Miata Mailing List: December 1999, Message #174

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    Okay I forwarded this messege to my boyfriend.  I think this sounds like 
a good idea.  I don't think he will mind one bit...

Tina Risner
'99 Black
"The Pod Racer"
Grand Rapids, Michigan

In a message dated 12/2/99 10:12:40 AM Pacific Standard Time, hank@grove.net 
writes:

<< Tina, Tina, Tina.... this 'tall boyfriend space deficit' problem is a very
 common one often encountered by folks on the list.  A couple of sure fire
 DIY fixes come to mind.  First pre-fit your boyfriend by having him sit in
 the car and determining exactly which part or parts of his anatomy are in
 distress.  Then get a good power saw (I've found a 7" Skill rotary works
 well, but a hacksaw will do in a pinch), some really good personal ear
 protection.  This is very Important and I can't stress it enough.
 Particularly if your boyfriend has good lungs.  Lastly but also important
 plenty of bandages.  Don't scrimp here Tina, you want a nice clean garage
 when your through.  OK, your now ready to begin.  At this point you may
 begin to notice some grumbling from your work project but pay no mind.  Rest
 assured that these grumbling will be  replaced by screams (of delight) when
 he sees the end result.  Place your boyfriend horizontally on a good sturdy
 work bench.  I recommend a Heavy Duty Black & Decker WorkMate with a wide
 jaw vise......... Of course if you'd rather not do a permanent fix, you can
 opt for a temporary one by just folding him in half when the need arises,
 then inserting him laterally into the car.  This 'folding' fix has some
 obvious benefits.  1) It's less costly since no tools or expendables (i.e.
 bandages) are required and 2)  It allows you to unfold him when his height
 does not represent a problem.  You may have heard that in the past some have
 modified this fix to include a good, high quality brass piano hinge.  Brass
 although more expensive, is preferable since it eliminates rust as a problem
 thus the 'squeaky hinge' noise so often associated with the use of steel
 hinges for this purpose. This may be a good way to go but I can't recommend
 it at present since it is a departure from the original mod and I haven't
 had a chance to test it on a project over 6'.  I do hope this reaches you
 before you attempt the novice's approach of modifying your Miata.  This
 really isn't a viable option since it involves defacing your car, and let's
 face it Tina, as a Miata owner I just know you have your priorities
 straight.  Who wants to mess up a perfectly good Miata, right?  BTW a word
 to the wise, soundproofing generously applied to the interior garage walls
 goes a long way toward placating those pesky next door neighbors.  You know
 the ones I'm talking about, always sticking their noses into other folks
 business, we all have them.  First little scream and right away they want to
 know what's going on...don't get me started.  It also helps to keep the
 police uninvolved and away from your doorstep while performing either of
 these mods.  When finished I'm sure both you and your boyfriend will be
 pleasantly surprised at how easily he fits into your car and as an added
 bonus you didn't have to tamper with your toy.  I'm sure at least you can
 look forward to many years of happy motoring after this simple mod. Good
 luck Tina, always happy to be of assistance.
   >>