Another Reason To Never Throw Anything Away...
Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 10:26 am
I needed to install the shift lever in the roadster to make sure the rollbar wouldn't be interfering with the operation of the shifter. The car came with only one of the rubber bushings that hold the shift lever in place. I looked through the bins I keep all my extra shi...er...stuff in, and I found a rubber bushing for the top of a front shock. The hole was a little small, so I champhered the opening on one side and forced it onto the shifter so it was the upper of the two bushings. Normally you don't need to take that one off. I installed the lever on the trans and it works just fine. Aha! Reinforcement for pack-rat-itis! 
To change the subject, I used PVC sprinkler pipe to mock-up the roll bar, and at less than $2 per 10' length, plus a couple of 90-degree bends and a couple of connectors, I have very little into the project, and saved quite a bit of time and money over "just building" it. The way I figure it, 1.75" x .095" wall tubing is lighter than 1.5" x .120". 1 1/4" (I.D.) PVC is barely under 1 3/4" outside diameter for anyone thinking of something similar. I tried gluing the pieces together, but other than the main hoop, it didn't work. I ended up drilling 1/4" holes in the two pieces being joined and using a long cable tie through the holes. Pulled tight, it holds just fine.
To change the subject, I used PVC sprinkler pipe to mock-up the roll bar, and at less than $2 per 10' length, plus a couple of 90-degree bends and a couple of connectors, I have very little into the project, and saved quite a bit of time and money over "just building" it. The way I figure it, 1.75" x .095" wall tubing is lighter than 1.5" x .120". 1 1/4" (I.D.) PVC is barely under 1 3/4" outside diameter for anyone thinking of something similar. I tried gluing the pieces together, but other than the main hoop, it didn't work. I ended up drilling 1/4" holes in the two pieces being joined and using a long cable tie through the holes. Pulled tight, it holds just fine.