Yet Another New Guy

[mharrell]

Hi! I joined SAMOA at the XXX car show in September and attended the October meeting, so here's my introduction:

I purchased a 1982 MG Metro from club-member Todd Fitch back in May. My 1974.5 MGB is fun but just a little too run-of-the-mill for my tastes, so I figured this would be a good excuse to keep hanging out with the MGCCNWC folks while simultaneously learning about Mini-esque mechanical systems all in one obscure (at least in the US) vehicle. One of the Metro's rear hydragas displacers (successor to the Mini's hydrolastic system) failed after three glorious days of ownership and parts have proven impossible to find even through the British Metro clubs, but Autosport Seattle recently completed construction of some adaptors to let me install a set of the still-available units for later Metros, so the car should be back on the road Real Soon Now. The car is featured here for anyone not familiar with it from Todd's ownership:

http://bringatrailer.com/2008/12/20/...1982-mg-metro/

I also own a pair of Minis, but not quite the sort normally associated with SAMOA: French microcars sold under the name KV Mini 1. In August I hauled one of them behind my MGB down to the inaugural Concours d'LeMons in Monterey and ended up with Worst of Show and an astonishing amount of press coverage:

http://concoursdlemons.com/

I work in the Department of Earth and Space Sciences at UW; my odd array of daily drivers caught the attention of one of the writers at University Week, so what the heck, here's an overview of the whole works:

http://uwnews.org/uweek/article.aspx?id=52703

I'll bring the Metro when it's back on the road, but should manage to get to a few activities one way or another.

Mike Harrell

[Mark]

Welcome again, Mike!
I'm glad to hear about your adaptation for the metro's susp system! (It sure did get really quiet in the room when you asked about the hydragas parts!! )

We'll look forward to seeing you and your cars around.
Best regards,MSH

[Andrew.Bertschi]

Wow, what a great (and eclectic) 'fleet'... Reminds me of the Finnish AF during WWII (they had US, British, German, Dutch, French, Italian and even a few Russian aircraft in front line service all at the same time - must have been a maintenance and logistical nightmare)..

Anyway, I'm a UW student (for a short time more) and have seen the '37 Plymouth around campus a number of times and always wondered who it belonged to.. Good to know who the owner is.

[DaveB]

what an assortment! have fun, and look forward to seeing them at functions!!

[mharrell]

Wow, what a great (and eclectic) 'fleet'... a maintenance and logistical nightmare

Thanks-- that sums up working on cars around my place fairly well. Two British cars (one model never sold in the US), two French cars (ditto for both), two two-stroke SAABs, and two stock examples of Detroit iron (50 and 72 years old, respectively). If this all becomes too routine I guess that leaves Eastern Europe or (shudder) Italy....

One nice thing about the hydragas suspension: at least it uses the same pump and fluid as the Mini hydrolastic units. I'm arranging to borrow a pump locally and have decided to purchase a container of the genuine fluid, since I've seen several contradictory recipes for making the stuff.

Mike Harrell

[Cheleker]

Are you sure it's the fluid side of the system that is leaking and not the nitrogen side? Hope so, then the problem can be solved. Otherwise...!

[skip]

Mike, Do you by any chance know Dan Morley? He's sort of like the Chuck Heleker of SAABs, he has a stroker or two, one or two 96's, beautiful blue Sonnet and a bazillion other old SAABs, very involved in the local SAAB club. Has the bug bad enough that they vacation in Sweden almost every other year, always does the national SAAB Owners Convention even if they held it on the moon! Wait a minute I think I just described Chuck..... Nah this guy is tall, thin, dry sense of humor, reddish hair and beard....

[mharrell]

Are you sure it's the fluid side of the system that is leaking and not the nitrogen side? Hope so, then the problem can be solved. Otherwise...!

Yup-- the external diaphragm on the fluid side of one of the displacers failed in traffic, leaving the car just a bit low in the back, i.e. tires dragging on the inner fenders, with a trail of fluid indicating its path to a full stop. I'm replacing both rear displacers in their entirety, so problem solved with any luck.

Mike Harrell

[mharrell]

Do you by any chance know Dan Morley?

I've known Dan for a few years now-- I even bought my red 96 from him. Your description is most apt.

Mike Harrell

[skip]

Small world. Dan and I have talked once or twice about getting some old SAABs and Minis together for a drive. Those SAAB strokers sound like an Evanrude boat motor, I always ask Dan how the fishin' is when he drives his. I'll mention your name next time I email him. Used to work with him at Boeing, same inspection group.
You mentioned not having an Eastern European car, there are a few Tribants here in the states, a friend of Dan Morley has one. I followed them to LeMay's open house one time my Mini was covered with two stroke oil!! I think we spent almost an hour getting the stuff off with quick detailer.

[mmalleck]

Hey Mike,

Take a look at this displacer advertised on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/austin-mini-rear-displacer-new-/270621170207?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM

Advertised as Mini, but I don't think so. Might get a good deal if this is right for your car.

Mark

Hi! I joined SAMOA at the XXX car show in September and attended the October meeting, so here's my introduction:

I purchased a 1982 MG Metro from club-member Todd Fitch back in May. My 1974.5 MGB is fun but just a little too run-of-the-mill for my tastes, so I figured this would be a good excuse to keep hanging out with the MGCCNWC folks while simultaneously learning about Mini-esque mechanical systems all in one obscure (at least in the US) vehicle. One of the Metro's rear hydragas displacers (successor to the Mini's hydrolastic system) failed after three glorious days of ownership and parts have proven impossible to find even through the British Metro clubs, but Autosport Seattle recently completed construction of some adaptors to let me install a set of the still-available units for later Metros, so the car should be back on the road Real Soon Now. The car is featured here for anyone not familiar with it from Todd's ownership:

http://bringatrailer.com/2008/12/20/...1982-mg-metro/

I also own a pair of Minis, but not quite the sort normally associated with SAMOA: French microcars sold under the name KV Mini 1. In August I hauled one of them behind my MGB down to the inaugural Concours d'LeMons in Monterey and ended up with Worst of Show and an astonishing amount of press coverage:

http://concoursdlemons.com/

I work in the Department of Earth and Space Sciences at UW; my odd array of daily drivers caught the attention of one of the writers at University Week, so what the heck, here's an overview of the whole works:

http://uwnews.org/uweek/article.aspx?id=52703

I'll bring the Metro when it's back on the road, but should manage to get to a few activities one way or another.

Mike Harrell

[mharrell]

Mark: Thanks for pointing out the auction, but despite its wording that is one of the newer-style displacers which does not fit "all" Metros. I may contact the seller for a part number, since I think there are several different versions-- this one may not even fit the adapted suspension of my car.

[mmalleck]

Mark: Thanks for pointing out the auction, but despite its wording that is one of the newer-style displacers which does not fit "all" Metros. I may contact the seller for a part number, since I think there are several different versions-- this one may not even fit the adapted suspension of my car.

Not a problem. As I stumble upon something that might fit as I search for Mini items, I will pass it along.

Cheers!

Mark