Engine ground straps are essential, as they provide the ground connection for the starter motor, which typically draws 200-300 amperes. Should a ground strap be badly frayed, corroded, or otherwise unable to support this current, the starter motor will not be able to function efficiently. In extreme cases, the current will be carried by whatever…
A significant improvement in tail lamp brightness can be achieved by making a reflector out of silver mylar. Don’t bother trying to cut the mylar to exact size. It’s too flimsy to work with easily. Fold an oversized piece into quarters, and cut off the corner to make hole just large enough for the base…
My `54 TF developed a condition that would result in a dead battery after being parked for more than a month. Normal trouble-shooting tests revealed a constant current drain of about .2 amps. The problem was traced to the horns. It seems that rain water had entered them and built up a conductive layer of…
Tired of breaking those little side marker bulbs on your British car? Seems like every time you try to pull one out or put one in, either the bulb breaks or you get your fingers sliced on the housing. Here’s an easier way. Take a 1/2″ internal diameter hose line length, and insert it over…
As a small child, one of the great mysteries of life was whether or not the light stayed on in the refrigerator after you closed the door. This is a big issue for most kids. Unfortunately, I could never figure out how to tell for sure without getting inside and closing the door, and I…
If you have ever wondered how that simple looking little three prong flasher unit actually performs the task of blinking the turn signal lamps on and off this no-nonsense explanation should unveil the mystery. Beyond that, it will provide information of a practical nature which should be useful in diagnosing and repairing a faulty turn…
Does your car let you down every time you try to start it, or those wipers only work when it is not raining? Perhaps the indicators go dim every time you apply the brakes, and the horn only operates when the lights are off. Before you go out to buy new lights, horns, switch gear,…
Speedo Troubles? Failures of the right angle speedometer drive adaptors are often caused by the required washer (Moss #324-720) not being installed. This causes excessive end load and premature failure of the angle drive’s pinion.
Don’t assume that removing the thermostat is going to help. More often than not it will make the problem worse. Thermostats, aside from limiting water flow to the radiator when the engine is cold, control how fast water goes through the radiator. This may not be a big deal with the car sitting still and…
Rebushing carburetor bodies and fitting new throttle shafts is a major part of a proper carb rebuild that is often overlooked. Vacuum leaks due to worn bodies and shafts cause rough idle, poor performance and poor fuel economy. Checking the shaft and body clearance is a simple matter of wiggling the shafts up and down….
