My wife was feeling a bit better and doing some house cleaning today in the den. She found an 8 track and asked me if I wanted to keep it or toss it...Seriously? "In the garden of Eden baby"
I'm just glad she asked first! It was pouring down rain today here so I didn't get a chance to listen to it. Perhaps tomorrow.
This is a fairly common site in the Olds, tapes on the console, tapes on the floor, tapes on the seat, tapes in the jockey box and tapes in the glove compartment. Which got me thinking...WWDOD (what would Doctor Oldsmobile do)? BTW, that iron ****erfly tape broke first time through My daughter had bought me a plastic storage box for the trunk at a garage sale that is always flopping around. Exactly like this one I saw on CL this morning for $5 (I needed a before picture as I failed to think ahead before diving in) With individual slots to hold the tapes. I did some measuring under the 8 Track player and I had enough room to hold 6 tapes (two rows of 3). So under the band saw it went. I used the two end pieces so there would be a "floor" to the unit for stability and looks and epoxied them together. I gave some thought to stacking the tapes vertically but it didn't look pleasing to the eye and you can't read the labels without ****ing your head Thus horizontal it is! In the picture above you can see what used to be the lid to the box (wood-grained plastic piece) cut to size. I epoxied that to the top of my creation and let it sit over night under the clamps. Again, for rigidity, as this is just cheap plastic, and to make mounting it easier. The 8 track deck sits at an upright angle under the dash. I need this box to sit at least at that angle or even more, to keep from launching tapes all over the interior when I hit the loud pedal. This morning, before work, I gave it a cursory shot of semi flat black and when I get home I will figure out how to mount it and report back.
The box is looking good and seems very structurally sound. The top piece that I cut from the lid did not quite fit, just a bit outside. I could live with it but why would I? I scrounged around the metal bin and found some aluminum and cut it to fit. I polished the leading edge but left the rest brushed to match the deck and the console. A bit more epoxy and clamps required.
Installation done. Tapes loaded. That curly line is to the line loc ****on in the shift knob. I used a guitar plug on the front of the console to make the shift knob detachable for maintenance and repairs to the dual gate shifter. I had to be able to get to the plug and make sure the tapes could get in and out easily past it. The little aluminum piece is not very noticeable, But I know it is there. Groovy! I'll give it the "launch test" tomorrow.
Then you knew I was cool! I have had that tape since high school, sort of like a good luck charm. I don't care if it still plays, as long as it still works.
I have a Nugent but it broke. Most of my favorites do. I had an 8 channel reel to reel that would play 8 tracks. Just ****e the tapes together and wind em up on a reel. Hours of tunes. anyone got an 8 channel pioneer reel to reel they wants to sell?
I found a good deal on a 200 CD Sony changer on epay. Free shipping/free returns for 100 bucks. I bought it. I get days of music that way without touching the damn thing. I may move all my stereo equipment into a cabinet and seal the door with weatherstripping to keep it cleaner, but then I have to add fans to cool it.
Girl taking orders at the coffee stand the other day sees the tapes under the dash and asks "what are those?". I said 8 track tapes. She asked "what are those?". I said they hold music, each holds one album. She asks "what's an album?". To which I replied "hand me my coffee".
Skies are a bit threatening today so I put the top and windows up when I got to work. Been a while since the gl*** all worked . I forgot about this guy
The Jalopy Journal
