NO, NO AND THRICE NO!
Mar 16th
Mot test certificate
More than 300,000 unsafe vehicles could be seen on UK roads, as a result of government plans to extend the MOT test frequency.
According to figures from DVSA, 300,000 vehicles approximately fail their first MOT test in three years. Moving the first test to four years under government proposals poses higher safety risks to motorists and other road users.
Furthermore, as the number of new vehicles on UK roads is set to be electric powered, these are just as likely to fail the first MOT test, underlining the importance of safeguarding the current test regime.
DVSA data shows that the failure More >
TEN GOOD REASONS
Mar 16th
Spyshot from the XCS Designs workshop shows progress being made on their new Dieci model.
The thinking behind the name? Dieci is Italian for ’10’. Tetra is ‘4’, as in the number of driven wheels.
This model will only be available in full cage form as XCS wanted to create additional rigidity in the chassis to cope with the extra torque and forces in play. Also, given the frankly ridiculous power and grip available, they felt that an additional layer of passenger safety was no bad thing.
To that end, they’ve built the chassis to exceed current motorsport regulations, despite the fact they’re aiming More >
COMFY WORKING – ON CASTORS, TOO!
Mar 16th
Machine Mart has recently added two new plastic car creepers to their garage equipment range.
Underside vehicle repairs can be difficult and frustrating without the right equipment. These two lightweight car creepers allow the user to speed up the process, stay cleaner and more comfortable while getting a better job done.
The Clarke CMC36B 36in Plastic Car Creeper benefits from a low-profile design, padded headrest, contoured shape for ergonomic usability and a convenient carry handle for portability. It also has six swivel castors for easy manoeuvrability around the garage or workshop. It has a length of 910mm, a maximum load of 113kg More >
WISH I HAD ONE OF THESE WHEN I SPILT HALF A LITRE OF GEARBOX OIL ALL OVER MY GARAGE FLOOR!
Mar 16th
Funnels make life easy, don’t they? Let you get fluids into the engine, gearbox or screenwash reservoir without spillage or mess. But what if you cannot get the funnel anywhere near the filler, though?
Laser Tools to the rescue! This new ‘Difficult Access Oil Funnel’ (part number 8572), has an extra-long spout, with a 45-degree cranked spout adaptor and is designed to get right into these hard-to-reach areas. Especially suitable for motorcycles.
The transparent funnel shows oil or fluid flow and features a removable plastic filter to prevent debris from entering together with an integral breather pipe to prevent any airlocks. The More >
WOOLIES EXPAND VINYL RANGE
Mar 16th
Woolies now has some new colours of expanded vinyl in the part no. 25 range, Royal Blue, Silver Grey and Mottled Grey.
The latter could be used as an alternative to Elephant Hide which is very difficult to get hold of these days.
The new products are 54in (1.37m) wide and cost £16.50 per linear metre. Woolies has an extensive variety of colours in this range, 21 colours in total, click here for the full range.
More from www.woolies-trim.co.uk or 01778 347 347 ENDS.
BEAM ME UP
Mar 16th
Whether you want to fine-tune your Type 2 suspension or sit your sills on the floor, these front axle beam adjusters from SSP will help you achieve the stance you desire for your Bay Window Bus.
Installed on the front axle tubes, they will require cutting and welding to fit, but once in place allow you to tweak the torsion leaves inside, raising and lowering the ride height by a few millimetres at a time, as required.
Sold as a pair, one set per vehicle, they are priced at £69.50, and you can find them on HeritagePartCentre.com by searching for item number More >
SOLD ME DOWN THE RIVER
Mar 16th
Here’s one for our North American readers.
Building steering gear for cars with little under-bonnet space can be an exercise in frustration and much swearing. You’ve got to work around things like firewalls, headers and chassis rails, resulting in weird steering angles with multiple U-joints and support bearings.
A lot of readers doing LS engine swaps in cars with tight firewall clearance know what that’s like.
The Flaming River VDOG steering box eliminates a lot of those hassles. The gear-driven box has 3/4-36 splined output shafts that sit 90 degrees to each other, providing maximum clearance in spaces where more traditional U-joint angles More >
LINKAGE FOR PORKER
Mar 16th
Webcon has launched its eagerly awaited linkage set to suit the Weber 40IDA3C and 46IDA3C fitted to Porsche flat-six engines.
The kit has been 100 per cent crafted in the UK and is the most comprehensive Porsche linkage kit available.
In addition to the crossbar, brackets and reverse lever the kit also includes crossbar studs and nuts, a reverse lever pivot pin, clips, M4 grub screws and crossbar ball ends (that’s ‘ball’ dear reader!)
The linkage kit works perfectly with Webcon’s own intake manifold sets as well as with genuine Weber 401DA3C and 46IDA3C carburettors.
LW4340 is available from stock and is priced at More >
I’M FOREVER BLOWING BUBBLES … PRETTY BUBBLES IN THE AIR
Mar 16th
The second of two scale models this week is a beautiful 1:18 scale model of a 1955 Messerschmitt KR200 from Oxford Diecast. The company has previously offered such a model in their 1:43 range.
This is the first KR200 ‘bubble’ car to be sold under Oxford’s name with just a Far East maker producing and marketing such a model hitherto.
Available in four colours, with Royal Blue, Black and White joining the Light Blue version shown here.
I like the high level of detail here with the chrome masking/plating exterior detail looking exceptionally good against the paintwork. The interior seating and flooring and pale More >
THE LEGEND THAT WAS MIKE THE PIPE
Mar 15th
STEVE HOLE pays tribute to Mike the Pipe
Everyone in motorsport (from bottom to top) classic, kit and custom car scenes all knew who Mike the Pipe was.
Who was ‘Mike The Pipe’? His real name was Mike Randall and for nearly thirty years his workshop at the unassuming 12 Stanley Park Road, Carshalton Beeches (people often say it was Wallington, which is very nearby, but technically it is in Carshalton Beeches) was the UK’s exhaust hub.
Randall first came to prominence when he worked for Vic Derrington and Bill Terry at TDC Components in Kingston-on-Thames, next door to the main V.W. Derrington More >
