Messages

River, Thanks for the link to the metal artist web site. I hadnt seen it before but I am a member now. As for the vice, yep thats the one and you shouldnt need a cheater to tighten it. It has a 2 foot long handle.
Bill

I am still looking around at vises.


Most black smith anvils I've seen are large , heavy and usually old...

I actually wasnt sugesting an anvil, a post vice is different. They are available new and I doubt that you could wear one out in a lifetime of normal use. They were designed to be hit and hit hard during a time that used a hammer as a normal production tool. The design put a leg extending to the shop floor so the energy from a blow wasnt absorbed by a flexing bench. I have mine sitting atop a 1 inch thick steel plate set in concrete. The shop floor is dirt covered with crushed rock, its a fireproof floor.
Bill

In following my new hobby doing blacksmith work I aquired an old blacksmiths post leg vice, it works a little differently but by far the most abuseable vice I have ever used. They can be found on e-bay used or a new one can be had for near 600.
Bill

When I started I bought ethyl fuel for 30 cents a gallon, I could go to McDonalds and get two cheeseburgers, a fry and a shake for just under a buck. Insurance for a 16 year old was about 140 dollars a year and my first car cost me 50 bucks. A 55 Chevy 210 with 4 flat tires. Kids went out on Halloween without parents and it was safe and there wasn't anything called a driveby except to flirt with someone at the corner. It wasnt really all that bad.
Bill

If what you are after is power and economy the best way is to buy a late model power train with all electronics from a wrecked car. Technology is whats making all the combos work today. Port fuel injection coupled with variable cam timing and electronic :?  ignition sequencing not to mention variable length runner manifolding. Thats where the numbers are at these days. Its a matter of cubic dollars invested in a project. I would probably use the older technology as I enjoy the way we did it yrs ago a lot more. And dont forget turbocharging as an option, a mildly built engine that can get down when asked. Economy and power when needed. Just a thought.
Bill

You are correct in that an automotive system is considered low voltage. I worked with Mercedes Benz and in that application low voltage is 500 mv in a comunication network between computers. An acc system can consume as much as 30 amps by itself, a fuel pump 7- 12 amps and a sound system control module had a 20 amp fuse so to modernise or update an older vehicle could easily overtax a 10 amp power supply connector. Evan a ground circuit carries the same currect flow though the voltage is read at 0 volts providing the ground circuit has no issues.
Sorry for any confusion, just trying to be helpful.
Bill

Personally I like to use the blocks supplied at marine stores using eylet connections, the ones you describe are usually for low currect and or voltage applications and can cause future problems.
Bill

Does your friend know how the engine is built? Is it stock or has it been modified. The modulator shouldnt prevent an upshift, by design it only directly effects the abruptness of the shift quality. The governor is more responsible for upshift with the throttle pressure adjustment modifying the shift timing sequence. A higher lift cam or one with close lobe centers will change overlap and decrease idle vacum signal but benefit from increased volumetric efficiency at increased engine speed. Hope that helps.
Bill