MTFCA Forum

Out of curiosity I would like to know what the bearing inner diameter measurement is using a precision inside micrometer. My suspicion is the bearing is within tolerance. Since the Ruckstell bronze part is relatively soft, it is easy to form it under size if the bearing tilts ever so slightly while ...

Get some glass fiber reinforced packing tape. It doesn't stretch. Carefully apply the tape on the flat part of the inside perimiter of the steel felloe next to the spokes. Cut the ends of the tape so they just touch. Remove tape and re-apply on a flat surface. Measure the length and divide by PI. (3...

I found on our car when attempting to chase the petcock threads with a new 1/8 pipe tap, that the tap would bottom out against the flywheel before enlarging the threads in the pan. The tap length needed to be shortened to work.

I used a small external extension spring to keep the NH carburetor choke lever open on our car. I installed one end of the spring in one of the holes in the choke lever, then stretched the spring down and around the float bowl and attached the other end to the drain spigot handle. I did it in such a...

The VW distributors need an external ground from the distributor head to the engine to insure electrical continuity while the engine is running. Otherwise the vibrations from the running engine can cause an intermittent connection between the distributor and the ground path and cause rough running.

With the magnets removed from the flywheel, it is common to add flappers to churn the oil. Contrary to what many people think, the flappers are not needed, especially if there is a starter ring gear installed. Also, the flappers are prone to breakage if not built strong enough. I have seen that happ...

Lots of warm engine free starts may indicate that the carburetor mixture is set too rich.

Tony, After messing with the radius rods on the rear end of your car, you should check that the rear wheels are properly aligned. Fellow club member Less V's 13 touring was wearing out rear tires way too soon. He found the rear wheels had considerable tow-out. He was able to correct it by adjusting ...

Steve, If you haven't already, Try adding compressed air through the spark plug holes. That may help in determining where the compression pressure is escaping. Another thing to help identify the problem is to look at what has changed since it was running well. Doing this is not easy and requires lot...

I had a timer brush spring that had too much force fail on a tour years ago. The spring got hot enough from the friction of the brush against the timer contact face that it lost its temper and collapsed. I replaced it with a spring from a ball point pen and continued on the tour. The car ran for man...

There are several things that can be done to help prevent the pistons from seizing. The aluminum pistons that are available today are not optimally designed and manufactured. The areas where the skirts attach to the top part of the piston is comparatively large and lets a lot of heat to transfer to ...

Big Boy 4014 Linkages

Catalina Island 1988; K thru 8th grade school kids posing in car.
I think 11-13 kids got in the car at once, because who wants to go second?

I found on a couple of 1925 1926 blocks I disassembled that the rear main bearings had a considerable amount of contaminants embedded in them. On earlier engines that was not the case. I believe this is because the later blocks have oil supply holes for the rear main drilled on both the front side a...

I have seen a piston pin become slightly tight in a piston after the pin clamping bolt was tightened in the connecting rod. The pin fit was fine before the bolt was tightened and fine when the bolt was loosened. I think it is because the rod does not clamp the pin with even force around the perimete...