Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[bjacko]

Those budgie mirrors are available from Paul Beck brand new clones of Desmo mirror, not cheap though but seem to be good quality.

[Miken]

Thats who i got mine from.

[Miken]

My cars engine had a bit of a misfire.
I traced this to the securing screws in the magneto distributor cap that stab into the HT leads being corroded.
One of them was stripped and I couldnt get it out because it just revolved.
I found another cap on ebay for £5 which turned out to be even worse.
All 4 screws on this one had the screwdriver slots twisted off and I could not move them.
Here is how I reclaimed the 2 caps.
I turned up a little drilling bush from brass (any metal would have done).
I was then able to drill up the centre of the screws with the cap held in the vice and using a cordless drill.
The original screws were 4ba and the threads were all rather tired.
This enabled me to drill for an M4 tap and re-cut the threads oversize to accept modified M4 stainless screws.
I was able to save both caps and will keep one for a spare.
I see new ones are available for £160!
After a quick continuity check i was back on the road again.

[alastairq]

I do look forward to your 'fixes;...especially the money-saving ones....

[Miken]

The original fan belt on my car was a linked belt as shown in the owners handbook below.
My car came with the more usual Vee type continuous belt.
This was extremely difficult to fit around the lower pulley because of the proximity of the starting handle crank housing.
I dont know if the original type are available but i found this type as shown in the other pictures which i think looks ok.
It is called a "nutlink" belt (i dont know why there are no nuts used in its construction) and it can be lengthened or shortened by adding or subtracting links and joined after threading it around the pulleys.
Also for safeties sake I replaced the drippy taper cock fuel tap with a modern motorcycle type.
I purchased a new taper drain cock for the radiator and it leaked hopelessly. So i didnt bother wasting more money on a taper type for the fuel.

[47Jag]

Mike,

This type of belt was used on large computer disk drives in the 80s, so I did a wee search and look what I found. https://www.bearingboys.co.uk/Nutlink-V-Belting-1036-c

Art

[Peter_L]

I remember seeing these on large plant in the 70's. Fitters liked them because there was often a box of spare links next to the plant or in their tool bag. For a slipping belt, take out a couple of links, "crowbar" it back on and get back to the important homework, like making "car ramps", garden gates, weather vanes... etc....

[Miken]

[Miken]

My Daily car is a diesel.
I went to fill up the Morris yesterday and almost used the wrong pump.
Today i have made and fitted a push in restrictor disc to my tank filler to prevent embarrassing mistakes.

[colwyn500]

Is there anything you can't make?

Amazed as always.

[Miken]

[Miken]

All of the 8 brake rods on my car were all bent and dog legged. The 2 front ones were worn more than half way through where they have been rattling against a chassis part for I dont know how long. The clevis ends were badly worn, the rocking link (i dont know what its called) was very worn and wobbly so I have made new bits.
The clevis ends were commercially available items from "Bearing boys"

[Bitumen Boy]

[Miken]

[quote="Bitumen Boy

How and where did you learn how to do all this impressive and obviously useful stuff? Would that I could do it myself, you're taking self sufficiency to a whole new level.[/quote]

I was apprenticed as a machine toolmaker in 1978 and have worked in engineering since then.

[Bitumen Boy]