Six Degrees of Instrumentation

[grdubois369]

So, I have owned my 67 (L18) for 15 years or so. Several years ago, it was my daily driver, and life was good. Well, had an issue with the fuel line coming loose by the starter, and a fire happened. After a dumped coffee, burnt t-shirt, and third degree burns on my arm, I put the fire out. Now knowing things are starting to go awry, I started driving it less and when I did drive it, I noticed a drop in horsepower. I decided to get the motor looked at, maybe it needed a valve job. But, alas cylinders 2 and 3 were done, and there was the start of a crack.
Now, the car has been down for three years, and things were going slowly, but they are now ramping up and the car should be in driving shape fairly soon, fingers crossed.
While this time is passing, I have not had a large budget to get many things done, but some priorities were set, and those have been accomplished. Those being; Reupholstered seats, new shocks, master cylinders redone, put Mikuni 40mm pph's on (was warned this might be a fitment issue), fabricating new 90degree master cylinder mount, and gauges which brings me to this posting. I know long way to get here, but its part of the trip.

Our good friend and Roadster Jedi Master Kevin Desirello, and a few other posts lead me to Jon Frampton to get my gauges done. So I made arrangements, pulled them out and got them to Jon.
We now arrive at Easter Sunday, family hanging out at my folks house, and catching up with everyone. I find out that my cousins husband is closing his photography studio, and I ask him about some large prints, and I mean LARGE, that he had on the wall, one being of my daughter, and we started to make arrangements to pick them up. I started to tell him that I was going to be making a trip up his way soon, to pick up my gauges that were right around the corner from his house. At this point he stopped me and asked who had them. When I told him Jon did, he said "No way, that is your cousins step brother". Turns out Jon's mom married my Aunts ex husband many years ago. Small world eh, but wait...
So, Jon calls me to tell me my gauges are ready, and I start telling him about Easter Sunday, and we end up talking about family, and years pasts, and family that had passed. One of my cousins/Jon's step sister's husband killed himself. When we were talking about him, Jon told me he used to go to this mini bike shop where my cousin's husband used to work and buy 5 horse BandS motors. Well, that was my Dad's shop.
So, now I have my gauges, and they are beautiful. Was planning on installing them Saturday, but it will have to wait. Since I don't know how long till they are in the car, here is a picture of them in the box.

[fj20spl311]

They come in a very nice box.

[AC77]

Yes, the box is beautiful. I can attest to that.

[Linda]

Nice story. Hope Jon gave you the family discount
How did you fix the cylinder 2 and 3 crack?
Linda

[grdubois369]

Had the blocked bored 40 over. Last rebuild for this one.

[fj20spl311]

The used to make 60 over dome pistons...........

[2mAn]

Crazy world.

[Shamus980]

Hey pal., going thru the restoration bug myself. You wouldn’t happen to have Jon Frampton’s # or business name? My instruments work fine. I just need them cleaned and brightened up like yours. Thanks. Shamus

[ppeters914]

Great story. Curious as to when you delivered/sent the gauges to Jon as I though he no longer provided that service.

[grdubois369]

Shamus980,
Jon is known as caraddict on the site. I message him through here.

ppeters914,
It was Feb this year.

[david premo]

FYI back in “92” I installed an L18 in a 68 Roadter with 40mm Mikuni’s and they fit great with Mikuni short runner manifold and a set of K&N filters with short stacks inside. Also it had 280Z 5 speed as well.

[Shamus980]

Thanks GRdubouis369. I’ll give it a try.

[grdubois369]

FYI back in “92” I installed an L18 in a 68 Roadter with 40mm Mikuni’s and they fit great with Mikuni short runner manifold and a set of K&N filters with short stacks inside. Also it had 280Z 5 speed as well.

I was not able to locate the short runner manifold, and the shortest ones I found were the Pierce ones.

[boxcar]

I have a friend that may have one. I'll check with him later today.

[grdubois369]

I have a friend that may have one. I'll check with him later today.

Thanks Boxcar, but the carbs are mounted on the Pierce manifolds, and I have had them too long to send back. Besides, this gives me an adventure in engineering.