Classic Car Parts

Update on the motor oil blog post

Categories:

The little article about motor oil for our classics, are extending week by week. This week both feedback from Comma and Royal Purple has been added, adding to feedback from Statiol, Castrol and Penrite. A big thanks to you that took the time and effort to give me your elaborate feedback. Very much appreciated! This gives us as consumers valuable information and makes it easier to take care of our old engines.

You find the updated article here:
http://classic-cars-codex.blogspot.no/2012/08/classic-car-motor-oils.html

Best regards
Morten

Modellmesse Borrehallen 20-21 Oktober 2012

Categories:

Vi tok en tur innom Modellmessen i Borrehallen - en fin liten søndagstur, og mange flotte utstillingsmodeller. Her var det noe for både store og små - alt fra Gråtass traktoren, til avanserte Legofigurer, modellbiler, tog, helikoptere og fly. Og ikke minst noen imponerende tegninger av Erland Dilling, som også var tilstede for en hyggelig prat.
Dette er noe av det flotteste jeg har sett i modell-bil verdenen. Klikk på bildet for å se detaljene.

Erland Dilling og hans fabelaktive tegninger - fremst hans Volvo modelloversikt. Alt håndtegnet med høy presisjon.

Lego i mer avansert utførelse - ingeniørkunst.

Her er det en og annen modell å velge i

Fantastiske brannbiler!

Gråtass var populær!

Nok en flott modellbil fra messen.

Morten

American Bantam '39

Categories: American Bantam

American Bantam 1939

Walt Disney's Donald Duck has always inspired me, or to be more correct - I have enjoyed following his live more or less since I was born. His red car that first appeared in 1937, I have found strange, not thinking that it is so tightly connected to a real car. And I have never bothered to look it up, before my uncle returned with this picture of a 1939 American Bantam, taken in Alaska in September. The connection to Donald's car is obvious, and could be confirmed by an article on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Austin_Car_Company)

Funny looking car :)

Morten

Chrome shine and conservation

Categories: Chrome conservation

Can I get the Chrome shine back, please?

I find it a good investment of time to try and keep the chrome nice and shiny. Like most other things, chrome reacts to environment over time, but it is possible to slow down and almost stop the process. I've gathered some tips for others, and done a bit of testing myself as well.

How to protect the car's chrome when storing

Earlier I've tried out a few chrome polished, which I applied to the car's bumpers and chrome details in the start of the season and before winter storage (here in Norway the winter is long and cold with snow and salt on the roads - no climate for running a classic car).
Chrome polish is all good, but I still could see the chrome degrading. Another tip, which seem very good and has been tested over many years, was applying diesel oil/fuel (light spray) on the chrome before winter. This I have seen done on a Mustang for many years - the chrome is still perfect.
I contacted a well known chroming / re-chroming company, to get some tips on how to keep the chrome well protected. Their best tip was to apply Vaseline (without acid!) on the chrome before winter. This they have tested on chrome in salty/sea side environment (boats etc), with good results over time. For me both this tips works fine - the diesel is a bit easier to clean up in the spring time, though. I also got a lot of other tips, but these two I found best - no expencive, special stuff needed.

So the best tips would be:

Light spray of Diesel oil/fuel
Vaseline (without acid)
In-season, chrome polish (wouldn't use it to often)

Vaseline - acid free

How to get the shine back in old chrome

As for getting the shine back in older chrome, I've tested a few products. First of all, don't rub and polish chrome that is bright and perfect, too often. There is always a chance of damaging good chrome - so don't overdo it. Talking by experience.
I tried a product from Autosol called Kromglans - they advertice with cleaning away rust and getting the shine back, especially on old chrome. I tried it on a piece of older chrome with some visible corrosion and bubbles, and a piece of fairly new chrome. First - I'm not using it on mint chrome anymore - it got clean, but some light wear could be seen. To get the compund cleaned away after applied, some rubbing has to be done, which could lead to visible wear.

On the old chrome - I could see the chrome being cleaned, or at least more shiny, but I couldn't see any change in the corrosion areas. I am not convinced really, I have seen the similar effect of earlier tested compinds/polishes. One element I have no idea of, is to what degree any of these products will have a negative impact on the chrome over time. Kromglans has done well in tests.

If you have really tough spots/problem areas, then you can use steel wool (meant for chrome polish, very fine grades).

Chrome before applying Kromglans

Same piece after Kromglans treatment - click to enlarge

Products mentioned
Kromglans from Autosol: https://autosol.com/shop/category/auto-care/
More about chrome polishes: http://www.squidoo.com/chromepolish
Steel wool: http://www.westernwooddoctor.com/steelwool.htm

I find this site interessting regarding re-chroming:
http://www.rechromebumper.com/process.cfm

Something was cleaned away between the pictures above.

The article will be updated with new information, if new ideas/suggestions comes in.

Morten

My Triumph TR6 PI

Categories: My Triumph TR6

1973 Triumph TR6 PI - Manual with overdrive, Left hand drive

This TR6 I have put a lot of heart and time in getting in the state it is today. It is generally not so important to keep the car to the original spec, many upgrades are done, however the look I try to keep like the original.

Most recent picture - exhibition in Stavern (click to enlarge)

First time registered: April 30^th, 1973
Swedish number plate, 1989-2009: PAB 245
First time registered in Norway: May 7^th, 2010 (LY 68367)

Chassis no: CF7437UO
Engine: MH108HE / 6 cyl 2.5 Liter 150+ hp
Gear box: 4 speed w J-type Overdrive on 3^rd and 4^th.
Fuel delivery: Bosch fuel pump and Metering unit, Injection
Alternator: 22D
Color: Sapphire Blue
Interior: Black
Mileage: about 134’ km. Not confirmed.

GENERAL FOR THE TR6 (73)

Dimensions: 3.95 m (length), 1.55 m (width), 1.27 m (height).
Weight (dry): 1122 kg.
Wheelbase: 2.235 m
Engine capacity: 4,25 liters (refill) – 5,1 L total.
Manual gearbox w J-overd. capacity: 1,5 L
Rear axle: 1,27 L
Cooling system (inc heater): 6,2 L.

I just love these lines - simple but beautiful!

ABOUT MY CAR

This is originally a US spec ’73 car, but converted to PI spec early ‘80s. The engine is a ’71 2.5 PI engine, the rather rare engine prefix tells that this was an engine exported for the Swedish marked. A lot of things have been changed and upgraded in my ownership (see work done list), but the car has been a nice drive all along. The fairly new original exterior color, sapphire blue, is matched with a white hood. The wheels are original iron rims, sand blasted recently, with US style chrome sides. The metering unit and distributor have been on visit to England for a fix-up, new fuel and brake pipes have been fitted, as well as new fuel pump and filter and also aluminum petrol tank. The exhaust system is a new s/s Phoenix big bore system (what a sound!).
A roll bar has been fitted some time ago, and a transparent Lexan piece has been fitted in/on the roll bar as a protection from back draft. The suspension has Spax shocks and new springs, slightly lowered.

I have tried a couple of different steering wheels, and a black leathered Tourist Trophy 14” is my choice. The steering rack is new, and responds very nice. The instruments, following the ’73 layout with needles pointing upwards and chrome finish – all very nice – looks quite good in the new dashboard in matt, close to original finish.
Carpets and interior original all black, is recently changed to beige, and are matching the black seats quite good. Both wind screen and side glass are new.

OWNER HISTORY

US owner(s) - unknown pre-Sweden
Mr. Winell, Sweden 1989-Aug 21^st 2009.
Mr. Høyseth, Sandefjord area, 2009 ->

Picture taken with the previous steering wheel, 15" Tourist Trophy, nice but to big. Before I changed to beige carpets. Note the dashboard - from my point of view, one of the most beautiful finishes.

MODIFICATIONS FROM ORIGINAL

Engine – PI engine fitted in US car, metering unit
Bosch fuel pump and filter
Spax shacks
Springs, slightly lowered
Headlight electronics
Cd player
Beige carpets
Upgraded steering rack
Aluminum petrol tank
Speedometer changed to km/t, rather than mph
New bumpers front/back. Rear bumper fitted with bumper mounted plate lamp (not correct on ’73)
Exhaust – Phoenix s/s performance manifold and big bore system
Roller bar w/Lexan draft protection
New dashboard and hazard switch
Battery cut-off switch inside the car
Emergency bonnet release switch
Special hood
Steering wheel – Tourist Trophy black leather
KN filter
Revotec electronic cooling fan

Couple of years old picture of engine bay - a few things have changed. The electronic fan, steel braided injection hoses, air supply, radiator and cooling system brush-up etc.

WORK DONE LATELY (all 2012)

Welded inner wheel arcs, rear, and new back B-posts.
Paint job – original color
New fuel lines – all new hoses, new petrol tank, new fuel filter and Bosch pump, new PRV.
Chassis waxed – inspected floors.
New carpets, new under-felt and seat mountings
New side windows and door waxed inside. Sound deadening.

RECENT EVENT HISTORY

Exhibition, Stavern Sept 2012
Spiralløpet, Drammen 2011
Grevlingløpet, Sandefjord 2011
Gladløpet, Stavern 2011

WORK TO BE DONE

Straight up the panel gap door/rear wing, the chassis is sound, but a bit lazy.
Mont the new hood
Redo some areas not so nice from the initial paint job
Fit Lumenition optic ignition system
Rattling noise when door closes

From summer 2012 - I have not yet mounted the hood after repaint.

To be continued...

Morten

My Jaguar Mk2

Categories: My jaguar mk2

1962 Jaguar Mk2 3.8L Manual with overdrive, Left hand drive

A car this age has a lot of story to tell, and as the curious person I am, I'll try to get collect as much historic data about this particular car as possible, and update this page accordingly.

My Jaguar - Picture taken in Larvik, Norway 2012

First time registered: June 26^th, 1962 in Oslo, Norway.
Original license plate A-12628 - changed to 0-308 .

Chassis no: 221138DN
Engine: LC 2116-8 / 3.8L 6 cyl 220 HP
Gear box: GBN 6203JS O/ Moss 4 speed w Overdrive Synch on 2^nd,3^rdand 4^th.
Carburetors: 2 x S.U. H.D.6
Body no: S020535
Color: Old English White
Interior: Red
Mileage: about 134’ km. Not confirmed.

GENERAL FOR THE MK2

Dimensions: 4.591 m (length), 1.695 m (width), 1.460 m (height).
Weight (dry): 1391 kg.
Turning circle: 10.21 m
Ground clearance: 178 mm
Wheelbase: 2.727 m
Petrol tank: 54,5 liters
Engine capacity: 6,25 liters (refill) – 7,5 liters total.
Manual gearbox w overd. capacity: 2,25 liters(L). (Automatic: 8,5 L. Manual no overdrive: 1,5 L)
Rear axle: 1,5 L
Cooling system (inc heater): 12,5 L.

Interior - all stickers are now removed, gear lever changed.

ABOUT MY CAR
Original car, matching numbers. The red interior leather has the right patina, from 1962. The interior wood work is intact and nice, but needs some attention. It has chrome wire wheels, with white side tires. It has the correct instruments (all Smiths except from the Lucas Amp meter), all working except the clock. The chassis and body is straight and healthy – no rust is found.
It has got the Moss box, with non-synchro first gear – a bit heavy and slow, but charming. The overdrive makes it a very good cruiser.
The engine is running smooth, and the 3.8 L responds nicely to any initiative. Giving it a faster/improved gear box would be no mistake, but this car will keep t original as long as I have it.
The chrome is good all around. The round side mirrors are mounted on the doors, and antenna is on the left, front wing. The original radio does not work, but looks great.
Probably repainted in original color sometime in the 80’s.

Seats - the seat belts are now changed.