hi guys

[PADDY WILLMER]

Well, where are you all today? Bad week at work? I have just bought a new petrol pump for my TB, so it will be interesting to see if the diapraphm lasts. One of the top hat rubber washers underneath a carb fell to pieces the other day, and it was only fitted last autumn. The network of garages in the UK selling leaded petrol continues to grow, but one wonders how long it takes to sell 25,000,000 gallons of it, as that is all we get each year, and it is not rationed to, say pre-73 cars that don`t pay road tax, so all old bangers as well as classic cars can buy it, and there are a lot of them about. The 11/2" SUs on my car are leaking a lot of air via the spindles etc- I bought them in 1964- so any one know a good source of new ones?, or ideas on refurbishing that doesn`t cost the earth? To those in the UK, or visiting us in August, the M.G.C.C.T- Register`s Shuttleworth T-Party is on August 6th. With an air display of warplanes from 1914 to date. Unmissable! Enjoy your Ts. Paddy. Derbyshire.

[Frank O_ The Mountain]

In a message dated 3/24/00 2:38:17 PM Pacific Standard Time,
paddy@apwillmer.freeserve.co.uk writes:

[Steve Taylor]

Paddy
Strangely, I was at Burlen Fuel Systems last week discussing air leaks
past the throttle spindle. They have a PTFE coated Bush (part number
AUD3080) that costs about 2:00 each to fit into a reamed hole & allow
the original diameter spindle to be used rather than a thicker one.
Regards
Steve Taylor

[John T. Seim]

PADDY WILLMER wrote:

>
> Well, where are you all today? Bad week at work? I have just bought a
> new petrol pump for my TB, so it will be interesting to see if the
> diapraphm lasts.

Jerry Felper had a batch of diaphrams made up
of Viton, or some other extremely modern gasloine impervious stuff. His
company name is British Auto Electric.
One of the top hat rubber washers underneath a carb

> fell to pieces the other day, and it was only fitted last autumn.

Must have been old composition rubber. Rubber compositions changed (or
should have) between 1984 and 1987, for those applications where rubber
would be in contact with the modern reformulated gasolines. MTBE, placed
into unleaded gas to oxygenate it for lower emissions, is an ethyr. It's
best attribute is that it will clean the fuel system. Many fuel filters
have been plugged due to MTBE working so well in the fuel tank,
dissolving gum despoits, and sending microscopic particles past the fuel
filter screen, into the fuel lines, and into the carb float bowls. The
auto makers were made aware that this reformulated gas was going to hit
the market at some time in the near future, so they changed their rubber
hose specs to accomodate the change. Any rubber part that was made prior
to 1984-87 will probably harden and crack in a short amount of time
after exposed to these modern additives.
John Seim
The

> network of garages in the UK selling leaded petrol continues to grow,
> but one wonders how long it takes to sell 25,000,000 gallons of it, as
> that is all we get each year, and it is not rationed to, say pre-73
> cars that don`t pay road tax, so all old bangers as well as classic
> cars can buy it, and there are a lot of them about.

In the USA, unleaded gasoline has been the only available source since
1974. If you were driving a big block Detroit Iron muscle car, I would
worry about unleaded gasoline and pinking/detonation. I have a 1970
Ford, with a 351 ci engine, that states on the air cleaner requires 91
octane regular gas. Let me tell you, 92 octane premium barely works. The
octane rating of gasoline has decreased since the 70's. Additives have
been put into the gas to make up for the reduction of lead, and its
benefits. If you were always towing something with your car, or driving
hills under load, yes, you probably will experience valve seat recession
more rapidly than the rest of us. So, the next time you have the engine
torn down, have hardened seats installed in the head, and maybe go to
stellite valves. Unleaded gas, in itself, isn't a bad thing.
John Seim

[PADDY WILLMER]

Yes, I know by itself unleaded petrol by itself is ok in an XPAG that has been converted, like both of mine, but I do worry about the increased carcinogenic emissions from it. In the last 30 years Los Angeles is now being described as the cancer capital of the world. That is from when unleaded petrol first started being used in its current form. I worry that in the next 30 years country`s now using it may suffer the same upwards increase in this disease. MBTE has been banned from use in unleaded , both in the USA and the UK. It has been found to be highly polluting and toxic. I believe some where in the USA a few years ago some got into a water supply and caused a myriad of terrible symptoms in the natives. Leaded petrol is all the piston engined aircraft will run on, and users won`t use unleaded cos of seal dissolution. Not a good thing when you are in the air! It is also a question of octane rating as well, though I suppose with enough jungle juice unleaded can be upped to over 100 -105 octane. Have a nice day! Paddy.

[PADDY WILLMER]

Murray I don`t think lead is worse. When did you here about lots of people, or anyone, dying from lead poisoning? The lead halides emitted from petrol are heavier the air, fall to the ground straight away and wash away, just like all the heavy metals from out the back of catalytic converters. On lead poisoning there is a much higher level of lead in the citizens of the Western Isles of Scotland, and the remote mountain areas of Borneo than there ever was in London or Sydney when leaded petrol was all there was. Why? Cos of the lead ore in the ground polluting the water. Enjoy the drive to work. I wish I could be in my TB tomorrow, but alas it is still in Wales , 100 miles away. Paddy.

[AJChalmers@aol.com]

MTBE and RFG (ReFomulated Gas) - we Californians are truly afflicted. Yes
MTBE is known to creeping into our water supply, probably creating future
mutants, but do we care? Nah - we won't immediately stop using it, just
phase it out over a few years.

RFG is a cute one. This is a California affliction, supposedly cutting down
on pollutants while cutting gas mileage by 10%. Pollutant diminishment?
Probably 10%. This stuff deteriorates gaskets, fuel pump innards, cork, etc
in old cars and sets them on fire regularly. Just listen to the commute
reports morning and afternoon. And, because it is only put out of a few
refineries, we pay more for it.

The least of our worries is the loss of lead.

[PADDY WILLMER]

Hi everyone I`m unsubscibed at present as I`m not here long enough to read all your e-mails, but I am still around for you individuals wanting advice or to get something off your chests in Safety Fast!, or a chat. I flit between Derbyshire and Cambridgeshire. Have been using the TB daily up to mid-October commuting between Cambridge and St Neots-22 miles each way -working as a self-employed locum lawyer. The car is now up in Derbyshire at my main home, and the Racer is due there too ,soon. It will be ministered with an Eaton supercharger over the winter, and its Marshall 75 will find its way onto the TB then! Life is good but busy. Have a good Autumn[ Fall]. Regards. Paddy. TB 0594 & TA 0448.