeping it outdoors.

edit to add: Also, jack stands rule!

I almost learned the hardway, leaving my Fiat sit in the garage for 18 months without moving it and not on jacks. I had to drive the flat spots out of the tires.

 

[D.T.]

Holy sheetz. Been following a guy's NA build (S550 GT), full exhaust, headers, intake, typical bolt-ons, then some support items (injectors, MMR OPG/CG - also some driveline items), and Stage III cams with a Boss intake manifold running a twin 65mm TB.

A very good tuner, that dialed in VCT/VVT.

525RWHP, that's ~615, NA, on an otherwise stock 5.0 Coyote (PP car, manual with 3.73s). Wow. Said it drives like stock, no lope, no stutter, that's the magic of DOHC.
[doublepost=1496839915][/doublepost]

Love the stance on this, nothing beats the right wheel/offset/ride-height setup, and it's something you don't generally see on classics.

 

[0388631]

It looks fantastic. Nothing more needs to be said.

 

[0388631]

Thoughts on the upcoming 991.2 Turbo S Exclusive Edition?

 

[D.T.]

I scored a Steeda delrin reverse lockout/collar, it's a nice flat black, but also way more durable vs. the plastic OEM piece, matching that up with an OEM GT350 knob (custom tapped to the GT thread spec), should look terrific, and I love that style knob. Considered a couple of aftermarket options, but I like doing "intra-model" modifications

Received, installed ... outstanding!


Before:

After:

 

[0388631]

Looks fantastic. I see you reconditioned your shift boot, too. Nice touch. New GT2 RS looks nice. Can't help but wonder if a MT will be offering for the very last of the 991.2 generation Turbo S Exclusive Edition and the GT2 RS just to mess with 911R and GT3 owners who buy only to garage their vehicles as in investment.

 

[Brandon123]

I do not myself own a car at the moment, but to make a more informed purchase decision in the future, I would love to hear what you guys are driving, and why?

Thanks!

 

[D.T.]

There's a 256 page, closing in on 3 year old thread here:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/the-car-thread.1766143/

That has LOADS of info, pics, discussion, ownership stories, purchase tales, etc.

 

[Stefan johansson]

What car you need,depends on what you use it for,and road condition in your area. Of course,I would like a Ferrari or koenigsegg,but those are useless for me. Guess I stay with my present transportation,Range Rover sport,and a Willys MB "invasion taxi".

 

[Brandon123]

There's a 256 page, closing in on 3 year old thread here:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/the-car-thread.1766143/

That has LOADS of info, pics, discussion, ownership stories, purchase tales, etc.

Ok, thanks! Will check the old thread then
[doublepost=1498074106][/doublepost]

What car you need,depends on what you use it for,and road condition in your area. Of course,I would like a Ferrari or koenigsegg,but those are useless for me. Guess I stay with my present transportation,Range Rover sport,and a Willys MB "invasion taxi".

Ranger Rovers (both normal and sport) are awesome!

 

[danny_w]

I drive a 2009 Mazda Miata because I simply LOVE 2 seater roadsters. Unfortunately I am getting too old for such a small low car.

 

[sunapple]

I do not myself own a car at the moment, but to make a more informed purchase decision in the future, I would love to hear what you guys are driving, and why?

Thanks!

What car people drive depends mostly on budget and usage. Or people buy something that doesn't make much sense because they're 'car people', but I doubt you're one of those because you're asking for very general advice here.

You'll have to share something to get good advice! But since this is MacRumors, I'll just go ahead and recommend a car that has Apple CarPlay (so anything from a Ferarri to a VW).

Edit: added the original post I was commenting on, thread was merged.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

For what it is worth, I think quite a number of people allow themselves one 'splurge' purchase - or self-indulgence - re cars once inn a lifetime.

My mother did it - the first car she bought for herself, as opposed to the 'family' car which she had always contributed to - was a Japanese sports coupé; my father followed her with his own sports coupé - both hugely enjoyed their respective moments of late middle aged indulgence, but they each did it but once.

 

[ActionableMango]

What: A 13 year old Kia.

Why: Because it is reliable, it meets my needs, and it is paid off.

I keep thinking about a new car, but I just don't understand what I'd get out of it that is worth $30,000. Yes I can afford it, but I keep thinking about the "opportunity cost"--the cost in the opportunities that I won't have for that $30K. For example $30K worth of travel or retiring $30K earlier both seem much more appealing to me than having a shinier car with slightly better gas mileage and keyless ignition.

OTOH if my car were unreliable, then it would be worth an upgrade. In this case, the worthy difference is the reliability.

 

[danny_w]

For what it is worth, I think quite a number of people allow themselves one 'splurge' purchase - or self-indulgence - re cars once inn a lifetime.

My mother did it - the first car she bought for herself, as opposed to the 'family' car which she had always contributed to - was a Japanese sports coupé; my father followed her with his own sports coupé - both hugely enjoyed their respective moments of late middle aged indulgence, but they each did it but once.

I did that twice in my life, 1) a Lincoln Towncar because I always wanted a Lincoln since childhood and 2) my Miata because with the kids gone I no longer had to be practical. My next car will be after retirement and be much more practical than either.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I did that twice in my life, 1) a Lincoln Towncar because I always wanted a Lincoln since childhood and 2) my Miata because with the kids gone I no longer had to be practical. My next car will be after retirement and be much more practical than either.

Exactly.

When my mother bought her car - she had been promoted at work and needed her own car - and one of my brothers and I were at university, while my other brother, who was still at school, could be driven in the family car by my father.

Dad didn't get his sports car until we all were at university. By then, there was no need for a 'family' car, and my parents, having been prudent and responsible all their lives, enjoyed a rare moment of pure self-indulgence.

My mother most enjoyed the envious looks young (and middle aged ) men gave her car, followed by their stupefied expressions when a slightly chubby, middle aged woman emerged from behind the wheel, clearly driving what was her own car, paid for by herself.