NO, NOT ‘FACE OFF’ THIS IS ‘WAX OFF’!
May 25th
When you want to give your car’s bodywork a thorough cleanse and wax, it’s important that you remove all traces of old wax and polish from its surface. Lots of IPAs and panel wipes claim to get rid of it, but don’t.
You can always ‘clay’ the surface and that will do the job nicely but can be a bit time consuming. Autobrite Direct’s Wax Off strips off all traces of old polish and wax and a little goes a long way as depending on the levels of crud you can dilute it 10:1.
A word of warning though it shouldn’t be More >
IT’S A LIGHTWEIGHT POWER PACK
May 25th
Replacing the existing heavy lead acid battery with a lithium-ion battery is the easiest and most effective method of reducing the overall weight and lowering the centre of gravity of a competition car.
The RPS-LB-B40 lightweight lithium-ion battery has been developed for use with racing car engines up to 4000cc fitted with an alternator and pit equipment.
A lithium-ion battery also enables the battery location to be changed to lower the centre of gravity. Since lithium-ion batteries are sealed they can be mounted in any orientation, even flat on their side.
The RPS-LB-B40 battery has a nominal voltage of 13.2v and a nominal More >
‘LS’ BE ‘AVING YOU!
May 25th
Mike Mavrigian of Birchwood Automotive has finished another cool engine build. This one is a 440ci LS engine based on Dart’s LS Next iron block. The 10.54:1 compression engine made 665bhp and 627lb.-ft. of torque on the dyno.
Short Block Combo
Inside the Dart LS Next block are a Scat forged crankshaft and forged H-beam connecting rods, JE forged pistons, and a COMP Cams LSR hydraulic roller cam sporting .624 inches of lift and 243° intake/251° exhaust duration at .050in lift. Other components include a Dart block hardware kit and cam bearings specific to the LS Next block, Clevite main and rod More >
STUCK. FAST …
May 25th
SiMPS Superlite is a cool new bonding agent that not only sticks fast, it helps reduce all-important weight. The product has all the benefits of a mainstream polymer and is free of nasties like isocyanate, solvents and silicones while it retains the same moisture curing mechanism with neutral polymerisation.
It’s also odourless and can be painted either after curing or while still wet. It’s the products low density of just 0.33 g/cm³, which means on average, is nearly quarter the weight of PU or MS Polymer.
It can be used on panel seams (inside and out), anti-vibration, noise reduction, bonding of insulation More >
‘MCLAREN’ THE DOCUMENTARY
May 24th
BRUCE MCLAREN DOCUMENTARY – A PROPER TRIBUTE
‘Motor racing’s greatest untold story’ is what this new documentary on the life and career of Bruce McLaren bills itself and having been lucky enough to see an advance copy I have to thoroughly recommend it.
The film is released on Monday, May 29 and it tells the Bruce McLaren story, how he achieved greatness with grit and determination thrown in with the man’s sheer ability behind the wheel. The highs and lows of his career are all covered from his birth in 1937 right through to his tragic death testing a McLaren Can-Am car More >
WHO WANTS A RELAY OR A JUMPER, ANYWAY? NEW HY BODY CONVERSION KIT
May 18th
Interesting press release received on Monday morning which got the week off to a joyous little start.
It was from an Italian company, Caselani FC based in Cremona and is news of their new body panel conversion kit that takes a Citroën Relay (or Jumper or a Peugeot Boxer or 2006-on Fiat Ducato) and turns it into a Citroën Hy van, which this year celebrates its seventieth anniversary.
Skilled laminator Fabrizio Caselani and designer, David Obendorfer are the people behind the tribute to Flaminio Bertolini’s 1947 corrugated van that has suddenly become the must-have accessory for street food vendors.
Initially, a limited run More >
CLEVER THIS
May 18th
Very impressed with the philosophy and outlook of designer and engineering consultant, Cal Trump, he of T89 Designs. Very much grasping the best traditions of the late Allan Staniforth and his plans-built single-seater, the Terrapin mixed up with a bit of Ron Champion’s Locost idea, comes the T89 SSL.
For those that really grasp such things, you can pay £594 inc VAT and receive an A3 folder with around 200 drawings (and your chassis plate) to help you produce the 245 separate components that go into the construction of an SSL. An extra £72 inc VAT also gets you Jig drawings More >
OOH I LIKE THESE!
May 18th
UK-based TRACKSCAPES recreate racing circuits from around the world as wall art, sculpted in wood.
Shown here is the Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit in a black finish. They offer a wide range of designs in a variety of finishes and will make tracks to order, if you can’t find what you want. Prices start at £49 with a very, very cool Nürburgring outline that I have my eye on for my ‘man cave’ at £129.
Visit www.trackscapes.com to view their range or to contact them ENDS.
A LIGHT BULB MOMENT!
May 18th
Even when you have the luxury of your car’s fuse diagram in front of you it can still be a task to identify the correct fuse and then check to see if it has blown or not. Not anymore. These blade fuses from Gunson actually illuminate when blown, making identification instant and easy.
The kit includes an assortment of common blade fuses, seven each of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 amp sizes. They are identical in fit and function to a standard blade fuse, but they light up when blown! They’ve even included a handy fuse remover as well.
Available More >
BUILD A BIG BORE VEEDUB
May 18th
SCAT Enterprises has been where it’s at for Volkswagen performance since 1967. The company grew with the Southern California VW scene in the 1960s and 1970s; today SCAT Enterprises offers nearly everything you need to build a better classic Bug, Bus, dune buggy, or VW-based kitcar.
SCAT VW engine kits feature all-new parts and take the guesswork out of building a reliable engine. They are available with a hypereutectic cast or forged piston and cylinder package to build a 1300, 1500, or 1800cc engine. Most kits include:
- Eight-pin cast crankshaft
- 4340 forged I-beam or H-beam connecting rods
- 4340 steel gland nut and thick washer
- Performance More >
