#Automobile Engine Valve

[enginevalve]

Bajaj genuine parts provider in India | BLW Engine Valves

BLW Engine Valve is a trusted provider of genuine Bajaj spare parts. We understand the importance of using high-quality parts when it comes to maintaining the performance and longevity of your Bajaj 2 wheelers, We offer a wide range of genuine Bajaj parts for all models of Bajaj 2 wheelers. Our parts are sourced directly from the manufacturer, ensuring that they meet the highest quality standards. We have a comprehensive stock of parts, including engine parts, electrical parts, body parts, and more. We also have a team of experienced technicians who can assist you in finding the right parts for your specific 2 wheeler model. With us, you can be sure that you are getting the best quality parts at an affordable price. Visit Our Website: https://www.blwenginevalves.com/ Contact us at: +91 83769 05801

[wheelsgoroundincircles]

1932 Bucciali TAV 12 "Golden Arrow" by Saoutchik

Paul-Albert Bucciali built only six cars between 1926 and 1932. They were built to display the front-wheel-drive system Bucciali invented. Bucciali received an American patent and licensed his technology to Peerless Motor Car Company of Cleveland, Ohio. Unfortunately for Bucciali, Peerless never used the license.

This Bucciali features a specially designed Voisin V12 sleeve-valve engine with four carburetors. Drive to the front axle is through a four-speed transaxle. The huge wheels, fabricated from steel, have integral brake drums. The coachwork is by the French Carrozzeria Saoutchik. The distinctive stork on each hood side is made from German silver, phosphor bronze, and gold-plated brass. This stork was the insignia of Bucciali's WWII fighter squadron. The original chassis price was an incredible 130,000 Francs, and the coachwork was an additional 85,630 Francs. Only one Bucciali was sold to the public. This is it!

The original owner, George Roure, displayed his Bucciali at the 1932 Paris Auto Show. Subsequently, he sold it to Count de Rivaud, who later mounted the body on a more maneuverable Bugatti chassis. In the 1970s, the body was reunited with what remained of the Bucciali chassis and drivetrain, and after a long, challenging restoration, the Bucciali was returned to its original state. The work was begun in Detroit by the noted collector Raymond Jones. In addition to using many factory blueprints, Paul Albert Bucciali was consulted for special detail as to the colors and design of the interior. The car now appears exactly as displayed at the Paris show in 1932.

Starring at the 1932 Paris Auto Show, the front-wheel drive, twelve-cylinder, sleeve-valve engined Bucciali stunned show-goers. Cloaked in one-off coachwork by Saoutchik, the car received acclaim as the most advanced and modern French automobile.

The Bucciali was sold originally to a Paris banker, who drove it for three years. The coachwork was then removed and fitted to a Type 47 Bugatti chassis. The Bugatti fitted with the Bucciali's coachwork was sold and brought stateside after World War II. The original chassis remained behind in France.

In the 1970s, the Bucciali body was reunited with the original chassis, which was purchased from a French collector. With the assistance of Paul Albert Bucciali, the car was restored to the original, spectacular state that it is today.

[diabolus1exmachina]

Siata 208 CS ( 1 of 6). 

Societá Italiana Auto Trasformazioni Accessori (SIATA) created a marvelous assortment of machinery in its 45-year history under the guidance of the Ambrosini family. Founded by Giorgio Ambrosini in 1926, Siata specialized in performance modifications for Fiats, creating the overhead-valve conversions, multi-speed gearboxes, superchargers, and multi-carb intakes that competitive Italians wanted for their diminutive cars. The Italian auto giant conspicuously ignored—with few exceptions—the high-performance market as the Agnellis concentrated their empire around sensible, reliable, and mass-produced cars of small proportions.Siata received substantial financial assistance from Fiat following the Second World War, and by 1949 they were producing small automobiles which wore custom, house-labeled coachwork. Firmly grafted to Fiat and its engineering, Siata took a giant leap forward with the arrival of Rudolf Hruska in 1950. Hruska had worked in Porsche’s design office before the war and later collaborated with Carlo Abarth on Piero Dusio’s Cisitalia Grand Prix project. Fiat itself plotted its re-entry to the top ranks of Italian performance automobiles in 1950 with the introduction of their two-liter V-8 (dubbed "Otto Vu"), whose development was entrusted to Siata and executed in total secrecy by Hruska’s team.

The unusual oversquare, 70-degree V-8 engine featured all-aluminum castings with wedge-shaped combustion chambers. Induction was through a pair of dual-throat, downdraft Weber carburetors. With its high-revving short-stroke design and 8.5:1 compression ratio, prodigious power was channeled through a four-speed manual gearbox. Hruska planted the engine into a tubular chassis, and this became the basis of Fiat’s 8V.

Debuting at the 1952 Geneva Salon, the 8V caused an absolute sensation perhaps best equated to a meltdown of Italy’s motoring press. For many, the Siata-developed, Fiat-badged supercar defied belief. In particular, the advanced chassis featured a fully independent suspension with coil springs and telescopic shock absorbers at all four corners and was a marvelously sophisticated platform for its time, with supple and predictable handling that amazed drivers accustomed to the rigidly sprung, “flex-framed,” live-axle sports cars of the time.

Approximately 200 Tipo 104 engines were made to supply the 114 8V examples which Fiat ultimately produced. Eighty-five or so surplus engines were thusly returned to Siata, which seized the opportunity to supply them with additional house-made upgrades and implant them into the very chassis from which the earth-shattering Otto Vu had been developed.

The resulting Siata 208 CS was available as an attractive barchetta-like Spider or streamlined berlinetta, which Siata commissioned from a small pool of local coachbuilders including Bertone, Vignale, and Stabilimenti Farina. It is said that Siata openly encouraged the carryover of major styling details which these same companies were providing to Ferrari during the same period.

Perhaps the shapeliest design ever rendered upon the 208 CS, however, was executed by Balbo of Turin. Just nine berlinettas were made, of which only six examples are known to remain extant.

[lifestooshorttodriveboringcars]

Front End Friday! Let’s see ‘em.

1935 Mercedes-Benz 500/540 K Cabriolet A by Sindelfingen

The Mercedes-Benz 500 K was introduced at the Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung, more commonly referred to as the Berlin Motor Show, in March 1934. Although it was produced alongside the 380 K, it was planned as a successor model to satiate the expressed interest of Mercedes-Benz’s wealthy clientele for a luxury conveyance that produced more power.

In 1938 at this car the engine upgrade to 540 K specification, which is well-known in this example, was completed at this time. 115/180 bhp, 5,410 cc overhead-valve supercharged inline eight-cylinder engine, four-speed manual transmission, double-wishbone independent front suspension with coil springs, swing axle rear suspension with coil springs, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes with vacuum-assist. Wheelbase: 129.5 in.

[christinasaintmarche]

Remembering Enzo by Christina Saint Marche Via Flickr: In my long life I have had the pleasure of meeting many people. Enzo Ferrari has to be one of the most interesting. At the time I was the owner of a slightly used Ferrari 308 GTSi. The 308 GTSi is powered by a fuel-injected 2.9-liter quad-cam V8 paired with a five-speed manual transaxle. It was fast but downshifting was a bear on a turn....especially in stiletto high heels. The day came when the last of the 328 models was due out and I wanted one. This 328 engine (again featuring four valves per cylinder) produced a specific output of 85 bhp per litre, compared with 82 for the 4-valve version of the 308 that I owned. Much faster and better handling. So I hop a plane that spring to Italy and arrive at Ferrari HQ for a plant tour. My research had shown Enzo was going to build only 1337 of these cars in the last model year. After a discussion and dinner with the man himself number 1338 was added to the list and my name was attached to it for delivery to Los Angeles. I won't go into any details today but I will tell you that Enzo Ferrari had an eye for women as he did for his namesake automobile. A genius who would leave this world in August of that year. Picture by Allen Pierson

[hirocimacruiser]

Mazda Familia GT-R advert.

WRC participation base model

Familia <GT-R> is born.

GT-R

WRC Group-A Homologation Base-model

Body Color:Braze Red

NEW 4WD 3DOOR HATCHBACK

Born to win, it has a strong smell of weapons. WRC Group A specification is introduced to the whole body.

Based on the touring cars that have produced over 5,000 units for 12 consecutive months, we continue to challenge the WRC with 14 fierce battles in various parts of the world every year. The full-time 4WD with unequal torque distribution of 43:57 front and rear and the handling performance produced by the compact body were praised as "fast driving". Although it is an 1.8-liter engine, it is a 2-liter engine that surpasses the power. And when developing the GT-R, which was to become a new FIA (World Automobile Federation) homologation model, we made it a proposition to acquire even greater power in order to sublimate the Shan advantage to further competitiveness. . To that end, the first step was to significantly advance the supercharging system. Especially for turbochargers, the diameter of the turbine. The diameter of the compressor is also increased at once. The air flow rate at maximum thermal efficiency is actually about 18 times higher. Also, the core size of the intercooler has been increased by 70% compared to the previous model. As a result, it is possible to generate a maximum output of 210ps (net), the strongest in the 1.8-liter class, and a rich torque of 25.5kgm. Especially in the high rev range up to the red zone, we have successfully acquired overwhelming acceleration performance that we have come to describe as a “4WD rocket”. Durability and reliability are also valuable factors comparable to power during actual combat. Therefore, we decided to incorporate WRC works specs and quality everywhere in advance. First, the turbocharger uses a metal turbine and a large-diameter duty valve.

The engine is the first mass-produced gasoline engine in Japan to use aluminum high-cast pistons with cooling channels, which were originally used in racing engines. Nickel-Celmet foam is fused into the grooves of the top ring to dramatically improve wear resistance. In addition, in the hollow exhaust valve filled with metal sodium, the enclosed metal sodium melts with heat, moves inside according to the vertical movement of the valve, and releases heat. It cools the valve and prevents abnormal combustion and durability against the high heat load that accompanies high output. In addition, connecting rod metal using Kelmet metal, which is still used in Grp A, high-strength connecting rods, and an oil cooler with an integrated oil filter. And adopt hard shot peaning processed gears to receive high output. At the time of participating in the WRC

Based on the touring cars that have produced over 5,000 units for 12 consecutive months, we continue to challenge the WRC with 14 fierce battles in various parts of the world every year. The full-time 4WD with unequal torque distribution of 43:57 front and rear and the handling performance produced by the compact body were praised as "fast driving". Although it is an 1.8-liter engine, it is a 2-liter engine that surpasses the power. And when developing the GT-R, which was to become a new FIA (World Automobile Federation) homologation model, we made it a proposition to acquire even greater power in order to sublimate the Shan advantage to further competitiveness. . To that end, the first step was to significantly advance the supercharging system. Especially for turbochargers, the diameter of the turbine. The diameter of the compressor is also increased at once. The air flow rate at maximum thermal efficiency is actually about 18 times higher. Also, the core size of the intercooler has been increased by 70% compared to the previous model. As a result, it is possible to generate a maximum output of 210ps (net), the strongest in the 1.8-liter class, and a rich torque of 25.5kgm. Especially in the high rev range up to the red zone, we have successfully acquired overwhelming acceleration performance that we have come to describe as a “4WD rocket”. Durability and reliability are also valuable factors comparable to power during actual combat. Therefore, we decided to incorporate WRC works specs and quality everywhere in advance. First, the turbocharger uses a metal turbine and a large-diameter duty valve.

FAMILIA

Unequal front/rear torque distribution 43:57 Full-time 4WD 1800DOHC 16-valve intercooler turbo: Maximum output 210ps 6000rpm (Net) Maximum torque ♪

25.5kgm/4500rpm Length 4075mm x Width 1690mm x Height 130mm Wheelbase 2450mm Tread front 1445 x 1435m Main equipment 15 inch aluminum wheels

195/50R15 81V tires (DUNLOP PERFORMA) Large fog lights Genuine leather steering wheel (MOMO)

[scotianostra]

John Boyd Dunlop, who patented the first practical practical pneumatic tyre, was born in Ayrshire on February 5th 1846.

Notice I didn’t say invented there, because he might have perfected the tyre but he didn’t come up with the idea, it was another clever Scot called  Robert William Thomson who made the first pneumatic tyre on 10 December 1845, some 43 years before John Dunlop’s re-invention, it was way too soon for the world to appreciate it though, so on this day in 1846 a Scotsman re-invented the wheel...sort of :) 

John Boyd Dunlop was a veterinary surgeon from Scotland who had settled in Belfast in Northern Ireland. He didn't really have much to do with then newfangled driving devices like the bicycle, but is said to have worked a lot with rubber in his practice. To make his son's tricycle faster and more comfortable, he tinkered with the sheathing of the wheels. He developed a rubber tube that was wrapped in canvas and glued to a wooden rim. A baby's dummy is said to have served as a valve.

With this air-filled tyre, Dunlop junior whizzed happily along the streets of Belfast in the spring of 1888, easily outstripping his comrades. Dunlop realised that the pneumatic tyre held great promise and successfully applied for a patent for his invention at the end of the same year. This marked the beginning of the rise of the Dunlop brand, which is still famous today (including 129659, DE word mark since 1910; DE756765 or EM005125489). 

But: Dunlop should never have been granted this patent. The UK Patent Office had overlooked the fact that someone else had already received the patent for a pneumatic tyre some 40 years earlier. Robert William Thomson (1822-1873) was also Scottish and an extremely talented inventor. At the age of 23, he was granted pneumatic tyre patents in France and the USA ( US5104A). His tyre consisted of a hollow belt of Indian rubber inflated with air and covered with a leather casing. The wheels laid, as it were, "a cushion of air on the ground, rail or track" on which they ran. Thomson demonstrated his "Aerial Wheels" on horse-drawn carriages in London's Regent's Park in March 1847.

But unfortunately the time was not yet ripe for his invention. Like many other ingenious inventor´s ideas, Thomson´s tyre fell into oblivion. But he was luckier with other projects. He developed, among other things, the fountain pen, new types of steam engines and electric ignition devices for blasting, which greatly advanced railway construction. He died a rich and respected man.

John Boyd Dunlop is said to have known nothing of his compatriot's invention when he registered his idea with the patent office. He further improved his pneumatic tyres and had a series of 50 bicycles fitted with them. With one of these bicycles, William Hume, the previously unsuccessful captain of the Belfast Cruisers' Cycle Club, suddenly achieved spectacular success in bicycle races.

Among others, Hume beat the national champion Arthur Du Cros on 18th May 1889. The latter's father, the entrepreneur William Harvey Du Cros, recognised the marketing potential of the invention. He sought contact with Dunlop and together they founded the "Pneumatic Tyre & Booth's Cycle Agency" in Westland Row in Dublin on 18th November 1889, which was soon renamed "Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Co. Ltd". The triumphant advance of the pneumatic tyre began.

At the first Olympic Games in Athens in 1896, all cyclists competed with pneumatic tyres.

However, as the invention became more widely known, Thomson's patent came to light again. Dunlop initially lost his patent. The brothers Edouard and André Michelin from Clermont-Ferrand took advantage of this and produced pneumatic tyres on a large scale. They were also the first to equip the emerging automobile with tyres, thus considerably accelerating its success story.

Dunlop continued to further develop the tyre and was able to obtain new patents for his improvements, which ensured his economic success

Above all, the valve, which is still named after him today, proved that he was an able inventor. Incidentally, he also applied for patents for developments in completely different fields, such as a skin lotion as seen in the pics.

Only four years after the foundation of his company, Dunlop's first foreign branch was established in Hanau. It still exists today. Dunlop was soon to manufacture numerous other rubber products such as golf and tennis balls, floor coverings and brake shoes. The company became one of the first "global players", a worldwide manufacturing company.

John Boyd Dunlop withdrew completely from the company in 1895 and returned to his veterinary practice. Along the way, he and his son worked on new inventions, such as a patented eau de toilette.

[wetsteve3]

1932 Brough Superior Austin Four | Great Britain 🇬🇧

The Brough Superior Austin Four created a sensation when revealed at the 1931 Olympia Motorcycle Show. It was listed in the 1932 Brough Superior catalog as the ‘Straight Four’ but it was commonly known as the Brough Superior Austin Four, or BS4, or ‘3-wheeled Brough’.

The machine has a unique design, being powered by a modified Austin 7 automobile engine and gearbox unit, from which a driveshaft emerges on the center-line of the motor. Rather than design a new gearbox, Mr. George Brough had the inspiration to keep the central driveshaft and use a pair of close-couple rear wheels driven by a central final drive box.

George bored the engine out to 797 ccm and had a new alloy head developed with larger valves. He also paired modified engine with twin carburetors. The Austin Four had been intended as a sidecar motorcycle, but a few were built in the solo versions.

Out of ten Brough Superior Austin Four built, (eight in 1932 and two in 1933-1934), a total of nine have survived to this day. One of these luxurious Brough Superior Austin Four can be seen live at Motorworld by V.Sheyanov museum.

[dijidweeeb]

1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Custom

Why This Car Is Special

The 1955 Chevrolet (sometimes referred to as '55 Chevy) is an automobile that was made by Chevrolet in 1955. It is considered a huge turning point for the manufacturer and was a major success.

Fast forward to now and you will see this 1955 Chevrolet 150 Resto-Mod we have at Skyway Classics has a semi-truck load of performance and comfort items added to its gleaming orange and tan exterior.

Features

1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Custom

Restored at Custom Classics

355 cubic inch modified small block Chevrolet engine

Polished aluminum intake

Performance carb with the electric choke

Chrome open element air cleaner assembly

Aluminum finned valve covers with red script Chevrolet

Performance fuel plumbing

Modified electronics and distributor

Serpentine belt drive system with billet aluminum pulleys

Power steering and disc power brakes

Vintage Air

Tube headers

3-inch dual exhaust with Flowmaster mufflers

700 R4 automatic transmission with overdrive

Engine and frame both painted and detailed

Tan custom interior

Handsome bucket seat like but bench-seats

Matching rear seat and door panels

Leather-wrapped steering wheel

Custom center console with the chrome shifter and orange shifter ball

Billet aluminum dash with VDO gauges

In-dash CD player

Vintage Air with electronic climate control

Seatbelts

Tan carpet and floor mats

Finished trunk with custom fitted partitions, carpet, Bow Tie logo back of the cargo area

Hugger Orange and Tan

Full side windows in place of the original vented pieces

One-piece front and rear bumpers

Staggered-diameter Ridler alloy wheels

Performance tires

Mechanical

You will appreciate the 355 cubic inch modified Chevy small-block V-8 residing under the smoothed hood. A showpiece all on its own, it incorporates a polished aluminum intake, performance carb with the electric choke, chrome open element air cleaner assembly, aluminum finned valve covers with red script Chevrolet on them, performance fuel plumbing, modified electronics and distributor, a serpentine belt drive system with billet aluminum pulleys to drive its power steering, power brakes, alternator and Vintage Air accessory drives, and tube headers feeding 3-inch dual exhaust with Flowmaster mufflers to deliver the kind of throaty rumble guaranteed to attract attention.

A 700 R4 automatic transmission with overdrive and four-wheel disc brakes add even more to the 150's performance capabilities with the engine and frame both painted and detailed.

Interior

The tan custom interior has had its once-minimalist accommodations traded for a handsome bucket seat like but bench-seat interior featuring a matching rear seat and door panels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, custom center console with the chrome shifter and orange shifter ball, billet aluminum dash with VDO gauges, in-dash CD player, Vintage Air with electronic climate control, seatbelts, and tan carpet and floor mats.

It even has a finished trunk with custom fitted partitions, carpet, and a Bow Tie logo across the back of the cargo area.

Exterior

Our 1955 Chevrolet 150 Sedan is a particularly fine example of craftmanship that has went into this show car.

The first thing you will notice is the paint scheme. Tastefully sprayed in Hugger Orange and Tan with carefully considered details such as full side windows in place of the original vented pieces, one-piece front and rear bumpers contribute to setting the car apart from the pack, and new staggered-diameter Ridler alloy wheels and performance rubber give it just the right stance.

Conclusion

This 1955 Chevy show car we have at Skyway Classics was built by Custom Classics that is a nationally renowned restoration facility for customizing show-winning cars of almost any make and model, from American iron to foreign exotics and vintage rarities.

1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Bradenton, Florida | Hemmings

1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Bradenton, Florida | Hemmings

1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Bradenton, Florida | Hemmings

[underwatersolenoid]

Valve systems play a crucial role in maintaining a vehicle lubrication level

Either as an individual or as a group, having a car in good condition is one of the ways to improve your mobility. With a vehicle, you can be in multiple places every day and attend to different needs. Having a car of your own can be a bit easy. Still, the biggest challenge of having an automobile lies in maintaining and keeping it in good condition.

Since vehicles have different parts, it will be necessary for you to understand each of the make-ups to know how to respond in case any part develops faults. One area you should be mindful of in your vehicle is the valve system seal. These seals play a crucial role in controlling lubrication as the valve stem moves up and down the guide. In this write-up, you will be learning tips on what valve stem seals represent and immediately identifying faults at an early stage under different conditions. Below are some of the precautions you should take as regards your vehicle valve stem seals.Types of valve stem sealsValve stem seals come in two different types, namely defector seal, which is also known as umbrella seals, and positive seals. The defector seals work hand-in-hand with the valve stem, ensuring the lubricant that gets into the valve guide does not exceed the needed amount. Positive seals, on the other hand, help in controlling oil consumption and hydrocarbon emissions. With this feature properly in place, only a slip of oil passes through to lubricate the valve guide.Valve system failure under different conditions:You will notice some changes when the valve guide begins to wear due to age or excessive oil presence in the oil valve guide. Below is a list of unique symptoms you should be on the lookout for on valve system failure. Excessive smoke When the valve seal condition has become damaged, the blue-white exhaust colors will take a different look after acceleration and engine start-up. At the same time, the smoke generated by the exhaust tends to disappear after the engine has worked for a while or under a hot weather condition.  Excessive oil consumption Under normal circumstances, if the vehicle engine, rings, and valve guides are in good condition, there is little to no loss of oil.Wholesale Solenoid Valve Factory. But the reverse is the case if the valves become bad. At this point, vehicle oil consumption becomes excessive.  Lack of acceleration powerWhen you notice your vehicle acceleration power seems to be dropping, that might be a clear indicator of a bad valve seal. However, this submission is not conclusive. You can carry out a compression test to validate whether the fault is from your valve seal or other parts. If the compression level is high, it indicates a valve problem. But if otherwise, it will mean a ring problem.

Conclusion Valve systems play a crucial role in maintaining a vehicle lubrication level as well as oil consumption level. To keep your vehicle in good condition, you must not overlook any slight fault at the inception stage, particularly in the valve stem system. Thankfully, this article has discussed some essential information you should know to help you manage your valve stem system and vehicle lubrication processes better.

[enginevalve]

ACTIVA 100 - BLW Automotive Spare Parts Manufacturers

BLW Engine Valves is a leading automotive spare parts manufacturer offering high-quality engine valves and other components for ACTIVA 100 models.

Contact Us Today:

[wheelsgoroundincircles]

1949 Delahaye 175 S Saoutchik Roadster

Saoutchik was a cabinet maker when he moved to Paris from his home in Ukraine around 1900, but he didn’t take long to establish himself in the fledgling automotive coachbuilding industry and he showed a consistent flair over the next 50 years which puts him among the very elite of automotive designers.

His designs borrowed little from other designers, and along with names such as Figoni et Falaschi, Chapron, Franay and de Letourner et Marchand, Saoutchik was one of the foremost designers of exquisite Art Deco coachwork during the 20s and 30s.

Saoutchik was commissioned to produce the spectacular work-of-art by flamboyant English collector, Sir John Gaul. The design was based on the first post-war Delahaye chassis from a 175 S Roadster (chassis number 815023) producing 165 bhp from an engine much larger than the pre-war Delahayes ran – a 4,455 cc naturally aspirated overhead valve inline six cylinder engine with four-speed electro-mechanically actuated Cotal Preselector gearbox, Dubonnet coil spring front suspension, De Dion rear axle with semi-elliptic springs, and four-wheel hydraulic finned alloy drum brakes. The wheelbase was a whopping 116 inches.

The car was unveiled at the 1949 Paris Auto Show, and was exhibited at all the major European concours events that year, from Paris to Monte Carlo to San Remo, scooping the pool wherever it was exhibited. It won best-in-class in the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2006 just a few months after a complete restoration. Just a few months later, the car was honored again, winning People’s Choice at theprestigious Amelia Island Concours d’ Elegance.

Having fulfilled its exhibition duties, it then passed through a succession of other flamboyant owners, including actress Diana Dors.

The final word on this stunning automobile goes to Ian Kelleher, President and Chief Operating Officer, RM Auctions

“Following the financial depression of World War II, there were few collectors with the means, flamboyance and flair to commission a car as exotic as this Saoutchik Roadster. Arguably the most desirable post-war, coachbuilt automobile of all time, it is truly a masterpiece of the coachbuilder’s art. Eye-catching and exotic, it is wonderful to drive and combines superlative styling on a chassis of competition quality.”

Courtesy of RM Auctions

[diabolus1exmachina]

DB Panhard HBR 5 

A symbol of a bygone era when a few talented craftsmen could start in the world's greatest events, the manufacturer D.B. has won nearly 1,000 races and can boast of being the French manufacturer with the highest number of entries in the Le Mans 24 Hours to date! Born in 1932 from the meeting of two car racing enthusiasts: Charles Deutsch, a polytechnic engineer and René Bonnet, an ingenious mechanic and mechanic, Les Automobiles Deutsch and Bonnet (D.B.) built profiled racing cars with Citroën mechanics before presenting their first passenger car at the 1950 Paris Motor Show. But it was in 1954 that the idea of building a small French GT - which would thus benefit from the reputation acquired on the circuits - began to make its way. Built on an extremely rigid beam chassis and equipped with a plastic body (1st French car in polyester glass laminate), the HBR 5 coach will be produced until the end of the Deutsch et Bonnet association in 1961. It benefits from the excellent 850cc flat-twin air-cooled 850cc flat-twin from the Panhard Dyna Z, reworked by René Bonnet. The latter has equipped it with special intake manifolds, a more efficient camshaft, reinforced valve springs and a new exhaust system. With a higher compression ratio and a dual-body Zenith carburetor, it develops 58 horsepower compared to 42 in the standard sedan. The HBR5 will also be supported by a more advanced version, the "Super Rallye", with a twin engine pushed to 954 cm3 giving 72 rides. This coach was a great success because he had exceptional roadholding and enduring braking at the time. The HBR5 coach will win many category victories in most major events such as the Tour de France Automobile, Targa Florio, Mille Miglia, Les 24 Heures du Mans, the Monte-Carlo rally and the Liège-Rome-Liège.

[collinthenychudson]

Well, here we go again everyone. Here's round two of another Train-Themed Christmas Advent Calendar.

Day 1: Milwaukee Road Class F7

Info from Wikipedia: 

The Milwaukee Road's class "F7" comprised six (#100–#105) high-speed, streamlined 4-6-4 "Baltic" (Hudson) type steam locomotives built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) in 1937–38 to haul the Milwaukee's Hiawatha express passenger trains. Following on from the success of the road's class "A" 4-4-2s, the F7s allowed the road to haul heavier trains on the popular Chicago–Twin Cities routes.

The F7s are major contenders for the fastest steam locomotives ever built, as they ran at over 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) daily. One run in January 1941 recorded by a reporter for Trains magazine saw 110 miles per hour (180 km/h) achieved twice—in the midst of a heavy snowstorm. Baron Gérard Vuillet, a French railroading expert, once recorded a run between Chicago and Milwaukee where the locomotive reached 125 mph (201 km/h) and sustained an average 120 mph (190 km/h) for 4.5 miles (7.2 km).[1] However, the British locomotive LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard is officially accepted to be the world's fastest, with a run recorded at 125.88 mph (202.58 km/h) but authenticated at 126 mph in 1938. The Mallard run was slightly downhill and the locomotive broke down at the end of the run.

The Milwaukee F7s are accepted as the fastest steam locomotives by a different measure—scheduled speed between stations. In 1939, shortly after they were introduced into passenger service, the Twin Cities Hiawatha schedule was modified such that the engines would need to run the 78.3 mi (126.0 km) between Portage and Sparta, Wisconsin in 58 minutes—a start-to-stop average of 81 mph (130 km/h)

In the late 1940s, the Milwaukee F7s were modified to equip an additional Mars Light above the original single highlight to further enhance the safety of daily highspeed operation.

On July 27, 1950, F7 #102 was on a run between Chicago and Milwaukee on the "North Woods Hiawatha." 73 miles from Milwaukee, the right main crosshead froze in its guide. It immediately overheated, broke, and dropped from the guide while the train was traveling at an estimated speed between 90 and over 100 mph. Air brake lines were severed, putting the engine into emergency. The engine was severely damaged, broken drive gear tore up ties and roadbed, and debris (including the main rod) was found as far as 1400 feet west of Edgebrook Station. Information is conflicting on the amount of injuries that resulted; some report that two railroad employees were injured. Another report stated that as the locomotive passed by the Devon Avenue crossing, an automobile driver was injured by flying debris. Whatever the case, no one was killed. The train stayed on the rails, and continued to over 10,560 feet from the station until coming to a complete stop.[2] The cause of the incident was later found to have been caused by the failure of a connection link between the valve gear's combination lever and a Nathan mechanical lubricator. In fact, both of the locomotive's crossheads had been running dry on lubrication, but the right one was the first to fail. After this incident, #102 never ran again, as the cost was not considered worth repairs.

The first one built, #100, was also the first withdrawn from service, on November 10, 1949; and the last one built #105 was the final one in service and was withdrawn August 10, 1951. None survive today, as the last one was scrapped in 1951.

Models and Route by: RRmods, Auran, and Download Station

[christinasaintmarche]

Remembering Enzo by Christina Saint Marche Via Flickr: In my long life I have had the pleasure of meeting many people. Enzo Ferrari has to be one of the most interesting. At the time I was the owner of a slightly used Ferrari 308 GTSi. The 308 GTSi is powered by a fuel-injected 2.9-liter quad-cam V8 paired with a five-speed manual transaxle. It was fast but downshifting was a bear on a turn....especially in stiletto high heels. The day came when the last of the 328 models was due out and I wanted one. This 328 engine (again featuring four valves per cylinder) produced a specific output of 85 bhp per litre, compared with 82 for the 4-valve version of the 308 that I owned. Much faster and better handling. So I hop a plane that spring to Italy and arrive at Ferrari HQ for a plant tour. My research had shown Enzo was going to build only 1337 of these cars in the last model year. After a discussion and dinner with the man himself number 1338 was added to the list and my name was attached to it for delivery to Los Angeles. I won't go into any details today but I will tell you that Enzo Ferrari had an eye for women as he did for his namesake automobile. A genius who would leave this world in August of that year. Picture by Allen Pierson

[oliviajames1122]

There Are Five Signs of a Cracked Cylinder Head

The "upper end" of an engine is a cylinder head. The combustion chamber, where the engine consumes fuel to produce power, is sealed off by it when it joins to the engine block.

The airflow control valves are also housed in cylinder heads. Exhaust valves allow the burnt air fuel combination to leave the combustion chamber after fresh air is drawn in by intake valves, which causes combustion. A fancy air pump is all that an internal combustion engine really is.

A cylinder head could physically crack under severe circumstances. Similar symptoms to those of a blown head gasket or a broken block may be caused by a cracked cylinder head, which is more difficult to repair. The most common fix is to purchase a new cylinder head. To have your automobile given a thorough health check and any broken parts repaired or replaced, choose a certified technician by searching online for car garages in Reading.

The causes of a damaged cylinder head are as follows:

1.Overheating - Internal combustion engines quickly become overheated. They are intended to contain small, controlled explosions, as their name suggests. Instead of being transformed into kinetic energy to propel the vehicle, a large portion of the energy produced during combustion is instead wasted as heat energy. This is a consequence of their design that can be reduced but never completely eradicated. Overheating is the main reason why cylinder heads crack. When an engine overheats, its parts may experience stress well above the heat tolerance they were intended to withstand. Since most heads are constructed of aluminium, if the engine becomes hot enough, they may distort or break. A cooling system malfunction is the main cause of engine overheating in the majority of cases. The list below includes some potential causes.

2.Air in the Cooling System - Hot spots, where one area of the engine is significantly hotter than another, may emerge when there is air in the cooling system. This occurs because a liquid can transport heat more efficiently than air. The coolant temperature sensor may not detect a hot spot if air is trapped in a single area away from it. Your vehicle may run hot before you realise it until there is already damage. This is why it's crucial to request the technician to perform a comprehensive health check on your car so that any issues can be identified when looking online for vehicle service near me garages for your scheduled maintenance. Furthermore, a cooling system air leak could result in a drop in cooling system pressure. At lower pressures, liquid coolant is more likely to boil.

3.Failed Water Pump - The engine's coolant will not be able to circulate correctly if the water pump malfunctions. The coolant around the water jackets in the head and block will be extremely heated even if it may be nice and cold in the radiator. In the absence of a pump, coolant can only travel through natural convection, which moves much too slowly to remove extra heat before the engine overheats. If you do not know when the water pump in your vehicle was last replaced, search online for garages in Reading and schedule a water pump replacement appointment as soon as you can.

4.Failed Thermostat - Combustion engines operate most effectively at the operating temperature for which they were built. Normal operating temperatures for engines are normally between 190- and 210-degrees Fahrenheit, which is hot enough to scald you (85 to 99 degrees Celsius). Lowering the engine's operating temperature raises its fuel use, emissions, and wear. Go online and carry out a MOT history checker to confirm if a previous MOT test failed due to the excessive emissions. Until the engine coolant reaches the desired temperature, a thermostat prevents coolant from flowing from the radiator. When the desired temperature is attained, the thermostat opens, allowing coolant at room temperature to enter the engine and cool it until the thermostat becomes cold enough to close. During engine operation, the cycle continues. Your vehicle will likely run quite cold if the thermostat is stuck open. This is due to the fact that the radiator receives a constant flow of coolant from the entire system, never having a chance to fully warm up. Your engine will overheat rather quickly if the thermostat is stuck closed. There is nowhere for the hot coolant to go to cool off. Some engines let you temporarily use the heater as a small radiator. The size of the heater core and the routing of the cooling system both affect how effective this technology is.

5.Coolant Leak - Over time, you won't have enough coolant to adequately cool the engine if too much of it leaks out. However, it's a good idea to frequently inspect the overflow reservoir and radiator to ensure you're filled off as you might lose a fair amount of coolant before overheating. Checking your radiator cap is a wonderful idea if you suspect a coolant leak. It's a cheap component that might have major consequences if it breaks. Do not forget that not all coolant leaks are obvious.

A little crack in the cylinder head sometimes go undetected for some time, but in more serious cases, the symptoms will be rather clear. In the event that this occurs, keep an eye out for the following five typical symptoms:

1.Oil Leak - A cylinder head contains oil. You can anticipate oil leaking out of a damaged head. When this occurs, you should see the oil light on your dashboard turn on to indicate low oil pressure. Open your bonnet if you notice this light on and look to see if there is any engine oil close to the cylinder head. Internal oil leaks do occur occasionally. You won't see an oil puddle when this occurs, but you might see blue smoke coming from the exhaust.

2.Coolant Leak - A cracked cylinder head is a symptom of a coolant leak, which can also cause one. In addition to oil leakage, a severely damaged cylinder head is likely to also be leaking coolant. Your car will alert you on the dashboard if your engine overheats as a result of this. Coolant leaks can occasionally be internal. Internal leaks may seep into the combustion chamber or the oil passageways. In either case, keep an eye on your coolant level and stop driving if you see a coolant leak or notice that it is rapidly depleting.

3.Reduced Engine Performance - A significant drop in engine power may be your first sign of poor engine performance. Compressed air is escaping from the combustion chamber if the cylinder head is cracked. Once this occurs, you will notice that the engine is operating much more slowly or poorly.

4.Smoke Coming from Engine - Large cylinder head cracks can allow coolant to flow into the combustion chamber and result in white smoke coming from the engine, however this is rare. Additionally, this smoke can be created when oil leaks into touch with heated engine parts. This is an obvious indication that a broken cylinder head might be to blame.

5.Engine Misfire - This is connected to item three. The mixture in the combustion chamber will result in a misfire if the cylinder head crack is substantial. This implies that the mixture won't burn as it ought to. Either that, or your engine will suddenly stop while you're driving, requiring numerous restarts.