Recent content by Trapdoor2

I'll likely never have to start the Coupe below 71F, mainly because she resides in a HVAC garage...at 71F. I do follow the "move the hand throttle down until the accelerator button moves" routine. In my Coupe, this is a little less than halfway down on the hand throttle. I don't mess with the...

Education is key. There are dozens of videos on YouTube that cover almost every aspect. Look for Paul Shinn's channel, he has at least a couple on doing pre-purchase evaluations. Essentially, that's what I did last November when I bought mine. I read and watched everything I could. I bought the...

I'm 5'-10" in my size 13 socks. Shoes do add to the difficulty. I had initially targeted a Phaeton but after attempting to sit in the driver's seat of one, I found I couldn't even get my left foot into the car. Sitting in Tudors was no problem if they had the extended seat mounts. Driving the...

I replaced my sediment bowl a few months ago and although I am a former aircraft mechanic and have done this dozens of times, I still cross-threaded the damn thing and had to buy a second one. :( The copper gaskets are the way to go if everything else is OK. Cracks happen, so use magnification...

Now that I have excellent, reliable brakes, I attacked my poorly running engine. It just wouldn't idle at less than 550 and would often die at stop signs. It was cranky, popping, etc. Clearly, I had vacuum issues. So, I pulled the manifolds and found crumbling gaskets across the board. Cleaned...

I installed my new speedo cable (a few months ago) but did not connect it to the transmission, allowing it to be pulled out far enough to protrude out of the hole in the dashboard. I connected the speedo end, installed the instrument dash into the dashboard and then attached the other end to the...

Double post.

Well, in true internet fashion, you've both chosen to react to a single word rather than actually reading and comprehending my post. You overreact as if there were not 30-something previous posts in this thread, and that I somehow suddenly decided you were evil and probably Martian infiltrators...

I'm in the same boat, chasing vacuum leaks. I just pulled my manifold group last night and YIKES! I don't think the gaskets have been seen for 50yrs. Those things just crumbled off of the block in bits and pieces. Only the intake bits hung together a little. Glad I bought new gaskets, studs...

The "Red Book" tells you to make just basic adjustments with the clevis ends and all further balancing is done with the "clicker" (adjusting wedge). Our MAFCA TD's (Paul and Jim) prefer making all adjustments with the clevis ends and only use the wedge for wear once all the adjustments are done...

The trademark is now owned by Mahle Aftermarket and sold as "Mahle Original" piston rings. They're in Michigan but I don't know if their product is made there.

It is encoded in my DNA. 1. Instructions are for wimps. 2. Easy requires blood sacrifice. :D

That is the secret to any worthwhile hobby!

Gee, that's too easy, Paul. Can't I do it the hard way? :D

A week later... Test drive this morning! #1 The engine runs like crap. The vacuum leak has gotten worse as she's been sitting idle. Fortunately, I bought all new gaskets, etc. Just another fun task! #2 Brakes work! At 15mph, and a hard stomp, she pulls just a bit to the left. I think the...