DIY Repair Hints and Tips for Little British Cars
You know how much trouble it is to clean all those small nuts, bolts,and washers when you are rebuilding an engine or something. Here is a crude but effective answer. Pictured is a small parts washer I put together from a barbecue cooker basket and screen wire. I bought the basket at Wally World for
If you’ve ever worked on a Spridget differential when it is on your workbench you know it’s like holding a squiggly baby. No matter how you place it on the bench it turns and twists as it wants to. Here is a simple way to hold that squiggly thing. Picture one shows the basic unit.
Shown below are four pictures which tell the story of an easy way to pull a Spridget Rear Hub. First, be sure the car is secure on jackstands. Drain the oil from the dif if you wish. Remove the wheel and axle. Remove the large retaining nut. Remember one side has reverse threads. The first
The large thin nut on the Spridget rear axle is tough to remove and to replace with enough torque. The socket I had has a beveled edge which easily slips off the thin nut. So: I bought a 1 7/8″ socket for a nominal price at a local thrift store. I chucked it in the
An Easy Way To Remove and Replace the Clutch Throw Out Lever Bushing The little bronze bushing in the clutch throw out lever wears faster than we think. If you have the transmission out of the car for any reason, it is best to replace this wear item. Here is an easy way to do
If the front cover on your transmission has the threads stripped for the bolt that secures the lever, here is an easy fix. No need to buy a $100++ replacement plate from your favorite parts house. Please read all the way through before proceeding with the fix. It can be done with the front cover
I have always found that trying to install the rocker arm assembly similar to trying to hold a wiggling, squiggling baby. Set up the assembly on the bench and by the time you have picked it up and moved it over the head several rockers or mounting stands have rotated and you can’t get on
The bolt holes on timing chain covers and oil pans are made from very thin steel and will distort if a PO tightened the bolts too tight. Here is how I flatten any distorted bolt holes in an oil pan, timing chain cover, and other “tin” on the engine. I use a piece of round
If your fingers are getting stiff from arthritis like mine you probably find it more difficult to install the cam followers in a 1275 engine. With installation lube everywhere they are slippery to hold and navigate into the proper position to drop in. I have used a pushrod to push up the cam followers for
The little sealing copper washer is crucial to sealing the temperature probe fitting in the head. If it is missing, no amount of teflon tape or other stuff will seal the fitting! If you are having problems getting the probe to seal, check to make sure there is a copper sealing washer in good condition
