Brendan Baker, Author at Import Car - Page 4 of 4
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Journeying into the Restoration Market

We’ve all heard the stories and urban legends about old classic cars being found in someone’s garage or estate. Typically, the story goes, the owner just passed away and his widow had no idea what was in the barn. Sounds too good to be true, but it happens. One such story that recently grabbed headlines earlier this year was that of an old doctor who died at the tender age of 92, leaving behind his beloved but forgotten 1937 Bugatti Type 57S hidden in his garage since he parked it there in the early 1960s.

Tech Feature: Racing Oil and Additives

Engine oil has sometimes been compared to a cake mix. The base oil is like the flour and the additives are the spices. How much is used of each varies by the type of cake and its intended use. Birthday cakes don’t really work for weddings. Engine builders have also been compared to gourmet chefs, so naturally, you like your cake a little more than the average cake connoisseur. A good cake is hard to beat, but a bad one will leave you feeling empty, looking for a jug of milk to wash away the taste.

The Lowdown on Engine Sealing

With engines now lasting as long as 150,000-plus miles, there’s little doubt that gasket technology advances have played a significant part in the longevity and durability of today’s engines. Today’s engines must be robust enough to withstand a hostile environment for such a long life, and without leading to gasket failure. A gasket needs to

Parts Cleaning: Searching for the Complete Clean

Cleaning cast iron and aluminum, for the most part, represent two separate challenges. However, in a realistic world most shops cannot afford two different setups for cleaning these metals. Many shops have systems that work well for one, but not so well on the other. Are there effective ways to clean both types of metal

Muscling in on Restoration Work: Part 2

There’s a hot trend in the automotive aftermarket to return car owners to the past. Literally. Today, aging baby boomers are spending big money on “recapturing the rapture” of the cars of their youth. Just turn on your television any evening and you’re sure to find some type of automotive program on the cable and