Member of the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs

Twinned with Retro Auto Club Normand, France

For further information e-mail SHVPS registrar @ shvps@dickbarton waitrose.com or phone 02392 587179

or click ‘Join Now’

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2.  Useful Publications

Haynes service manuals are very useful if you do not have access to original old car documentation but there is a wide range of vehicles for which Haynes manuals are not available. If you have an old car, typically in the date range 1930 to 1950 and you are hunting for technical data like tappet clearances and ignitions settings, etc., then give me a call or drop me an email info@radars.org.uk.  I have a wide range of data for British cars built in the 30s and 40s.  Please ensure you have your membership number to hand before making contact.

Peter Tipping’s Tips

1.   Installing a washer(s) and nut on a bolt, that you can only reach with one hand

Ever had this problem? If you have access to the bolt head, place an old permanent magnet on top of it, then the washer/lock-washer combo will be held in place by magnetism while you offer up the nut.

2.   Master / Slave Cylinder Replacement

When changing a master cylinder or slave cylinder make sure that you blow out the hydraulic line between the two to ensure that any partly perished rubber bits have not remained in the system to cause a future failure.

3.   Another way to Free-up that Old Rusty Nut and Bolt

An old farmer’s trick, when fighting that rusty nut and bolt that absolutely refuses to budge without resorting to the grinder, try heating it with a propane torch, then take a candle and work it over the nut allowing the heated wax to work into the thread. Apparently this really works well.

4.  Wiring Diagram Idea

If you find the wiring diagram from your car’s manual is just too small to follow easily. Get the wiring page and the index page (that tells which number corresponds to which part) enlarged on a photo copier making it a double sided copy and then have it laminated. After that it is easy to read and since it’s laminated, you can use an erasable marker on it to follow the path of the circuit.  You can also punch one or two holes in the top and hang it by nail in the garage for easy access (as well as for a neat wall decoration!).

5.  Plugging Rubber Vacuum and other Lines

When doing maintenance and you need to plug the open end of a rubber vacuum line such as the distributor advance hose or a rubber fuel line, for instance, just use a golf tee and poke it in the end of the hose. If you use a brightly coloured one, it will be easier to spot and not forget when reinstalling the line afterwards!

6.  Gasket Replacement Suggestion

Any time I replace a gasket on my car I first make a photocopy of the new gasket (after confirming it is the correct replacement). I then write the part number and application on the photocopy so that in the future I can be sure I've got the correct replacement. If I can't get the correct replacement I can make my own using this photocopy as a template.

7.  Plugging Rubber Vacuum and other Lines
When doing maintenance and you need to plug the open end of a rubber vacuum line such as the distributor advance hose or a rubber fuel line, for instance, just use a golf tee and poke it in the end of the hose. If you use a brightly coloured one, it will be easier to spot and not forgotten when reinstalling the line afterwards!

8.  Reflective Surface in Lamps

If the reflective surface of your signal and tail lights has faded or chipped away, don't bother with "reflective” paints, they don't work. Instead of this, spray-mount a reflective foil over the original surface. Use thin aluminium wrapper foil or silver Mylar (Novelty Balloons are made of this) and then Adhesive spray to mount the material. This will vastly improve the lighting and reflective properties of the lamp.

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