|   
           
             
          Well, 
           
        It's been about two months since my last update.  I've been eBaying like
        crazy, and raised another $4,700 toward the Vixen Restoration Fund.  For
        those of you keeping score at home, that makes about $17,000 (give or take) to get her back on the road.  I still have an entire dining room
        full of Mac parts that should more than cover the rest of the funds I'll
        need for the job. 
           
        I haven't quite been sitting on my heels though.  I was waiting for Dave
        Bauerle to pick up my body panels.  He was supposed to be coming through
        Pittsburgh, and was going to pick them up on the way.  However, he never
        made it out here, so I rented a U-Haul trailer and took my doors, T-panel, and RR quarter down to him at the end of September.  He still
        has them now, and is working on them as we speak. 
           
        While I'm waiting, I decided to pick up a few items, including new front
        and rear fasicas, rear window, shift boot, reproduction key, and binnacle from
            DMC
          Houston.   I'm also in the process of getting the
        wheels powder coated, in preparation for the four new AVS Intermediates from Tire Rack. 
           
        The local welding shop welded the oxygen sensor bung onto the LR "macaroni" turbo exhaust pipe (but he forgot to drill the hole first.
        D'oh! Guess I forgot to tell him).  I also got him to weld new studs on the front fascia retainer, and likewise weld six studs on my homemade
        air deflector brackets (pictures soon, hopefully) -- I made them out of some bolts and the folder-hanging frame from my desk drawer at work. 
           
        I'm also back to my mad scientist phase on the turbos.  I found a way to
        possibly cram a couple of intercoolers in there, made out of (and y'all are going to love this) some Model T Ford parts, at a total cost of
        around $44.  I'll keep you posted.  =) 
           
        Sooo... Now that I have rediscovered the D that was hiding underneath of
        all that eBay stuff, I have the following things left to do.  
           
        1)  Repair and repaint engine cover and louvers 
        2)  Paint trunk compartment. 
        3)  Rebrush and install all stainless. 
        4)  Finish air conditioning, and fix leaking valve cover gasket. 
        5)  Install new windshield and rear window. 
        6)  Restore and install windshield moldings. 
        7)  Purchase and install new seat covers and carpeting, door seals, and a few other interior components. 
        8)  Alignment. 
        9)  Engine tuning, and possibly a chassis dyno test. 
        10)  Pennsylvania state inspection. 
           
        Of course, after all that's done, I'm probably going to rip the engine apart to put the new machined heads and manifold on, but that's a whole
        other story.  =)    | 
        
        
          Costs for Weeks 46-54: 
            
            
              
              
                | Date | 
                Purchase | 
                Store | 
                Price | 
               
              
                | 05-Sep-00 | 
                110436 Gray binnacle | 
                DMC
                  Houston | 
                304.39 | 
               
              
                | 07-Sep-00 | 
                105403 Bracket, used | 
                Specialty
                  Automotive | 
                9.00 | 
               
              
                | 07-Sep-00 | 
                106684 Fuel pump cover | 
                Specialty
                  Automotive | 
                39.95 | 
               
              
                | 07-Sep-00 | 
                101628 Air inlet screen, used | 
                Specialty
                  Automotive | 
                80.00 | 
               
              
                | 07-Sep-00 | 
                105334 Bracket, used | 
                Specialty
                  Automotive | 
                3.00 | 
               
              
                | 09-Sep-00 | 
                TVR Vixen badges | 
                TVR Sportscars, LTD. | 
                20.00 | 
               
              
                | 19-Sep-00 | 
                (2) 195/60VR14 & (2) 235/60VR15 Yokohama
              AVS Intermediate tires | 
                TireRack.com | 
                307.94 | 
               
              
                | 17-Oct-00 | 
                (2) Model T Ford water tubes | 
                Specialty
                  Automotive | 
                50.58 | 
               
              
                | 26-Oct-00 | 
                100624 Rear glass w/defroster | 
                DMC
                  Houston | 
                225.95 | 
               
              
                | 26-Oct-00 | 
                106654 Retaining strap | 
                DMC
                  Houston | 
                7.64 | 
               
              
                | 26-Oct-00 | 
                102253 Gasket, rocker cvr RH | 
                DMC
                  Houston | 
                10.54 | 
               
              
                | 26-Oct-00 | 
                102249 Gasket, rocker cvr LH | 
                DMC
                  Houston | 
                10.54 | 
               
              
                | 01-Nov-00 | 
                Washer Bottle | 
                DeloKing | 
                32.00 | 
               
              
                 | 
                 | 
                Weeks 46-54 Total | 
                $1,101.53 | 
               
              
                 | 
                 | 
                 | 
                 | 
               
              
                 | 
                 | 
                Running Total | 
                $14,797.30 | 
               
             
          
         |