Along with technological miracles of the '60's and '70s such as urethane skateboard wheels and mood rings came the advent of transistorized electronic ignition. With no moving parts to wear out, this modern advancement relegated breaker points ignition to the trash bin of automotive technological history. Breaker points cause the ignition dwell to change as they wear out, … [Read more...]
Tool of the Week: Telescoping Magnet
From the Large Hadron Collider department of Tool of the Week comes the Telescoping Magnet, or magnetic pickup tool. Regardless of automobile make or model, there is always at least one fastener in a difficult if not ridiculous location. Getting to that bugger often requires ingenuity in action. After putting a box end wrench into a vice and using a sledge hammer to bend it … [Read more...]
All Mopars All the Time
There are those who restore a car exactly as it came off the assembly line. Strategically placed paint inspection daubs and chalk marks are meticulously applied. The original style hose clamps, painted only with the correct value and hue of semi-gloss or flat black paint, are located precisely on correctly date-coded radiator and heater hoses. The body-color paint under the … [Read more...]
Mitsubishi Jeep Manufacturing Bonanza
A never ending search for a survivor first-gen Dodge D50-Plymouth Arrow Sport pickup truck combined with creative keywording of a local classified advertisements has unearthed another sort of captive import. Like the Dodge and Plymouth pickups, this 1974 Jeep is actually a Mitsubishi. Technically a Mitsubishi H-J58, the Mitsu-Jeep is a very near clone of its Willys cousin Jeep … [Read more...]
Tool of the Week: Dead Blow Hammer
Direct from the Van Nuys desk of the Tool of the Week aptly named hammers division comes the dead blow hammer, or mallet. There are many hammer-mallets, but none have the unique functionality of the dead blow hammer. Inside the hollow plastic or steel center of the dead blow hammer head is a measure of sand or steel pellet shot. The pellets are similar to those found inside a … [Read more...]