Recent content by Crankster

This is true, but that was my point. When we use carbureted systems, with the new and improved fuel, there can be problems with evaporation, that wasn't nearly as much of a factor with the old school pump gas. There are actually a few tests for a mechanical fuel pump when checking them by the...

"Something has changed" Yes! Gasoline. Since the advent of electronic fuel injection, the refiners don't need to worry about vapor lock. It's an index or specification called Reid Vapor Pressure. Modern fuel tanks are completely sealed, lines, everything. Carburetors were generally open to the...

I don't believe it is an ethanol issue. It probably doesn't help any, but the reason I say that is many people avoid its use altogether esp. in classic or collector cars, and yet still run into the exact same problem with only straight unadulterated gasoline. The vapor pressure standards, the...

"If you hear hoofbeats, think Horses, not Zebras" Check Ignition first, just like the troubleshooting manuals suggest. Inspect spark plugs, and check for the quality of the spark. Are the plugs badly fouled? Remember, we have no way of knowing some of these factors, can only go by the stuff...

Who is this "we" Kemosabe? :) I'm just pointing out the obvious, larger denomination notes are necessary because the currency has been inflated so badly. Have you ever noticed that over time "we" :) have ever and ever more precision and accurate standards by which to measure things? Whether...

Running old, stale oxidized gasoline is a classic method to bend pushrods. It will burn but it tends to gum up valve stems in the guides, dries to a kind of glue. Maybe that isn't what happened here, but it's something to keep in mind. Should at least inspect the other pushrods. A piece of...

Before I forget to mention it, please keep in mind there was a run of aftermarket pushrods with (too small) improper socket clearance to fit properly with the ball adjuster, these tend to crack or break easily. Probably still some out there, lurking. Whatever you choose, make sure they fit the...

Closer to 10. Periodically they will trot out some whack job economist who claims "large bills" should be withdrawn from circulation, because reasons. It is to laugh, because anybody who has been in a grocery store sometime in this century knows a hundred will be vaporized almost instantly. If...

Right, but the rumor is it was designed by Holley?

The Vizard book on tuning Holley carburetors is outstanding. It's also excerpted btw, quite extensively, much of it available online. If I were selling books I'm not sure I'd care for that, but in any case it is very useful for understanding engine tuning. The book is specific to Holley...

Automotive paint, the good stuff, became damnably expensive years ago. I'm pretty sure that's one reason why so-called "patina" became a thing a while back. People pricing body work, prep, and paint just choked on the estimate. The can shortage sounds right. Have read this about numerous...

I think we've all pretty much agreed you're the designated Official Ford Barn Tester, since you've not one, but two (2) free cans. Take one for the team, in the furtherance of human knowledge, understanding, & Stuff.

The "first" gas crisis was probably in 1973 - gasoline went from $3 a barrel to $12, worse, there was an oil embargo by Opec. At the same time dollar devaluations made purchasing power decline rapidly.

Yep, those are the same as used in later years. The T-Bird repro guys have them all made up and ready to go. In my case, I couldn't believe I'd managed to hang on to the companion female carburetor fitting. I can pull an engine and reinstall it no problem, but finding 2 small obscure parts that...

Got a pic? Worth a thousand words, you know. I had a bit of a time finding the type for the later Y-Block, several T-Bird suppliers have them all made up ready to go with pre-bent lines and everything.