Tonight's Chuckle and Tonight's Questions.

[JPSmit]

Some of you may remember that a few months ago I was telling you that I painted my manifolds with Hi-Temp paint and then read the instruction that the paint needed to be baked. The general consensus was that I probably didn't need to but every time I touched the parts, they left residue on my hands. Anyway, Saturday Night was the first BBQ of the season and you guessed it, after dinner I threw the parts on the grille for an hour. Yes I have finally lost my senses. Anyway, heres the rub, the finish is magnificant! Looks much nicer than paint (on these parts) and since I don't have access to powder coating, it is a very close second. I've attached pics of you don't believe me.

The Paint is Plasti Kote Aluminum Hi-Temp Paint HP-14

That being said, I also started dismantling my rear axle tonight so, here are tonight's questions.

1. The rubber stops on the top of the axle - do they just pry out?

2. Is there a front & back to the rear springs?

3. I plan to change to silicone brake fluid but have no need to change the brake lines which are in excellent shape - do I need to do anything to the inside of the lines to adapt to the change?

4. It looks like the axle was black - what colour were the springs originally and the spring hardware?

TIA - it was a gorgeous day!

 

[jlaird]

Black and Black and Black.

 

[fmichaels]

1. yes, unless they are dry rotted, then they will simply break off.
2. yes, i (and maybe only i) believe there is a front and rear. i believe with mine, i was able to determine which end was on the front and then made sure both springs were set up the same (side by side).
3.do not know
4. black

 

[fmichaels]

by the way, those parts look great ... don't know about cooking them in your BBQ grill though ....

 

[racingenglishcars]

I don't think there is any problem with just flushing out the system with silicone fluid.

I do however personally dislike silicone fluid in a road car. It is very good stuff. I had it in my kawasaki 1000 and in my racing HP 1962 sprite. It is fine for a race car that stays inside nearly all the time and even on the motorcycle with it's sealed brake system. But the sprite has a vented brake fluid container, which can in certain unusual circumstances collect water, dew or condensation. This water will make it's way down to the calipers because it is denser than the fluid, at which point the boiling temperature of the fluid is reduced from the original very high temp, to about 100 deg (212). Water entering a dot4 fluid will reduce the boiling temp a very minimal amount. Only when large amounts of water enter the dot4 fluid will the boiling temp drop a substantial amount

The only difference between a sealed and a non-sealed system is that little expandable rubber membrane just under the cap, which allows the fluid level to drop without exposing the fluid to air.

Go ahead and use it. Just be aware of possible ways for water to get into the system. And do everything you can to prevent this.

Donn