News

GRADIENT ON THE RISE

Latest company to join the likes of Jenvey, ATR, Omex and ATR offering direct-to-head throttle body kits is Gradient Engineering, based in Hinckley, Leicestershire. Mechanical engineer, Paul Griffin is the man behind the new products.

Gradient’s range currently works on Ford CVH and Zetec and Mazda N/A and N/B engines and are beautifully made from billet aluminium.

For what seems like a bargain £1250 you get the bodies, fuel rail, linkages, velocity stacks (trumpets, to you and me!) and the appropriate mountings to fit to Zetec or CVH. The direct-to-head throttle bodies are a no-compromise design that ensures that whatever engine they are More >

MORE NEW KIT FROM KITSPARES

Latest new parts to join the growing inventory at Kit Spares include

ATR Products Fuel Pressure Regulator 2.7, 3.0 and 3.5 bar at £93.96 / https://www.kitspares.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=1324

LED Head Lights from £78 / https://www.kitspares.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=709&search=LED

ATR Products Fuel Filler Caps – Vented and Non-vented £78 https://www.kitspares.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=1127

Yellow Paint marker for nuts, bolts & all surfaces / £8.88 / https://www.kitspares.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=1102

You can find out more information all of the company’s parts via www.kitspares.co.ukENDS.

MERLIN CAPS IT ALL

Among the many quality products stocked by Merlin Motorsport at their base at the iconic Castle Combe Circuit in Wiltshire are a large selection of fuel caps.

These include a good choice of Aero Flush Fitting Caps with all associated funnels and fitting rings on their website.

You’ll also find a variety of classic styles including Aston Martin-style caps used on many classic and kitcars. The Aston caps feature a quick release action and are available in a choice of finishes to retain the classic look, but also don’t look out of place on some newer applications.

Also see the Monza style fuel More >

REAL PRECISION

If ever the term ‘really useful’ could be applied to a precision screwdriver set, then this is the one! This 108-piece set from Kamasa Tools (part number 56121) is so much more than just a screwdriver set.

Being a precision screwdriver line-up, it is ideal for a number of different uses, including computers, phones, electronics, etc, but as well as including 90 (yes, 90!) precision bits, it also comes with a number of very useful accessories.

The list of bits is extensive: 10 x Phillips, 8 x PzDrive, 2 x Tri-wing, 14 x Flat, 8 x Star (5 sided), 20 x Star More >

AEROFLOW NOS FITTINGS

Most nitrous oxide kits come from America and their fittings usually aren’t compatible with our Gen II NOS bottles or BOC NOS bottles.

Now, thanks to Aeroflow, the problem has been solved. It has just released a pair of Nitrous Bottle Adaptors to fit the -04 AN and -06 AN-threads commonly found on US nitrous kits, so that they will accept UK/European gas bottles.

The adaptors are produced from aluminium and are CNC-machined for a precision fit.

They retail from £23.99 each inc VAT. For more details contact 01268 764 411 or visit www.b-gdirect.com ENDS.

THE OIL FOR CHEVY PERFORMANCE MOTORS

Here’s one aimed primarily at our North American readers …

Mobil 1 5W-30 and 15W-30

Mobil 1’s 5W-30 and 15W-30 grades are full synthetic motor oils that provide exceptional protection against engine wear even under extreme conditions. They will help keep your crate engine running like new by reducing sludge, deposit build-up, and minimising oil breakdown.

Mobil 1 flows as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit—no worries about oil starvation at engine start-up—and can withstand temperatures up to 500-degrees Fahrenheit.

Chevrolet Performance recommends Mobil 1 5W-30 for these crate engines:

  • 350/290
  • 350 HO
  • Ram Jet 350
  • SP350/357 and SP350/385
  • ZZ6, carbureted and EFI
  • HT383
  • SP383
  • L96 Connect and Cruise Package
  • LS3 and LS3 E-ROD
  • LS7
  • LS376/515 and More >

CHESIL SPEEDS TO WESTFIELD

BIG news at the end of last week was that Westfield Sports Cars has purchased the Chesil Speedster project lock, stock and barrel.

Developed from Chris Boyle’s Street Beetle project it was purchased by Peter Bailey in 1991 and the name changed to ‘Chesil’ primarily due to the company’s location right on Dorset’s Chesil Beach on England’s Jurassic Coast.

Not many better places to go to take a test drive, that’s for sure.

Over the next 13-years or so Bailey developed the Chesil Speedster into one of the foremost kitcars in the UK definitely becoming the 356 replica that most aspired to. Basically, More >

CLASSIC COACHWORKS OLD NO 7 TRIBUTE

Latest kit to join the Classic Coachworks stable is the Z75 from Old No 7 (sister company to Tribute Automotive) which is again a BMW Z3-based body conversion that turns the venerable German two-seater into a pastiche of an exotic delicacy.

The photos show the first car under build, but it’s enough to give a tempting flavour of what’s to come.

With Tribute/Old No 7’s reputation for innovation and value for money and Classic Coachworks’ fine car building skills and customer service, it’s sure to be as popular as the existing 250 Koupe and Kali and there’ll be fixed head and convertible More >

TIG TORCH COVERS

DEI TIG Torch Covers protect expensive TIG welding cables while not feeling heavy or cumbersome. They are made from a lightweight and flexible PET monofilament and multifilament combination to provide exceptional abrasion and chemical resistance and are able to handle temperatures of up to 175 degrees C with a 260 degrees C melting point.

The self-closing split sleeve design makes for easy installation and self-binding silicone tape to secure the ends is included.

DEI TIG Torch Covers meet SAE ARP 1536A and ISO 6722 Abrasion ratings and have a SAE J 369 Flammability rating of ‘Self Extinguishing’.

The covers have a 1.905cm I.D. and a 33% overlap More >

BOX OF TRICKS

This is the latest model fuse-box as used on all Classic Minis built after 1976 and all MG Midget/Sprites fitted with the 1275cc engine.

It is simple and easy to replace or upgrade from the earlier version. This box has the advantage of having four fuses in place of the earlier version that only had two.

Later model cars used the extra fuses for accessories. If you are upgrading from the two-fuse type you can spread the load or add accessories or simply keep as spares (fuses are not included but are also available from Mini Spares)!

The original fuse boxes that were fitted More >

z library