Rhode Island Spyder Project

I've got a newbie question for you.  Yesterday I went to confirm the timing on the engine in the Spyder.  I had set it last year when the engine was in my sand rail.  It became immediately apparent to me that seeing the degrees on the pulley was going to be a problem.  I used a small inspection mirror to confirm that the timing was in the ballpark, but I was not able to read the numbers as well as I would like.

What do you guys do?  I have a borescope that gives a great image, but securing the end of the fiber optic would be a pain and the chance of the fiber optic getting caught in the works seems too high.  As I write this I'm wondering if I should use a selfie stick.

In other news, I have an appointment with DMV next week.  that's how they work now as the result of Covid, anything that you need to do in person requires an appointment that  you setup online.   

My neighbor is a used car dealer and he offered to loan me his Dealer Plate so we could bed in the brakes.  Had some fun on our back roads and then went up to Route 1 to see how it felt.  It was great.  Ran out of gas as required.  I know the hub caps are a faux pau, but my wife loves them.

Tom, I taped a flexible inspection mirror to my timing light so I could hold the light and mirror one-handed.

I know some people have actually cut an access panel in the firewall just to set the timing.

"Ran out of gas as required". Yup, done that. I carried a full one gallon can for a while until I figured to get gas at 1/4 tank LOL!

While I had great access with my shroud off, I took a paint pen and marked the outside of the pulley  corresponding to TDC (red) idle and max advance (yellow) so that I can see them with my timing light without using a mirror.

Thanks for the suggestions.  I was thinking that putting a couple of small groves with colored filler on the OD of the pulley to mark the important angles would be the plan.  I'm going to try the selfie stick and see how it works.  I know I'm close so there is no panic right now.

Come to think of it Tom, I believe I did the same with a small triangle file prior to the paint pen.

I just used a spring-loaded center punch to mark the edge of the pulley at 0 and 30 degrees on the motor I'm building.

I filed in a subtle notch on the top of the pulley at 0, 5 before and 30 before TDC. My timing light has a dial on it so if you know 0 you can dial it in to flash at any timing. Set it to "30" and revved to 3000 and looked for the mark, which appeared. Then set the light to "0" and did it again and saw the 30-degree notch.

Then I installed the CB Performance Black Box....

I have an appointment with the DMV inspector on Tuesday.  I'm knocking on wood as I type this but, so far my transit through the registration process has been good.  The hardest part that I've faces is being comfortable being separated from so much money to pay the sales tax.

Test fit the car and my new E Trac's yesterday.  Compared to my sand rail, there is not much to tie down to on the Spyder.  I like the basket straps, they are holding the wheels firmly in place and are independent form each other.

When I moved from Massachusetts to Tiverton I had to go through the same process (except for that killer sales tax - They hit us up for that with our Austin Healey, though) and I found the DMV and State Police inspectors to be easy to work with and just doing their jobs.  Often, the inspectors are "car guys", too, and can appreciate that you built the car and tend to admire it after they get the inspection done.

Hope you don't have to go too far to get the look-see done.  After all, you're halfway to NYC, way down there in the corner of the state.    

Thanks for the encouragement Gordon.  I spoke with the inspector on the phone and he sounded like a reasonable guy to work with.  He even mentioned that if I leave the inspection with an open item, he could send an inspector down to me to save a return trip.

Nothing is to far away in RI.  It's funny, somehow the size of the state seems to restrict our movements.  We try to avoid going north of 138 which really only 15 minutes up the road.  Visiting the Tax man in Providence was a big trip, but was only a 35 minute drive. 

Good luck Tom. After living in NY for 5 years, I’m really glad to be back in Utah. DMV is mostly a breeze.

My project made it across the line on Friday, we are on the road,  My experience with RI DMV was very pleasant.  Kit cars get sent to an inspection garage up in Providence and get checked out by the same guys that check the city and school buses.  Really nice guys, all very interested in cars.  They put the Spyder up on a lift meant to support a grey hound bus and checked the suspension.  They were impressed with Special Editions work and signed off on my inspection paperwork.  I then sat with the supervisor as he completed my registration and I left the lot with plates and tags.

I appreciate the support and guidance that you guys provided my project.  Also, I can't say enough about my experience working with Special Editions.  Great response to question during the selection and build process and the support after delivery has been great.         

Very sweet, Tom. Congratulations.

That's great news, Tom!

When I went for my replica inspection here in Mass. everyone on my Hot Rod side hoped that I wouldn't get "Sgt. Burns" as he was a real PITA on inspections.

Turned out I got him and he was very brusk at first ("just give me your paper work and I'll figure it all out in my office") but after it was all over and I had satisfied everything he asked for, he turned out to be a nice guy - even a muscle car motorhead!

These guys have to deal with a lot of salvage cars, many of questionable repair quality, that they have to inspect and certify as OK and put up with a lot of flak from the "mechanics" bringing some of them in, so I can see where they might be a little critical.

Now that you're rolling, we'll have to find an event somewhere near us for the NE group to show up at and check out your new ride!

Congratulations and happy Father's Day!!