Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

baconsdozen · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 1119 Location: Under the car.

A while back I bought one of those 'Spark convertors' at a car boot sale for 50p just to cut it open and see how it was supposed to work. Basically it was a blob of plastic that held the cut ends of a HT lead apart by a 1/8 inch or so. Its the posh version of the old shirt button trick. (Anyone remember that) to get oiled up plugs to fire.I'm not sure if this was an old wives tale or snake oil, can anyone else think of any examples of items that should belong in this category?.
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roverdriver · Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2015 11:43 am Post subject:

From the very first, and certainly during the Vintage era, spark plugs of an amazing range of configurations were made. The plug with an air gap outside of the combustion chamber was a design produced by several plug manufacturers. Here are a couple of photos.

The one on the left has an enclosed air gap. the one on the right has a priming cup built in.

Another odd air-gap type

There were many less elaborate ones made as well. As far as snake oil, I don't know how well any of them behaved, but there were lots made and sold in their time.
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ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4231 Location: South Cheshire

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22779 Location: UK

Did the "extractor" exhaust trims ever make a difference to how well an engine performed?

RJ
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Ronniej · Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 7:55 am Post subject:

[quote="Rick"]Did the "extractor" exhaust trims ever make a difference to how well an engine performed?

When I saw the heading for this post the "exhaust extractor" was the first thing I thought of. Something a bit like a filling funnel attached to the exhaust pipe at the rear to (hopefully) create a suction effect to improve engine breathing.
If you browse the pages of magazines like "Car Mechanics" from the '60s there are many products offered with extravagant claims to their effect.
There were numerous "Econimisers" with claims to significant improvements in MPG but most of these simply restricted engine breathing so, if they worked at all, it would be at the price of performance.

Ashley · Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 1426 Location: Near Stroud, Glos

For years I and my wife both got emails offering us pills that would enlarge our thingammies. She didn't want one and I didn't believe them.

Rolling Eyes

roverdriver · Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 11:11 am Post subject:

Just fitted special spark plugs that are guaranteed to save 10% on fuel, a new carburettor that will save 30%, distributor to save another 20%, new gearbox oil to save another 10%, exhaust extractors that will save 20%, tyres that will save 15%.

I now expect to have to stop every 50 or so miles to syphon off the excess petrol from the tank! Laughing

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Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 7076 Location: Derby

A couple of years ago I fitted some 'Brisk' silver electrode spark plugs to my P38 Range Rover which were supposed to be designed for LPG. In fairness to the manufactures they recommended that you have the engine 'tuned' to avoid the risk of a misfire which I duly did. At first the performance was good but it eventually tailed off. Recently, I noticed a misfire and decided to replace the leads (a pig of a job) and to my surprise, the gaps were all over the place. One had practically closed up and some others were too big. I have not experienced this before and can only assume the silver electrodes which may well be excellent as a conductor of electricity but poor because they are too soft.

I have now (at considerable expense) fitted Magnecor leads and LPG specified NGK iridium plugs. Normal service has been resumed.

As I say - a pig of a job Evil or Very Mad

Penman · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4850 Location: Swindon, Wilts.

Hi
Do multi-ground electrode spark plugs count or are they actually better than normal plugs?
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Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 7076 Location: Derby

Personally, I don't think there is any difference although I imagine that they would be less likely to oil up. I had some Lodge multi ground electrode plugs in my Austin Seven and they went on for years and years and they were working fine when I changed them - and I don't really know why I did! Confused

baconsdozen · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 1119 Location: Under the car.

Reference the exhaust extractors. In an old magazine I have somewhere there is an advert for one that consists of a cone that goes on the end of the exhaust with a free running propellor inside it. Its claimed that the forward motion of the car spins the propellor and this sucks out the exhaust gases increasing power!.
I must try and find it.
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goneps · Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2015 1:23 am Post subject:

baconsdozen · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 1119 Location: Under the car.

I think you are talking about different things. Early racing motorcycles used 'megaphone' exhausts which were carefully shaped to help scavenge exhaust gases,the science behind them was quite complex the exhaust scavengers were a bit hit and miss (with emphasis I think on the miss). They worked,and worked well.http://www.burnsstainless.com/Theory.aspx
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Thirty years selling imperial hand tools for old machinery(Now happily retired).

stevel98 · Joined: 04 Apr 2014 Posts: 74

Old motorcycles made most power when the pipe was short, but this was illegal for racing as the rules stated that the pipe must be long enough to run to the end of the bike, so to keep the short pipe power increase, the megaphone was invented to reduce back pressure and keep it all legal for racing.

stevel98 · Joined: 04 Apr 2014 Posts: 74

There are some items that look dodgy but actually work like K-Seal coolant protection (not to be confused with Radweld). It fixed my mil's cracked cylinder head on her Suzuki Jeep that was losing a full radiatorfull every day and is actually used in certain hi spec cars from new (RR for one). GM have their own part number for it.

My other favourite is Lucasoil steering system conditioner and stop leak. It does what it says on the bottle and gives great feel to power steering systems (its like ATF, but thicker). Been running it in my Corvette's power steering for many years now, problem free.

Modern Corvettes have a magnetic 'pusator' device fitted into the fuel line just after the fuel pump outlet to "smooth" out the fuel pulses.. Dunno if it works as I dumped mine in favour of a simple bit of correct length and type of fuel pipe.