Today I... "Redux Edition"

[FormTA]

I painted the black stripe/cross on the BSA.











Really make the bike look like garbage now.... I m still planning on painted the side covers but I have to call the project somewhat done soon so I can get moving on the Formula.

[roadking77]

Looks great. Dont paint the side covers, they should polish up nicely if you could find someone to hydroblast that may be better.

[FormTA]

Not engine side covers the red painted ones that cover the electrics.i have the decals for them as well.

Yes, the engine sides should polish up easily.

[ryeguy2006a]

That tank looks great man!

[FormTA]

Thanks! Not bad for rattle cans.

I did clear the whole thing with automotive clear so gasoline won't eat the paint. Decals are from a British bike parts guy.

[5th T/A]

Thanks! Not bad for rattle cans.

I did clear the whole thing with automotive clear so gasoline won't eat the paint. Decals are from a British bike parts guy.

Beautiful job on the tank, now you just raised the bar for everything else!

[FormTA]

Ya, um, it does totally look out of place now....

[b_hill_86]

Was messing around with this 79 cluster I have and when I was done I set it on my workbench kind of in the background just because I like looking at it. These cars aren’t perfect but there are some things about them I just love, the gauges being one of them. I’m even kind of starting to dig the km/h text in yellow.

Also, surprisingly, everything seems to work, even the clock! I want to rig up a way to test the tach on a running engine but I may just install it in my car temporarily. Since 77-80 I believe are basically plug and play

[FormTA]

I was actually looking at the few I have as well because the Formula I have doesn't have a tach. Was wondering how difficult it is to swap in that style of gauges in to the dummy light kind. The engine I'm dropping in was from a TA so it has the sending units. Wonder what wiring ill have to do.

We used to have a tread on this before the site crashed too.

[b_hill_86]

Does the formula have the rally gauges with the big clock and/or dummy lights in place of the tach or is it the non rally gauge setup with fuel in the middle?

[roadking77]

Yes, I think Jack did a good write up on the gauge conversion. Speaking of which, Have not heard from him in a long time. Hope he is doing well!

[5th T/A]

 Since 77-80 I believe are basically plug and play

It is very possible 1977-1979 are interchangeable. 1980 gage clusters use a different printed circuit and different housing. I found this out when I tried to install a 160MPH speedometer in my 1980 cluster housing. The openings for the brake light, seatbelt and high beam indicator are in slightly different locations. The 1980 housing also has an opening for a check engine bulb, probably why the seat belt and brake light holes have been moved slightly. The printed circuit on the 1980 cluster is different and may have different pinouts. If you have a complete gage cluster from an earlier car it will bolt in, but you may have to change the pin outs on the wiring harness. The voltage gage on 1980 have an indicator for the electric choke, but should bolt right in.

IMG_2284 by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

IMG_2280 by Lawrence Alexander, on Flickr

[5th T/A]

I was actually looking at the few I have as well because the Formula I have doehave a tach. Was wondering how difficult it is to swap in that style of gauges in to the dummy light kind. The engine I'm dropping in was from a TA so it has the sending units. Wonder what wiring ill have to do.

We used to have a tread on this before the site crashed too.

Luke, sorry to disappoint but I moved the sending units over to my new engine. The temp sending unit was on the left cylinder head, I put a pipe plug in it. There is also a pipe plug installed where the oil pressure sender would go.

[b_hill_86]

You’re right. I was more referring to the ability to plug and play an entire cluster among those years because a source I have shows the pin locations for the large plug as being the same but in comparing the printed circuits between the two my source must be wrong. The pin locations appear to be different.

[FormTA]

Dang it Larry! Ha, ha. No worries man. The gauge swap would he way down the road but I appreciate the heads up and the placement of plugs!

[FormTA]

Does the formula have the rally gauges with the big clock and/or dummy lights in place of the tach or is it the non rally gauge setup with fuel in the middle?

I don't remember... I'll have to look now.

[firebirdparts]

I was actually looking at the few I have as well because the Formula I have doehave a tach. Was wondering how difficult it is to swap in that style of gauges in to the dummy light kind. The engine I'm dropping in was from a TA so it has the sending units. Wonder what wiring ill have to do.

We used to have a tread on this before the site crashed too.

It's a totally different dash wiring harness, but of course you can cut and splice if you want to.  Jack had a write up before the crash, so it was lost, and I did not see it in the wayback machine.
 The text is easy enough to rewrite, but the photos Jack would have to add.  Or at least whatever photos he used.

http://www.transamcountry.com/community/index.php?topic=83895.0

[FormTA]

Yes, I remember the thread very well. Thanks for the like to your pictures too! If I get that far on the car I will document it for a thread.

[b_hill_86]

….worked on a small project. If you even want to call it that. My Bluetooth amp I installed under the center console has a USB plug on it for charging. It’s obviously not easy to get to under the console so I bought a flush mount extension I ran to the inside of my ashtray for a while. I finally decided where I was going to mount it which is on the removable panel on the back of the console. I heated a utility knife to cut the square hole and mounted the plug.

It’s fairly inconspicuous unless you’re in the back seat of course and actually easy to reach from either front seat. Since these cars are so small a standard iPhone cord reaches from that plug to the dash let alone anywhere I’d set my phone to charge.

I also like additions like that which can be easily reversed. I have a spare panel I can replace this one with if I ever decided to. A few years ago I also removed the original cigarette lighter and bracket and replaced that with a spare I cut and modified to accommodate another USB outlet that also had a digital voltmeter built in. That too is fairly easily removable and replaced by the original lighter receptacle.

[roadking77]

Nice work on both. A good addition.

[FormTA]

Found another project that will be joining the long list. My brother decided he won't ever get to (or have the tools and means to) get back on the road a 1976 F100 short bed truck. This was his first vehicle 25+ years ago. It is (at least a few years ago) fairly rust free and kinda ran. What I know is it needs the carb rebuilt, the replacement trans sorted out and some suspension bushings changed.

The reason it was pulled off the road was due to a transmission failure. A replacement was sourced and installed bit the shift linkage is backwards and the starter is held in with a pair of vice grips. Something isn't right with the way the starter fits in the bellhousing.  So, I have to go pick this up here soon. It is supposed to be another project for my son but, we'll see. Wife is pushing for the Formula to get done first in conjunction with the 1949 F1.

[FormTA]

Oh, so my father was finally able to come over and take his old BSA for a ride for the first time since 1980. Here he is with my son. They got to rip around a bit together. It was cool to see.



My sister sent me this picture. My father on the right with his brother and father.

[roadking77]

Luke, sounds like you will be plenty busy!  I bet you dad was a bit nostalgic getting back on his old BSA. Great picture.

[5th T/A]

Luke, myself being a life long motorcyclist, I can only imagine how thrilled your dad had to be riding his BSA again. The then and now pictures are priceless.

Not sure if you dad or you are AMA members or not. In their monthly publication they have a section called back in the day. It has brief stories and pictures from years ago along with current pictures of the bikes and owners!

[FormTA]

I picked up a all new reproduction bed kit with oak wood floor, stainless strips and fasteners. I also got new rear fiberglass fenders. Fiberglass were almost $800, steel was more than double.... also got the tailgate. All for the 1949 ford f1.

[b_hill_86]

Oooo that bed is going to be gorgeous

[FormTA]

Not much to look at right now but a pile of parts and oak planks.

My son neutralizing acid (yes in crocks)....

Cleaning and rebuilding the rear axle.

[roadking77]

Parts look great! Being a hot rod a stained bed is fine. One of my pet peeves is seeing a beautifully restored (to original) pickup with stained boards. They were originally all painted.

[roadking77]

2023-09-20_05-07-01 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
2023-09-20_05-06-31 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr
Suki took the Mustang out for a drive yesterday!

[ryeguy2006a]

Looking good Luke. I'm 95% of the time in flip flops in my garage, so I completely relate haha. Yes, that includes when I'm welding.

[5th T/A]

Great picture of Suki behind the wheel and wearing a hoodie! My dog Rocket, doesn’t drive but absolutely loves going for car rides.

[roadking77]

We were waiting at school to pick up the boy, she jumped into my lap and took hold of the wheel,  I couldnt resist a pic, LOL.
NO, she doesnt sit in my lap whilst I am driving!

[FormTA]

Almost burned down my car and died....

It was a nice morning her so and we had some folks from Germany coming in to the shop so I thought I'd drive my TA.

Halfway to work my radio went out, gauges started going nuts amd headlight started blinking. A couple seconds later everything went dark and the engine died. It 5:30 am and no moon or light or anything on a country road with trees on each side.

I couldn't see 2 feet in front of me. I didn't want to pull off the road because there could be a mailbox or a ditch or anything, I couldn't see, I was blind. I stopped the car in the road and got out and used my phone as a flashlight to see where I could try to push the car. While doing that I had cars coming from behind and all I could do was flash my phone camera at them so they wouldn't plow into my black car in the road with no lights. I has two really, really close calls with cars go 80 miles an hour and just about slamming into me. I tried really hard to push it up a ways and somewhat off the road. I couldn't get far (these cars are hard to push). Somewhere in my panicked state I opened the hood and found the positive cable had rotated causing it to make contact with the battery tray and welded itself to it killing the battery. I could see something glowing red hot. I pried it loose and went back to pushing.

The battery started to come back a bit and my four-ways started to slowly blink (better than nothing!).  I called my wife to bring my truck which has my jump pack and cables in it but I had the keys and the spare fob was dead (the couldn't figure out how to get the emergency key out of the fob). At about that time a young lady maybe 30s (couldn't tell it was so dark I couldn't even describe her to you but she sounded young) stopped and asked if I was OK, needed help. I asked if she had jumper cables and she did. She quickly drove around my car, turned on her 4 ways making a U turn to line up with my car. I opted her hood and she got the jumper cables.  I hooked up my battery and she hooked up hers, she was have trouble getting the positive to stay on the post I suggested letting me try and she firmly said "I got it". I backed off,  impressed.

Hit my key and she fired right up, I thanked her for like the 5th time and we left. When I hot to work I pulled it in the shop and put it on a charger. I noticed when driving it, the voltage gauge was higher than normal so I know it is charging. Thank goodness that and the ECM didn't fry.

All is good. The Germans loved the car too!

[5th T/A]

Luke, this could have turned out so much worse than it did. I am glad you and your car are OK! I have often wondered why the main battery cable wasn't fused. In your case I guess a fuse might not have helped. You must have top mount rather than side mount battery terminals. Very fortunate that the good Samaritan came by to help.

[b_hill_86]

Wow, man that was lucky. Glad it all worked out and no lasting damage. You’re not helping me though as I debate driving mine to work this afternoon lol. I saw a post elsewhere where a guy was driving his 4th gen to work and got rear ended. Maybe someone’s trying to tell me something?

[FormTA]

It is a side post. With the connector facing straight down apparently make the cable come in contact with the battery tray
 I am using the stock 4th gen cables and wiring harness so the positive cabel is also encased in another shroud but not right where this made contact.... I do have a fire extinguisher in my car after I had a small fuel leak a few months ago. Thar was fixed right away. Good thing those two incidents didn't coincide.

[5th T/A]

We were waiting at school to pick up the boy, she jumped into my lap and took hold of the wheel,  I couldnt resist a pic, LOL.
NO, she doesnt sit in my lap whilst I am driving!

Being a true dog lover I can relate!

[Jack]

I need to catch up here, I'm gone for few month and Kerry teaches his dog to drive 

[roadking77]

I need to catch up here, I'm gone for few month and Kerry teaches his dog to drive 

Shes does pretty good Jack, signing up for her first autocross.


LUKE, What the heck??, glad you made out OK, that could have been disasterous but you know that already. I will have to check my cables now just because. Its good you have a fire extinguisher but that also tells us we should have some sort of break down kit in the car at all times, a couple of triangles or even a road flare (if they still make those?). I have a kit in my pickup as a hold over from my days driving a big truck. I do take a jump pack with me whenever I take my car out, as well as I make sure its charged. I think the one I have may have a trouble light/flasher but will have to check. I was at a show a few years ago and a guy had a magnetic light that could clip on the side of the car with a bright red flashing light. That would be ideal.

Never ceases that the one time there is an emergency the back up plan with your truck did not work out. Sounds like my luck!

[FormTA]

Ya, it was actually pretty scary.  I think I have this misconception in my head that it is a new car (newer) as everything is new and the entire under hood is a gen 4 car. I don't even think about it when I hop in and take off. A breakdown kit is a good idea. I'll have to think about that!