Wool felt front wheel seal

Today Peter created new bearing seals for the 1934 Lagonda M45 Rapide. The seals of the day did much the same job as today’s plastic over steel equivalent. The main sealing surface is wool felt that, soaked in oil, does a good job holding most of the oil and grease in place. The tools of the trade are pretty simple ones: a spoon, a ball-peen hammer, scissors and a razor blade. The thick wool felt is traced and cut via razor blade.

To make the wool a bit “proud” – to stick out like the chin of a duke – paper gasket material can be cut and built up behind the wool. A spoon and a ball-peen hammer are all that is needed to make an imprint to cut out.

This twenties automotive seal technology was used in agricultural equipment for decades such as wheel seals on an Oliver or Cockshut tractor.

Using the ball-peen hammer to trace the inner lip on the gasket

A spoon has a nice radius for tracing the outer edge of the seal

Lagonda M45 Rapide front brake shoes and axle with hub removed

A group of three approaches the top of the pass.

We have a very close relationship with Rich and Jean Taylor at Vintage Rallies, and I wanted to create a video to promote and build their events. So, earlier this summer we gathered some favorite customers and friends together for a spectacular day of enthusiastic driving on wonderful back roads. We closed down the shop, and Nate, Casey, Peter and I were actually able to enjoy the cars we work so hard on.

We made sure that every car had a camera and a co-driver to run it. The result, a brief, but fun piece that shows just beginning of some of the capabilities that these cars possess. Video after the jump (click here).In case you thought that classic cars aren’t capable of being driven aggressively, have a look at this video.

Reversing direction of Jaguar XKE cooling fan motors

With a test light and a few long leads, I can diagnose most electrical problems on old cars without too much drama since they have very basic relays, lighting systems and motors. Figuring out electrical problems empowers me since there aren’t many places for gremlins to hide. This keeps me feeling productive.

A 1968 Jaguar XKE came in with worn out radiator cooling fan motors so I sent the old motors to a supplier as cores and they promptly sent me a pair of overhauled ones. When we plugged them in, they turned the wrong way. So, I called the supplier who apologized for the error and then regretfully informed me that the correct rotation motors are on back-order for months or more! The owner wanted the car ready for a show in a few days so we switched the wires thinking that they would turn counter-clockwise rather than clockwise but they didn’t! I disassembled the motors thinking that if I changed the magnet, maybe I would get the favorable result but it isn’t a permanent magnet, its an electro-magnet, the motor continued to spin clockwise.

After some head scratching, I realized that I had to reverse the wires internally to send current both through the armature and the magnet in the same direction. This got me out of hot water by cooling the old cat’s engine just the way she likes it. It took me some time to find the solution because I couldn’t believe that a simple motor like this needed internal modifications to change direction. Learning all the time…

Someone did a nice job restoring this Jag, beautiful paint and interior and nicely detailed engine compartment but the most simple and basic things don’t work. The Carburetor jets were assembled incorrectly and the jets weren’t centered correctly. The ignition wasn’t set correctly and the starting carburetor doesn’t work so the engine WILL NOT START when cold, even on a hot summer day!

There are other things that are odd like the military truck tires and the turn signal switch that falls off in your hand as you move it from left to right but… whatever.

With all the beautiful detailing coupled with a car that runs and drives properly, this will be a superb car!

Jaguar XK-140

XK-120 barn find

Click and Clack, the Car Talk guys suggest placing coffee beans throughout the interior making the claim that the beans not only absorb the smell, but they give off a nice fragrance, not a bad deal. I was thinking of pressure washing it with tomato juice like we do with dogs that have been “skunked”.

Jaguar 4 door MK

Jaguar Interior 1960

Rear suspension 1935 Ford Amilcar

While Steve and Nate are at Northwest Passage; both the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb and the historic Mt. Washington Hillclimb are all going on simultaneously. The vintage cars at Mt. Washington are rich with ARCA history. They are the reason the Climb to the Clouds is a prestigious event. I, Bill, am at Mt. Washington and have taken just a few pics with my iPhone while walking through the pits.

Take a look at the gallery here on the Climb to the Clouds Facebook page.

A Ferrari Bonaldi Brake Booster for rebuild will only stop you in your tracks in it’s current condition – not working – but in very nice cosmetic shape.

A rare Ferrari 275 GTB and GTB/4 Egg-Crate Grille Brandoli reproduction isn’t easy to come by and is in good condition.

Marchall 660 Fog Lights for Ferrari 250, 225, 212, 166 will actually look at home on a variety of other cars including Porsche 356, Mercedes 300, etc.

We have some other errant parts for Jaguars, 2 complete engines, 2 complete manual transmissions, a few odd intake manifolds so if you know anyone interested let me know.

Cylinder head for XKE E-Type 3.8