When remembering the outstanding scientists and inventors of yore, several great names immeadiately come to mind: Edison, Bell, Tesla. But then, there is Lucas…the Prince of Darkness. This man is singularly famous for turning electrical science into a black art. When it comes to Lucas electrics, it’s really all about preventing the smoke from escaping…
Memorial Day weekend usually signals the start of summer in this part of the country, and warm weather can be expected. If you drive a post sixties little British car, then you shouldn’t have much trouble with overheating as long as: 1) your cooling system is full of 2-to-1 mixture of water and antifreeze 2)…
Whew! Let’s do something a little bit less ambitious this time. How about a new fuel pump? Of course, you don’t just replace the pump for the hell of it. The obvious scenario is that the damn thing won’t pee a drop, so you swap it for a new one and bada-bing, it’s a done…
A roadster can provide relief from muggy weather. It can transform a tedious errand into a little adventure, but there are considerations: Seats that roast buns, temperature gauges that threaten, carbs that boil, insects and haze—all of these can be the ingredients that are the makings of adventure. I prefer a temperate autumn day, clear…
It took three “Pint Projects”: Rear Brake Disassembly Rear Brake Reassembly Front Caliper Rebuild …but now all four wheels have as-new brakes! Not so fast. What about the other stuff? Brake boosters may need some attention, and a brand new one will almost certainly improve braking. Some styles of booster can be rebuilt at home,…
Maybe after this we can get that little car down off the jack stands…maybe. I think last time we gave up on the back brakes and it’s time to move forward and rebuild the front calipers. Remove the front wheels to gain access to the disk brake calipers. Afflicted with CRS? Do one side at…
I recently installed a cigarette lighter in my 1960 big Healey, in preparation for a trip that would need my Garmin and cellphone charger. I used the large hole where the windshield washer hand pump used to go (I had replaced that with an electric pump and pushbutton switch). Then it fortunately occurred to me…
There’s an old saying, it’s always easier to take something apart than it is to put it back together. This, for sure, is the case with engines, but there are lots of things an engine can tell you when you conduct engine repairs or disassemble it for rebuild. Your first order of business is to…
The following are suggestions for working inside in an environment that you share with your family: 1. Do not use the clothes washer/dryer as a work bench • Talk about warpage when welding, try porcelain coated steel. • While extra holes help clothes dry more quickly, auto parts and black spots are hard to explain…
“What the heck is that?” a pedestrian on the corner yelled out. I grinned and introduced my ’63 MGB, a car that’s twice my age. British cars were never completely foreign to me. My dad had a really awesome E-Type. He was a huge British car nut ever since he bought a 1965 Spitfire at…
