In the early 1980s I was heating my house with wood from old pallets I cut up at work. I hauled the wood home in a Triumph TR-4A. Someone was tailgating so I picked up a chunk of wood and held it up (the top was down). Amazing how quickly he backed off. Later I was commuting through downtown San Jose on a motorcycle. I tied an empty one gallon gas can behind my seat. Amazing how much more considerate cars became. No more tailgating or cars coming into my lane who “didn’t see me”.
I had four different ones. As you say, HP was not great but they sure had torque. One of them had a lightened flywheel, dual glass packs, and a 3/4 race cam. I sure sounded different reving the engine but was not fun to drive. That motor was, I believe, an old Massey/Ferguson tractor engine. It had only three main bearings and was under square so it was a low reving motor, but what a tank. The Lucas electrics were of the Devil but motors were bullet proof.
The Tr4 had SU carbs, the three TR4As had 175 CD Strombergs. These were the same ones used on the US TR-6 cars as the Lucas fuel injection could not meter accurately enough for our smog regulations. So we got 106hp instead of 150hp. The TR4A had 104hp. The TR4 had a 2138 cc engine. I think it redlined at 5000 rpm and yellowed at 4,500, but it would chug away at 1,200 rpm. All my cars were old beaters, I never had the money to restore them, but I could tune them to start with a bump from the starter, even cold. I used to show off by starting them while standing outside the car. Good thing as I too often had to push and bump start them thanks to the Lucas electrics (spit). The first thing I did when I bought one was go to Sears and buy the biggest Die Hard battery for it. The battery sat on a shelf over or in front of the firewall so there was a lot of room. That saved me a number of times when I needed to drive home at night from San Jose to Salinas in the dark with no generator.
Yes, it is available. There are rifles made to take the round, I used to know an enthusiast who liked them. I used to have catalogs that listed the ammo, it was about ten dollars a round, but that was long ago. I suspect it is much more now. I have a few cases and one bullet that I got from my father. I don’t know if surplus ammo is still available, I doubt it. What I saw was new commercial loads.
I remember long ago that California was trying to outlaw the rifles taking the round to protect us from criminals wielding these 20 pound rifles. When asked, they could not come up with even one case of one being used by criminals. Typical.
Not holding my breath, but waiting on the GOP to introduce articles of impeachment against Biden for knowingly allowing un-Constitutional actions to take place, something he publicly acknowledged yesterday. This is more egregious than Trump’s Ukraine phone call.
Since nothing will come of this, I can’t wait for the CDC to declare “gun violence” a national health emergency and in the interests of public safety to order all privately owned firearms confiscated.
IIRC the CDC at one time did declare “gun violence” a national health emergency. That’s when Congress passed a law forbidding the CDC from doing any firearms studies.
Happy Wednesday, Gerbil Nation!
Good morning, Fatwa, Mac, and Sven!
Apparently Gov. Newsom has admitted that there may be a waffer theen chance that he’ll be recalled. Internal polling must be really bad if he’s making that admission.
Morning, GN. Big route done. Took a long time (ish) Not asleep yet. I got a long nap before work. Overslept, got to work a bit late (ish) still there before the papers arrived. Still got most of my pre paper work done before they arrived.
Cats. Yesterday, Tatum brought home a chipmunk and it escaped into Mrs Sven’s office. I thought for sure it had to be dead as there was blood everywhere and how much blood can a chipmunk hold? Anyhow, we tore the office apart looking for the corpse, but couldn’t find it anywhere nor any blood trail -- figured eventually the smell would guide us to its location.
Thinking it might still be alive, we put out some water and seeds for it overnight and this morning we found the seeds disturbed. Later on while Mrs Sven was working, she heard some munching and caught a glimpse of him as darted back under the convertible sofa. I caught a glimpse of him later in the day -- there’s no way he can be intact, but he’s still active.
Put out some more food and water and shut the door. Tomorrow we’ll make more of an effort to locate and trap him and get him outside. As long as the door is closed, Tatum has forgotten about him but he’s most annoyed with being separated from Mrs Sven.
Ha! I don’t think critters in the house would go over well with Elena. When I was a child our cat liked to bring big moths or grasshoppers in the kitchen and let them go so he could play with them. One went straight at my mother. The whole house, and probably the neighbors, learned about that right away. My ears still ring.
Happy Wednesday, Wheelizens!
Can we try to understand the New York Times’ effect on man?
============================
Why?
Ma Deuce still rules!
But could you find ammo for it?
It’s teh Beach Boys’ “Little (Ma) Deuce Coup”.
Sheeeet…puttin’ ammo in that thing would cost even more than CA gas.
(OTOH, if you aimed the gun toward the rear, you could probably get that Isetta up to a respectable speed. And discourage tailgating.)
I can’t believe Fatwa used ‘Isetta’ and ‘respectable’ in the same sentence!
Isn’t that a BMW?
BMW was one of four companies that made Isetta’s. The other three were Italian.
Thank you. I know nothing of them but saw the BMW emblem. I do seem to recall a three wheeled car by Messerschmitt?
Correct! Fun little things, but I don’t think I’d want to drive it on any road with traffic.
Agreed there for sure. I do recall the name for those front door wonders.
In the early 1980s I was heating my house with wood from old pallets I cut up at work. I hauled the wood home in a Triumph TR-4A. Someone was tailgating so I picked up a chunk of wood and held it up (the top was down). Amazing how quickly he backed off. Later I was commuting through downtown San Jose on a motorcycle. I tied an empty one gallon gas can behind my seat. Amazing how much more considerate cars became. No more tailgating or cars coming into my lane who “didn’t see me”.
The TR-4 and 4A were good looking cars. Horsepower was low by today’s standards, but that can be a good thing.
I had four different ones. As you say, HP was not great but they sure had torque. One of them had a lightened flywheel, dual glass packs, and a 3/4 race cam. I sure sounded different reving the engine but was not fun to drive. That motor was, I believe, an old Massey/Ferguson tractor engine. It had only three main bearings and was under square so it was a low reving motor, but what a tank. The Lucas electrics were of the Devil but motors were bullet proof.
That’s right, the engines were from Standard Engine Co. and were used in Massey-Ferguson tractors. What type of carb(s) did you have on yours?
The Tr4 had SU carbs, the three TR4As had 175 CD Strombergs. These were the same ones used on the US TR-6 cars as the Lucas fuel injection could not meter accurately enough for our smog regulations. So we got 106hp instead of 150hp. The TR4A had 104hp. The TR4 had a 2138 cc engine. I think it redlined at 5000 rpm and yellowed at 4,500, but it would chug away at 1,200 rpm. All my cars were old beaters, I never had the money to restore them, but I could tune them to start with a bump from the starter, even cold. I used to show off by starting them while standing outside the car. Good thing as I too often had to push and bump start them thanks to the Lucas electrics (spit). The first thing I did when I bought one was go to Sears and buy the biggest Die Hard battery for it. The battery sat on a shelf over or in front of the firewall so there was a lot of room. That saved me a number of times when I needed to drive home at night from San Jose to Salinas in the dark with no generator.
I still have my Unisyn gauge in the garage.
Yes, it is available. There are rifles made to take the round, I used to know an enthusiast who liked them. I used to have catalogs that listed the ammo, it was about ten dollars a round, but that was long ago. I suspect it is much more now. I have a few cases and one bullet that I got from my father. I don’t know if surplus ammo is still available, I doubt it. What I saw was new commercial loads.
I remember long ago that California was trying to outlaw the rifles taking the round to protect us from criminals wielding these 20 pound rifles. When asked, they could not come up with even one case of one being used by criminals. Typical.
Good morning, Fatwa, and Mac -- happy Wednesday.
Not holding my breath, but waiting on the GOP to introduce articles of impeachment against Biden for knowingly allowing un-Constitutional actions to take place, something he publicly acknowledged yesterday. This is more egregious than Trump’s Ukraine phone call.
Since nothing will come of this, I can’t wait for the CDC to declare “gun violence” a national health emergency and in the interests of public safety to order all privately owned firearms confiscated.
“Come And Take it”.
IIRC the CDC at one time did declare “gun violence” a national health emergency. That’s when Congress passed a law forbidding the CDC from doing any firearms studies.
Happy Wednesday, Gerbil Nation!
Good morning, Fatwa, Mac, and Sven!
Apparently Gov. Newsom has admitted that there may be a waffer theen chance that he’ll be recalled. Internal polling must be really bad if he’s making that admission.
Morning, GN. Big route done. Took a long time (ish) Not asleep yet. I got a long nap before work. Overslept, got to work a bit late (ish) still there before the papers arrived. Still got most of my pre paper work done before they arrived.
Good morning, dv8!
I hope all is well in your neck of the woods.
Everything went fine. I’m supposed to see my friend Dave this afternoon, but I’m still not asleep yet.
Hope you had a good visit.
Cats. Yesterday, Tatum brought home a chipmunk and it escaped into Mrs Sven’s office. I thought for sure it had to be dead as there was blood everywhere and how much blood can a chipmunk hold? Anyhow, we tore the office apart looking for the corpse, but couldn’t find it anywhere nor any blood trail -- figured eventually the smell would guide us to its location.
Thinking it might still be alive, we put out some water and seeds for it overnight and this morning we found the seeds disturbed. Later on while Mrs Sven was working, she heard some munching and caught a glimpse of him as darted back under the convertible sofa. I caught a glimpse of him later in the day -- there’s no way he can be intact, but he’s still active.
Put out some more food and water and shut the door. Tomorrow we’ll make more of an effort to locate and trap him and get him outside. As long as the door is closed, Tatum has forgotten about him but he’s most annoyed with being separated from Mrs Sven.
Got to love them!
Yeah, chipmunks are cute, but I don’t know that I want one roaming about my home.
Oh, you meant cats!
Ha! I don’t think critters in the house would go over well with Elena. When I was a child our cat liked to bring big moths or grasshoppers in the kitchen and let them go so he could play with them. One went straight at my mother. The whole house, and probably the neighbors, learned about that right away. My ears still ring.