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Tuning for Economy and Performance By David Rowlands and the Autobooks Team of Writers and Illustrators

Autobooks Ltd. Golden Lane Brighton BNl 2QJ England

Contents Foreword 8

Chapter 1 What tuning means 9

Chapter 2 Work on the engine 21

Chapter 3 Tuning the ignition system 49

Chapter 4 Transmission 67

Chapter 5 Tuning the suspension 77

Chapter 6 Wheels, tyres and brakes 89

Chapter 7 Bodywork, accessories and instruments 99

Chapter 8 Legal requirements and insurance 103

Chapter 9 Tuning and new car warranties 107

Chapter 10 Testing a tuned car 109

Index Figures In bold type refer to iIIustr~t/Ons

A Brake lestlng 111 Advance meChanisms 50 Brake, uprated drums 97 Aerofan 45 Bump stop 88 Air cleaners 37 Burette 19 Air dams 99 Air hlter 37 C Air !tlter. home-made 37 CahpelS, vernier 16 Alien keys 14 Cam. harmonic profile 43 Amal carburetters, see carburetter Cam, polydyne pt'oflle 43 Anh-roll bar .7 Camber, negative 92 Anu-thelt devices 101 Camber. positive 92 Anti-tramp bar 88 Camshaft 43 Arch. wheel 100 Capacitor 64 AUlohle carburetler. see carbureller Carburation 23 Axle slands 13 Carburell8f, Amal 33, 36 Axle tramp 79 Carburetter, Aulohte, see FoMoCo

Carburetter, Dellollo 23

• Carburetter. FoMoCo 30 Balancing 44 Carburetter, FoMoCo. tUning 30,31 Ball loml remol/efS 18. 19 Carburetter. Fish. Opellltlon 36 Bodywork, mo(hflcallon 22 Carbureller, FISh. economy tUning 36 Bottle Jack 13 Carb1..irelter, FiSh, performance 1Unmg 36 Brakes B9, 94 Carburetter, Fish (twm) 35 Brake booster 9. Carburetter, Motorcraft, GPO, see FoMoCo Brake diSC 95 Carburetter, Minnow FiSh, see Fish Brake diSC assembly 95 Carburetter, Nlkkl 33, 33 Brake diSC aS50mbly, sliding yoke 96 Carburetter, Reece FiSh, see Fish Brake diSC converSions 97 Carburener, Stromberg CO 27,28 Brake drum 94 Carbureller, Stromberg, COSE air bleed screw 29 Brake drum assembly 95 Carburetter, Stromberg, checking float height 30 Brake drums, light alloy 97 Carburetter, Stromberg, cross section 29 Brake effiCiency indicator 111 Carburetter, Stromberg, e~ploded diagram 2. Brake fade 94 Carburener, Stromberg, Orifice diSC starling Brake grabbing 94 deVice 29 Brake, handbrake 96 Carburetter, Stromberg, tUning 29, 30 Brake hydrauhc system modification 9. Carburetter, SU 23, 24 Brake lining 96 Carburener, SU, cross section 24 Brake maintenance 94 Carburetter, SU, ellploded diagram 25 Brake modlflcallon 96, 97 Carburetter, SU, float level, checking 26 Brake performance 94 Carburetter, SU, Jet centring 26 Brake, safety 9. Carbureller, SU, needle fitting 24 Blake salVO unit 9. Carburetter, SU, piSton 26

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Carburener, SU, tWin 27 Distributor, Marelli 59, 60 Carburetter, SU, economy tUning 2. Distributor, Motorcraft / Autolite (Ford ) 59 Carburetter, SU, performance tuning 2. Drum, uprated 97 Carburetter, Weber DeD, OFE, DFM 31 Dynamometer, rolling road 111. 112 Carburetler, Weber DeD, float level 33 Carburel1er, Weber DeD, tuning 33 E Carburetter, Weber DCDE, exploded diagram 34 Engines, modified 66 Carburetter, Weber DCDE, tuning 35 Engine swops, BlMC 22 Carburetter, Weber DFE/ DFM. exploded Engine swops. Ford, , 22

diagram 32 Engine SWOPS. Vauxhall 22 Centrifugal IIming control 52 Exhaust systems 22 Circlip pliers 15 Exhaust system, tuned 45 CirCUli tester, home-made ,. Exhaust system tuning 45 Clutch, c8ble operallon 7' Clutch. diaphragm spring 72 F Clutch, maintenance and overhaul 71 Facias, customiSing . '0' Clutch, modifYing 72 Feeler gauges 15 Clutch, operation, hydraulic 72 Final drive ratios 73 Ctutch plate 72 Fish carburetter. see carburetter Clutch, re'illlng 72 Foglamps '02 Clutch unit. uprated 73 FoMoCo carburetler, see carburetter Colortune kit 36, 37 Front lamps ' 04 Combustion Chamber. determining volume , • 38 Front SUspenSion, see suspenSion Combustion chamber, grinding 40 Fuel consumpllon, checking "0 CombUStion chamber, measuring volume 38 CombuSlIon chamber, modifying shape 40 G Compr9Sllon tester '7 Gauges, feeler 15 Compression ratro 39 Gauge, lIead depth 17 CompreSSion rallOS on Ilat -headed engines 43 Gauge, tvre pressure 17 Compressor. valve spring 19 Gearbox, BlMC 68,71 Contact breaker 50 Gearbox, Chrysler 7' Contact breaker dwell angle SO, 52 Gearbo)(, Ford 7' Contact set, lucas one-piece 57 Gearbo)( m8intenance 67 Contact set, lucas two-piece 57 Gearbox modification 70 Cooling fan, electriC 44 Gearbox overhaul 67 Cooling system 22, 44 Gearbox ,emote control IInk8ges 71 Cooling system, economy tuning 44 Gearbox selector mechanisms 71 Cooling system. performance tuning 44 Gearbox, tYPical 68 Cylinder head gasket, determining volume 39 Gearbo)(, V8uxhall 71 Cylinder head holding bolt, Improvised 40 Gears_ close rello 70 Cylinder head machining 42 Glass fibre parts, filtlng 99 Cylinder head measunng 38 Gnps 15 Cylinder head skimming 42 Cylinder head modification 37. 38 H Cylinder head preparing 38 Half shafts 75

Handbreke 96 0 Handling charactenstlcs 78 Damper, lever arm cutaway view 8' Head, see cyfrnder head Dampers 80, 81 . 82 Headl8mps 104. 104 Dampers, ed,ustable 8' Horns '04 Diagnostic teSllng ", Hydraulic damper 80 Dial gauge .. '9 Differential 73 Dilferentlal, limited slip 75 Ig",lIoo coil 53, 56 Dlfferenll81 swops 75 !gnrlJoo COil, cross sectioo 53 Dlstrlbulor 49 Ignition system cllcuit 50 Dismbutor, Bosch 59. 60 Ignition systems 49.62 Dist flbutor C8P defects 57 Ignillon syslem. ballast reSistor 54 Dis\flbutor, capaci tor 53,57 Ignition system, BlMC all - electronic 65 Distributor, cutaway view 5' Ignition system, capacitor discharge 64 Dlstflbulor design vallallOnS 59 Ignrtion system. cootactless 64 Dlstnbutor, Ducelller 59. 60 Ignition system. lucas Opus 65 Distnbulor, Hltachi 59, 61 Ignlllon system. Lumenllion 64 Distllbulor, lubricating 58 Ignrllon system. tranSistor assisted 63 Distributor. lucas Opus 65 Ignition timing, SIaliC 59

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Ignlllon tIming, stroboscoplC 60 R Indicator, dueclion 105 Race cars 11 Instruments , " Racing saloon 12 InstrumentS, calIbrating 109 Rally cars 11 Insurance 103.105,106 Rear axle 7. InterIor, customISIng 100 Rear a.le, lowering kit 83

J Rear suspension, see suspenSIon Registra tion 103 Jacks, bottle 13 Remfofcement. metal 100 Jacks, trolley 13 Release beaflngs 72 Jet setter deVIce 27 Rev counter 17

L Road cars 11 leads 56 Roll centre 79 legal protection, new cars 107 Roll over bars 100 legal reqUirements, general 103 Lightening •• S llghllng, aUXiliary 102 Saloon racmg 12 Lighlmg, legal requirements 104 Screwdrivers 15 Lights, front lamps 104 Seatmg 100 lights, headlamps 104 Shock absorbers 80 lights, lamps 102,105 Slip angle 78 lights, rear lights 104, 105 Sockets " lights, registration plate light 105 Spanners " Lights, reversing light 105 Spanner, brake adjusting ,. lights, spo!iamps 102, 105 Spanner, plug ,. lights, stoplamp lOS, 105 Spark plug 54, 55, 56 Lming, brakes ,.

Spar\<. plug, gap tool 15, 16 Live aide suspenSion 7. Speedometer 22,104 Lowering kit. rear a.le 83 Spotlamps .. 102 I Lubrication system 45 Stands, axle 13

Steering 79 M Steering wheels 100 MacPherSOfl strut suspension 82, 84, 85 StrQboscoplc Ilffimg lights 16 Manifolds, matching to head 41 Sllomberg carburetter, see carburener Micrometer 15, 16 Stud holes. wheel 90 Motorcralt carbul1ltter, see carburetter SU carburetter, see carburetter

N Suspension 22 Negative earth TAC CirCUit 63 SuspensIOn. BLMC hydrolasllC 87 Nlkki carburetter, see carburetter Suspension, COil spring, Independent .. Noise 105 Suspension, front 84, 86

Suspension, Iront, torsion bar 86 0 Suspension, front, With anll-roll bar 87 0,1 cooler .. Suspension, lunclton 01 77 Oversteer 78 SuspenSion, Hydragas 87

Suspension, Hydropneumatlque 87 p Suspension, live axle 79 Panhard rod 88 Suspension, lowering 83 Performance testIng , 110 SuspenSion, MacPherson Strut .. PIston CrOwn volume measuflng 39 Suspen£ion mod,fic.,lI'0ns 77,80 Pistons, Ford 43 Suspension, rear, modifications 83 Pistons. high performance 43 Suspension, rubber spring 87 Phers 15 Suspension sllffen,ng 83 Plug. see spark plug Suspension. trailing arm 82 Polaflty, warning 56 SuspenSion. WIshbone 79, 82 Port lace, marking gasket size 42 Suspension, Wishbone Independent 85 Port, pohshmg 1001 .2 Ports 41 T Pons, matching , . 42 TAC CtfCUltS 62. 63 POSitive earth TAC cirCUit 62 Tachometer 17 Power curves 112 Tappet 15 Propeller shalt 74, 75 Tappet, SpaR adjuster 15 Puller, flywheel 18 Thermostat 44 Puller, hub and flywh~1. BLMC 18 Throttle. steering 79 Puller, univef$8l , . 18 Thrust beartngs 72

11 5

Timing card 6. U Timing, centrifugal 52 Understeer 78 Timing, stallc 59 Universal JOints 75 Timing, stroboscopic 61 Universal puller 18 Timing, vacuum 52

V Tool. spark plug gap 15

Vacuum tlmmg control 52 Tools, care 14. 19 Tools, special 17 Valves 41

Tools, tsppet &dlustrng 15 Valve. adjUS11ng 10015 15

Tools, valve adjusting 15 Vslve spring compressor 19

Torque wrench 14, 14 Valve sucllon grinder 19

TorSion bar suspenSion 88 Valve, modified 41

Toughening 44 Valve, slandard 41 Valve seats 41 .41

TransmiSSion, components 75 Variable pitch fan 45

T.3n9m.591on.lunlng 67 Tread, tyres 93 W Tuning, capital costs 12 Warrsnues, new car ,.7

Tuning. definition ,. Warranty schemes and coverage ,.8

Tuning, dll8Ct costs 12 Weber carburetter, see carbU'el1er Tuning, Indll8Ct costs 12 Wedge bait jOlnt/emove. 18 Tuning, operations Involved ,. Wheels 89 Tuning, savings 12 Wheels, altoy 91 Tuning, scope for 9 Wheels, arch flare 100 Turbocharger operstlon, prrnclple of 47 Wheels, altllude 91 Tyre, pressure gauges 17 Wheels. conStruction 90 Tyre, tread deplh 17 Wheels, flares 99 Tyres 89,92 Wheels, lock up 94

Tyres, care 93 Wheels, spacers 91 Tyres. cross-ply 93 Wheels, sleel, cross section 90

Tyres. matching to wheels 93 Wheels. steenng 100

Tyres, radial 93 Wheels, stud holes, defining poSitiOn 90

Tyres, rubber mix 93 Wheels. wide 91,92 Tyres. tuning lor economy 93 Wheels. Wide nm Sleel 91 Tyres. lIead pattern 93 Wishbone suspension 79 Tyres, Wide 92 Workshop practice 13

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