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Hi all, I guess everyone has noticed at some time or other, how often, (usually when idling), cars will "spit" water droplets from the exhaust tailpipes? I have seen this from quite a number of cars of all makes and models, both old and new, so I understand it can be a normal occurrence. I...

Hi all. Do any you guys know if there is a way to test a condenser using a good old fashioned analogue multi-meter. I sometimes have cause to make capacitance readings at work, using an analogue ohms meter to estimate the length of underground comms cables. I know the theory on capacitors...

Hi all, Yesterday while pondering starting issues, I noticed the battery cable connection to the starter motor was loose. Tried tightening it only to discover that the thread on the brass stud is so beat it's almost non-existent, so the 1/2" nut just spins around. Not a prob (I thought to...

I know you guys love to laugh once in a while, so go ahead n laugh away! OK, now you're done here's the question. Do stock Ford head gaskets have a right n wrong, up n down, or back to front? I'm lookin at my new gaskets and scratchin my head hard, but I cant see much of a difference either...

I'm about to install new head gaskets and retorque the heads on an old 24-stud, using the existing head-studs. Is it a good idea to use an anti-sieze compound to aid in removal if required in the future? I'm also told that it allows the correct torque to be "applied" to the heads without...

Hi all. Just been through a few older threads on this to see if I could get a few clues but I thought I'd outline this particular case in a new thread cos it seems a little strange. Here goes... I have had this old flattie running for about a year now, though it has spent next to no time on...

I just spent a couple days pulling apart the crab dizzie off my '47 Merc. While removing it I noticed there was a home-made spacer between the distributor and timing cover. It is about 1/3" thick and without it the distributor cannot be reinstalled because the shaft from the distributor...

This will either sound completely out of left field, or someone will say "why didn't anyone think of this before". I've been getting a little too obsessed lately about the state of my crab distibutor, and what I can do with this thing to help the old gal be "the best she can be". As a guy who...

My apologies in advance to those who have been over this stuff a hundred times already but we'll go down the same track for those with a little patience. I just cleaned and reset the points on my '47 with crab distributor. Set them both as best I could to 16thou. One was at a little under 12...

I'm about to pull the heads off my old flattie to check that I've got no sticking valves. Found a good-lookin pair of copper head gaskets in a bunch of stuff out back. Is there a way of tellin if they're OK or should I just bolt em in and do the usual checks? They both look real good. Can...

Hi guys. Just tried searching through past threads for this one cos I know it must have been covered many times. Trouble is I'm not the quickest at this sort of thing so I'll start a new thread (at least it'll be short n sweet). What kind of pressures would one expect in an older flattie v a...

I've just installed a new oil pressure guage in my '47 Merc stock engine of unknown pedigree (and miles). I'm pretty sure the big ends and/or mains are a little tired due to the occassional knock I hear from the bottom end somewhere. However I'm not in the mood (nor have the dollars) for...

Hi all. Had my brake pressure switch short out on me yesterday. Unfortunately it had shorted out through the switch itself, and by the time I realised, the battery was drained flat. While under the car taking the faulty unit out, I got to thinking about the less-than-perfect state of the...

Does anyone know anything about oil viscosity for a stock flattie. I have just changed the oil in the old girl. Guy at the store recommended a standard 20/50 weight oil which he says is good for all old or worn engines ( I think his idea of an old engine is anything prior to 1985 judging by...

Been messing lately with plug fouling issues in my '47. Until today she wouldn't idle more than 5 mins before the plugs were covered in black soot and starting to foul out. Have finally gotten her running at idle for extended periods without fouling by leaning the idle mixture right back so...