Tech Tips
Ascort and Pellandini
Buckle and Bolwell |
Welcome to SportsCarisma Storybook
Tech Tips
By Ronn Soutar
Welcome to the Motorsport and Classic Car Corner. This month introduces a Technical Tips column to assist all you home mechanics out there. If you have any clever ideas that you would like to share with us, please contact us
Messy stuff. Replacing an oil filter on your car’s engine almost always creates an oily mess in the engine bay and over the garage floor. One way to minimize this hazard is to slip a plastic bag over the old filter after loosening it, before spinning it off. Hold the neck of the bag against the engine block while unscrewing the filter carefully, and all of the spillage will be caught in the bag. Dispose of the contents carefully.
Hot stuff. The quality of coolant in the radiator is vital to the efficiency of the cooling system and the minimization of corrosion in the engine. A buildup of coolant scale and deposits can coat or corrode the exposed surfaces of engine temperature sensors that can affect their accuracy, causing incorrect information to be sent to the engine management computer.
A simple check can be made on coolant condition using a digital volt/ohm meter. With the engine and coolant cold, contact the positive probe to bare metal on the radiator body and dip the negative probe in the coolant liquid at the filler neck. A voltage reading of 0.2V or less is good. A reading of 0.5V should be considered borderline and anything over 0.7V is unacceptable. Flush the system and replace the coolant to manufacturer’s specifications. Remove any water temperature sensors at the next major service and check for coating and contamination.
Clean stuff. Don’t like dirty hands? Before doing any mechanical work, rub on some hand lotion or barrier cream, and work plenty under the nails, too. You’ll be surprised at how easily the gunge comes off afterwards! Keep a half full bucket of warm water handy while you are working. Hang a small soap dispenser filled with dishwashing liquid on the side of the bucket, and have a couple of old towels handy. Use these to keep clean as you go, it will ensure a mess free, satisfying result.
(Source: 1001 More High Performance Tech Tips [HP Books] Wayne Scraba)
BOOK REVIEW
Title: Repairing and Restoring Classic Car Components. 160pp., 250 colour plates. RRP $54.95
Author: P & J Wallage
Reviewer: Ronn Soutar
This book has been written for people who are either interested in classic car restoration, or maintaining a classic in original condition. It contains a wealth of information on workshop practice and an overview of the skills required for the use of common tools and equipment including welding, soldering and heat treating; hacksawing and filing; riveting, drilling and tapping.
More specifically, full colour photographs and a detailed explanatory text lead the reader though the working, dismantling and repair of common components like fuel pumps, distributors, alternators, dynamos and starter motors.
The intricacies of instruments - speedos, tachos and other common gauges and their dial faces - are revealed, and the methodology of restoration and repair are explained in detail.
There are separate chapters on SU, Solex, Zenith, Stromberg and Weber carburettors, again with full colour plates, exploded diagrams and explanatory text to guide the serious restorer through the dismantling and overhauling processes.
The author is an acknowleged expert on classic car restoration as a consequence of a lifetime spent in the motor industry.
Highly recommended for the serious classic car afficionado.
Kit car crazy
SportsCarisma has acquired a kit from Fisher Sports Cars (UK) and the build has commenced. The car is at rolling chassis stage with suspension components installed. A pedal box has been made up and the brake lines are now being fitted. Powered by a 4AGZE engine, a T05 turbo setup replaces the original supercharger, and a Toyota T50 5-speed provides the gears. We will provide a monthly update on the progress of the build.
If you have a special interest in kit cars and wish to share your enthusiasm with us, please contact us
Happy motoring - Ronn |
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