--------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F1D00011 Date: 01/06/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 08:33pm \/To: SEAN DUNBAR (Read 0 times) Subj: Engine Wanted -=> Quoting Sean Dunbar to Roy Witt <=- RW> Lucky you. Chevy fans have to put up with Air injection pumping RW> systems. (Pumps air into the exhaust manifold, directly at the RW> exhaust port in the head.) SD> So do some Ford fans. Least my 351M has that crap. Makes for nice SD> backfires if you're running wide open for a bit then take your foot SD> off the gas... Check the Diverter Valve. It is in the line between the pump and the manifolds, or attached to the pump itself. When you blip the throttle and release, you should feel some air escape (divert) from it. This keeps the extra air from igniting the temporarily rich, unburnt fuel. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F1D00012 Date: 01/06/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 08:52pm \/To: SEAN DUNBAR (Read 0 times) Subj: Oil pump? -=> Quoting Sean Dunbar to Gary Sprinzl <=- GS> 10W-40 is the one weight to avoid like the plague, at least if you GS> live in a hot climate. It breaks down faster than any other value. SD> Now I see this after I bought a case of the stuff.. Oil used to carry the full SAE specs that included the Diesel ratings. Some still do, so look for CC or CD (to CG). CC was a light duty Diesel rating which meant it would take some high loading. CD was the next higher rating, and often you would see CD on 30 weight and good 10w30 oils but few 10w40's had the CD rating. If you look at some of the 15w40 Diesel oils like Shell Rotella it will go on up to CF and CG which means it handles extreme pressures. It will also have the recommendations from Allison, Caterpillar, Mack, etc. In the last few years these ratings have been removed from automotive oils except the synthetics. IMO, it was to help sell the higher priced stuff which sometimes showed little difference on the specs. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F1D00013 Date: 01/06/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 09:06pm \/To: DANIEL MCCORMICK (Read 0 times) Subj: Question -=> Quoting Daniel Mccormick to All <=- DM> hello, i have a 1983 CrownVic 302 V8, my question is, when i check DM> the oil, there are alot of Bubbles in it, it smells like oil and looks DM> like oil, but it has bubbles all over the DipStick... Before it was started? Check it before it is run, and if it has little bubbles, check it again after it has been thoroughly warmed up. You may find it is now milky looking, which means water contamination. A very small amount may just be normal condensation. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F1D00014 Date: 01/07/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 09:29pm \/To: MARC GERGES (Read 0 times) Subj: Escort -=> Quoting Marc Gerges to Simon Avery <=- MG> The Probe was american as far as I know. The latest Probe was Ford's version of a Mazda MX6 with a 2.5 V6. Before 1993 it was a Ford design with a 2.2 four or 3.0 V6. MG> Don't you have the Puma? It's on sale here for a couple of weeks and MG> said to sell very well. Not by that name here in the US although I believe it is the same as the new Mercury Cougar which has a 2 liter DOHC four or a 2.5 liter DOHC V6. It has fresh lines with an ellipse grille opening and is a hatchback. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F1D00015 Date: 01/07/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 09:48pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: GT Racing goes FIA GT = Great Turmoil? The perpetual turmoil of international endurance racing produces some intriguing hardware. Grand Touring cars, almost literally worth their weight in gold, are back in fashion. You won't get change from $1 million for the latest Mercedes CLK-GTR, Porsche 911 GT1, McLaren F1 GTR, or Nissan R390, and even this is subsidized, manufacturers admit. When both Group C racing and IMSA's GTP category died almost simultaneously in 1992-93, endurance racing did not go away. Production-based GT cars - tweaked-up Porsche Turbos mostly - filled the bill until a group of entrepreneurs aspired to create a place to race super exotic sports cars. But the rules of their BPR Global GT Series were filled with loopholes. Porsche drove its GT1 through one gap. Other makers soon followed with cars that were racers first and production models afterward. These currently produce speeds that challenge the vaunted Group C cars of old. Now, Professional SportsCar Racing (formerly known as IMSA) will dump its Exxon Supreme GT Series rules and replace them with FIA GT specs. This serendipitous change takes place just in time for the FIA series' three '98 visits to North America. A.McLaren F1 GTR: This futuristic three-seater, powered by a bespoke 6-liter/600-horsepower BMW DOHC V-12, changed the rules for GT racing. The driver sits in the center position of this BMW 3-Series-size, carbon-fiber chassised racer. It was almost unbeatable for two seasons, and won the 24-Hours of Le Mans at its first appearance. B.Porsche 911 GT1: Last year Porsche turned away from its traditional rear-engine configuration and placed a water-cooled 3.2-liter twin-turbo flat six ahead of the GT1's rear wheels. The car retains a production steel monocoque and forward outriggers, but aft of the cockpit it's a pure racing machine, a modernized 962 Group C car. The GT1 made its race debut at Le Mans in '96, and won its class, finishing second and third overall. C.Lotus GT1: Lotus moved on from last year's Esprit-based GT1, rapidly designing the Elise-based GT1 for 1997. It has an extruded-aluminum chassis to which its carbon-fiber body is bonded and bolted, making an unusually light and stiff structure. Since FIA rules don't favor turbocharged engines, Lotus dropped the production version's 3.5-liter blown V-8 in favor of a 6.0-liter adaptation the Corvette LT5 DOHC V-8. D.Mercedes CLK-GTR: The goalposts moved once again when the Mercedes CLK-GTR was unveiled just a week before the series' first race of '97. Bernd Schneider put the AMG-built rocket on pole position at the debut, and it looks a class above its rivals. The CLK-GTR, which sells for $1 million a copy, is so low that it raises sparks from the skid plates! Power is provided by a 6-liter/600-horse version of the S-Class' DOHC V-12. Both chassis and body are carbon-fiber, allowing the car to race at around 2200 pounds. E.Panoz Esperante GTR: A curiosity of modern GT racing is that front-engine designs are again fully competitive, as proven by the Jaguar-V-12-powered Lister Storm and, in the GT2 class, the Chevy OHV V-8-powered Marcos. Atlanta-based entrepreneur Donald Panoz commissioned CART designer Adrian Reynard to draw a modern carbon chassis to locate the Roush Ford OHV V-8 engine up front. The Panoz Esperante GTR won its class in its Professional SportsCar Racing series debut. F.Nissan R390: This is the nearest yet to the Group C/GTP cars of the '80s. Cornering forces are lower due to the mandatory flat-bottom design, but Nissan's twin-turbo 3.5-liter DOHC V-8 has prodigious power even with the required air restrictors. Tom Walkinshaw Racing, designers of the Group C/GTP Jaguars, built the carbon-fiber chassis in Oxfordshire, England. -Michael Cotton --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F1D00016 Date: 01/07/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 10:04pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: 1999 Cars Motor Trend - 1999 TIMELINE Acura: A four-door version of the existing CL coupe may arrive. A CL roadster is born to compete against the European two-seaters from Porsche, Mercedes, and BMW. Isuzu Trooper-based SLX is redone... Aston Martin: All DB7s switch to Jag XK8 underpinnings, but keep current supercharged six-cylinder engines; a high-performance DB7 model is likely. Lagonda Vignale sedan is possible as is a near luxury sports car... Audi: Look for a slick A6-based coupe... BMW: 6 Series coupe arrives, based on the 5 Series platform, powertrain, and mechanical pieces. Later, a high-performance (M6) version of the 6 Series coupe is likely. The current 8 Series will likely be killed but an all-new Z8 ultra-sport roadster is due with V-8 and V-12 power... Buick: LeSabre will be replaced. It could be a front- or rear-drive sedan, based on the flexibility of GM's all-new large-car platform. Riviera coupe gets new alloy wheels and a front fascia freshening... Cadillac: Catera's entry-level luxury replacement is built on the new large-car platform. It will be a front-drive model with approximately 4.0 liters of V-8 displacement. Eldorado coupe is dropped or replaced with a convertible... Chevrolet: A full-size replacement for the C1500 pickup finally shows. The full-size Express van will get a freshening. Camaro may be redesigned on a version of the new GM large-car platform. An independent rear suspension is finally possible with a variation of the Corvette's rear suspension... Chrysler: Town & Country minivan will get a fresh interior and stronger brand-identity changes to the grille, headlights, taillights, and the soft front and rear fascia... Daewoo: The Korean automaker hopes to enter the U.S. market with three coupe/sedan models... Dodge: Caravan styling inside and out is freshened. Neon gets a substantial redo. An all-new full-size Ram van arrives with the New Mack V-8... Ford: Look for an all-new Aspire designed in England. Thunderbolt, a high-performance sport pickup, is based on the F-150 and powered by a four-valve 5.4-liter V-8 or a hot V-10. Windstar four-door finally arrives with freshened exterior and interior... GMC: The full-size Sierra pickup is redone with four-door extended-cab offering and a new V-6. Savana full-size van receives a freshening... Honda: Odyssey minivan is replaced with a larger, V-6-powered passenger van... Isuzu: An all-new Trooper sport/utility with V-6 power is offered. The Oasis front-drive minivan, based on the Honda Odyssey, goes away, but Isuzu may not get to market a rebadged version of the Odyssey's replacement... Jaguar: Entry-level (X200) rear-drive, V-8-engine Jaguar arrives based on the same platform as the new baby Lincoln sedan... Jeep: Grand Cherokee is redesigned for lower weight and is offered with the New Mack-built V-8 and a fresh 3.7-liter six. An all-new subcompact sport/ute based on the Neon platform likely will be offered... Kia: The Korean maker may finally bring in its own version of the subcompact now sold here as the Ford Aspire... Lexus: SC 300 and SC 400 coupes receive significant restyles and body and powertrain changes. LS 400 is freshened... Lincoln: Look for an entry-level, rear-drive model with side-impact airbags, small V-8 power, and a five-speed automatic... Mazda: Based on the roomy MPV minivan platform, a Mazda-exclusive sport/utility arrives... Mercedes-Benz: The first of Mercedes' subcompact battery-powered A-Class models may reach U.S. ports as the firm's zero-emissions vehicle, and the convertible version of the CLK will reach showrooms... Mercury: Villager minivan is updated with a fourth door, a new powertrain, and styling changes... Mitsubishi: Galant midsize sedan receives a complete redesign. 3000 GT is redesigned or killed... Nissan: Electric minivan with a 0-50-mph time of about 12 seconds and an approximate 125-mile range is offered. Sentra and 200SX subcompacts are freshened. A compact sport/utility arrives based on the Altima platform. Altima-based coupe and/or convertible could also be in the wings. Nissan Quest gets a fourth door, new powertrain, and fresh styling... Oldsmobile: Called Antares or Anthem, the replacement for the Eighty Eight, powered by an all-new 3.5-liter multivalve V-6, is introduced. The existing Intrigue sedan will also get the multivalve 3.5-liter V-6... Plymouth: Neon is completely redesigned. Voyager minivan gets an exterior and interior freshening... Pontiac: Bonneville, the division's flagship sedan, is redesigned on the all-new G platform... Porsche: A hot 450-horsepower Turbo will make its appearance... Saab: A wagon version will expand the 9000 range... Saturn: Innovate, a midsize four-door, reaches showrooms. Based on the Opel Vectra's platform, Innovate will likely be offered with V-6 power. Saturn coupe on an all-new platform may have three doors... Subaru: Impreza will be redesigned. Sporty SVX performance coupe may disappear from the U.S. lineup... Suzuki: Subcompact Swift and Sidekick lines are redesigned... Toyota: Tercel gets a major revamp. Celica is redesigned. This could be the year the T100 gets restyled and finally sports a V-8 engine. 4Runner is reskinned and receives significant engineering tweaks... Volkswagen: The reborn, front-drive New Beetle finally hits American shores. Important features include dual airbags and anti-lock brakes. Golf and Jetta are rounder and more conventional looking for a broader appeal to the North American audience. An all-new, front-drive minivan with slick styling will be introduced... Volvo: A sport/utility version of the all-wheel-drive V70 wagon (ala Subaru Outback) will appear. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F1D00017 Date: 01/08/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 12:42pm \/To: DAVID WEI (Read 0 times) Subj: cool cop cars -=> Quoting David Wei to Alan Morrison <=- KH> Did you see the Jan Motor Trend? Supercharged Mustang with 590 hp, KH> ran 12s because it weighted about 4,000 pounds. AM> I saw that, twice. Kept trying to figure out why they bolted 700 lbs. AM> of parts on it. BTW, it was 545 HP on gas, but could do 590 HP with AM> high octane alcohol. Now if they could replace all that polished or AM> chromed metal tubing with light weight items, then use some AM> carbon-fiber components to get the weight off they would have a nice AM> quick ride. DW> I have checked the article, and found that the weight is not DW> avoidable, due to the IRON block it used, it it had used an alloy They bolted on about 700 lbs. of parts. Parts it didn't need to get an extra hundred HP or so, which could have been gained with standard performance mods. DW> Reducing 100 HP ain't gonna help much, as the extra 200+ HP is coming DW> from the blower... No, don't keep the blower to add 200 HP and 700 lbs. Here is why: AM> I ran some numbers and discovered it could have run 11.9's with 100 AM> less HP (445) at 3300 lbs. Replace cast iron manifolds with tubing headers, and increase the airflow through the engine. Adding less than 100 HP this way would have been cheaper, the car would have been as fast or faster, it would handle much better, and stop quicker. DW> I'd love one that is NOT supercharged... and bolt on TWO Paxton Novi DW> 2000 blower... hehehe... Tearing down the 1/4 mile at 9 seconds, and DW> with stereo and A/C on... :) Well, you would have to install a full roll cage, tubs, slicks and many driveline parts to run those numbers at any sanctioned track. Do you have a sponsor in mind or just have plenty of cash? --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F1D00018 Date: 01/09/98 From: BILL REYNA Time: 12:00pm \/To: JOHN FAERBER (Read 0 times) Subj: Injectors > GH> to get the codes press the off and warmer buttons on the heater AC > GH> panel at the same time. There is lots more you can do from this > GH> panel but it gets complicated. > GH> check for codes then let me know if there are any. > No error codes, it pulls up 70 which I beieve to mean > all is fine. > What got me to asking about injectors is the fact when > I start it I get a rough idle until it warms up (would > almost say choke if it was not injected) then it seems > to smooth out, though it has a bit of a sight miss at > times on the expressway. [----------^^^^ you said the above ^^^^-----------] I mentioned about spraying the TBIs to clean them. However, when I had a '83 ElDorado for awhile, I had a dickens of a time figuring why I would lose power upon passing or wanting it on demand. I thought for sure it was the injectors as they were very dirty and cleaning them made a difference. The real problem was the fuel filter located in the rear fuel line. Replaced that and my problem went away. Check that if you like, but likely it needs to be changed if it hasn't already because it can be hard to get to w/o some clearance. -_-_-Bill --- * Origin: Bordertown - Telegram from the Border (1:234/43) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F1D00019 Date: 01/08/98 From: ROY J. TELLASON Time: 09:06pm \/To: ALAN MORRISON (Read 0 times) Subj: Motor Trend, bribes? Alan Morrison wrote in a message to Roy J. Tellason: AM> For a couple of bucks, the bronze door pin bushings can be AM> purchased at most auto parts stores. RJT> No, I'm talking about the post that engages the door latch! AM> Oh... You can get those also, but I've never had to do it. Worn AM> hinge pins usually make it hit the striker, so it should last AM> if they are in good condition. Right. But in this case it was the metal underneath that which had rusted away... It would have needed a hunk of metal to be welded in there to attach the post to, and there wasn't much there underneath to work with. RJT> I'm not too partial to GM stuff these days, having had a run of bad RJT> luck with an assortment of vehicles, but if I got the chance to pick RJT> one of those up for cheap and it wasn't a major restoration job I'd RJT> probably go for it... AM> I've never cared for anything but the V8's myself. I can't remember the last time I owned anything else. AM> The Japanese do have some good small cars, but I would try a AM> Saturn first if in need of an econobox. I've seen a lot of Jap AM> fours warp heads and such when run hard, which I would do. I probably would, too. AM> That is why I have stayed with the Chevy V8's which take all AM> the abuse I give 'em. Yep. You take care of replacing all the old rubber parts, like gaskets, hoses, etc., change the oil regularly, and they'll take good care of you, too. email: roy.j.tellason%tanstaaf@frackit.com --- * Origin: TANSTAAFL BBS 717-432-0764 (1:270/615) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F1D00020 Date: 01/08/98 From: BILL MITCHELL Time: 08:15pm \/To: ROY J. TELLASON (Read 0 times) Subj: Vehicle Confiscation BM>> Not only that, but here it's a minimum of seven days, BM>> usually longer, before a policy comes in force if you go for BM>> a new policy. RJT> Well that stinks! What the heck are you supposed to do when RJT> you buy a car? Hope that you either already have insurance and simply ammend it, or that you have to wait for the car while you wait for the insurance. BM>> Here you either register and insure it, or it must be kept BM>> inside a closed garage. And you will run into problems when BM>> registering it if you had previously registered it and let BM>> the plates expire. The only way to avoid a hassle is if you BM>> can prove you turned in your old plates to DMV. RJT> We're _supposed_ to do that, but I've seen more collections RJT> of old plates nailed to garage walls here and there... Heck, I have a huge collection myself, however, I've also been around long enough to have been caught by the fickle finger of fate, almost getting suspended simply because I didn't meet some bureaucrat's idea of compliance. RJT> I dunno what's going to happen when I go to register that RJT> truck I'm building, if I'm going to be able to use the plate RJT> I have now or if I'm going to be forced to buy yet another RJT> one. I've had them try, but not succeed, to collect sales tax on vehicles I've owned for years when I registered them. RJT> send copies of stuff into them to get it all straightened RJT> out. Not "you appear to be uninsured, please provide proof RJT> that you are", but "we've received notice that you're RJT> uninsured, so here's all this nasty stuff like suspensions RJT> and whatnot going into effect NOW and in the meantime try RJT> and prove that you're okay". Grr... Yup, you got it. --- * Origin: The Right Place, Fort Lee, NJ USA(201)947-8231 (1:2604/539.11)