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Between 705 & 1200 SQ/FT A trip back from the edge.

Workspaces between 705 and 1200 squarefeet.
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xtremek

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St. Johns, Mi
Followed closely by State SO. I was part of what they call the YESS team. Basically we’re gofers for several events so the event staff can concentrate on running their event. The gent looking up at me is the professor of my first engineering class. He still remembered my name. Professor Hannah was one of the good ones.S SO 1.jpgS SO 2.jpgS SO 3.jpgS SO 5.jpgS SO 6.jpgS SO 7.jpg
 
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xtremek

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FINALLY.

Lol. Looks like fun! Can't say I've ever heard of that brand but I'm not big into bikes either. How much work does it need to be functional?
It's a Harley Sportster powered sport bike (1 of 3 models available in the beginning) designed by an engineer (Erik Buell) who worked for Harley and liked to road race on the weekends.

Mostly cosmetic. Already replaced the battery, put a real muffler on it, new choke cable, replaced the air cleaner, and rebuilt/rejetted the carb. All the turn signals are toast, needs both mirrors, and the rear tire is bald. I need to get a spacer for the air cleaner machined (my mill doesn't have enough room for a rotary table). Then it needs routine maintenance and a good scrubbing.

After that I want to repaint it and add a few details.

Finally got it running decent yesterday and boy is the thing wicked fast, for me. Sure, there are 600cc bikes that can probably out drag me, but I'm guessing I'll be able to hold my own in the twisties.
 
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xtremek

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Back to this pic. This was the exhaust on the Buell, 2 ½” turn down with no baffling. Talk about obnoxiously loud. Found a really nice stock muffler on Marketplace for $10. It may be a little too quiet, but I’ll ride it a little to find out.
lack of muffler.jpg
muffler.jpg
 
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xtremek

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Yeah, it's original. It has 138k miles on it. I think it was a county road or municipal truck, so it was decently taken care of. The driver's side floor is partially gone, as well as the inner and outer rockers on both sides. The front box cross member is completely gone.
 
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xtremek

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Here are some close ups of most of Clifford’s issues. As you can see, the northern cancer has gotten the better of old Clifford. I’m going to do a working level restoration to him. New metal, done well enough that he won’t look shabby, but he’ll still have most of his dings and small dents.
Box.jpgRocker 1.jpgFiller neck 1.jpgFiller neck 2.jpgFiller neck 3.jpg
 
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xtremek

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Got a package from the big white truck the other day. I was told to look for it, but not what it was. Came all the way from the Sunshine State. Thanks Chris, for the care package, it came when I was having a thoroughly miserable day and it boosted my spirits hugely.
Gift 2.jpgGift 1.jpg
 

jollygreengiant

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Here are some close ups of most of Clifford’s issues. As you can see, the northern cancer has gotten the better of old Clifford. I’m going to do a working level restoration to him. New metal, done well enough that he won’t look shabby, but he’ll still have most of his dings and small dents.

That's the way to do it. It's not a show truck after all, you don't need to bring the body back to like new condition.

Will you be putting a flatbed on it or sticking with the truck box?
 
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xtremek

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St. Johns, Mi
Last weekend was FB Marketplace travelling. Not quite to Strouty standards, but still spent most of Saturday on the road. Picked up this box for $300. Then picked up a door, driver’s seat, driver’s taillight, driver’s A-pillar trim and the license plate “bracket” for $105. On Sunday picked up a new outer skin for the driver’s fender ($100). I’ll build my own inner rockers, partial floorboards and the right front cab mount. And since I’ll have to paint the fender and rockers, I’ll paint the box and door. 2 tone red, cause I’m not painting the whole truck.Box 1.jpg
box-2-jpg.2149200
Box 4.jpgdoor 1.jpgseat 1.jpgseat 2.jpg
 

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xtremek

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When I bought the Buell, I knew the rear master cylinder was toast. The pedal was literally like stepping on a brick, no movement. Then it took it for a ride and the front brake chattered horribly. Best place to get parts is Twin Motorcycles in the Netherlands. Three hundred dollars and 4 business days later, I got this care package. I can’t wait to put them on and really take the Buell for a ride.
Brake parts.jpg
 
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xtremek

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And the hits keep coming. My big compressor finally blew a hole in the bottom of the tank. Not going to mess with it. Time for brand new, too many other irons in the fire. And of course, Squirt2 (the ’16 Sonic) decided to give me grief. With just under 215,000 miles on the original drivetrain, the turbo decided it needed a rest. I can’t complain though, not with the way I beat this poor car. 3 weeks ago I hit 60mph in 2nd and 95 in 3rd. It’s raged down and up the Tail of the Dragon in one pass with only a 10 minute break in between directions. I’m proud of the little turd.
 

Bob Heine

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1.4L turbo and a 6spd manual trans. The entire driveline is original except the left halfshaft I messed up replacing the left front wheel bearing. Still has the original struts, and still handles like it did when it was new.
Kirk, much as I love my big powerful cars, the one I had the most fun driving was the Fiat X1/9. Driving a lower power car balls to the wall is way better than driving a high power one like the gas pedal is an eggshell.
 
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xtremek

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Kirk, much as I love my big powerful cars, the one I had the most fun driving was the Fiat X1/9. Driving a lower power car balls to the wall is way better than driving a high power one like the gas pedal is an eggshell.
Bob, all of my V-8 have been about torque, not horsepower, and have been in trucks. And most of my cars have been small and fairly agile. Chevy Sonic, Saturn SC2, Ford Fiestas ('78-'80 version), VW GTI, VW pan buggy. I think the Sonic is the highest horsepower car I've ever owned, at a whopping 138hp. The pan buggy was a huge 36hp.
 
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xtremek

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I had a Sonic hatchback for a rental a while back after someone tried to steal my truck. Oddly enough I liked that little thing, it was like driving a go cart with a cab lol. Had lots of power for the size of it.
Was it a stick or automatic, and was it a turbo? You're right though, they're a fun little car. You won't win any races with them, but they're a blast.
 
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xtremek

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Well folks, I got some good news. The General decided they'd had enough of my shenanigans and told me and 600 of my best friends to get the hell out of Dodge. Yep, I was part of the permanent lay off. Seriously, I'm so happy if I were any happier, I'd need another body to contain it. Trying to keep up with everything at work and at home had worn me out. They keep harping on quality of life at GM, but they want you to work longer and harder, my home projects were months (if not years) behind, and I had to quit going to the gym. I'm going to start looking for part time work, maybe counter guy at O'Reilly's, maybe an adjunct instructor at the local community college, maybe both? All I know is I haven't felt this good in decades.
 
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