A Plethora of Idiotic Questions

After being here almost a year, I feel like I can open up to you all.

I am an automotive idiot.

So I have had, and still have, some questions that may seem childlike to some of you, but I've never done something this involved and I am not afraid to admit that I am in over my head.

Here goes:

1. I have heard that I should soak gaskets in water before installing them? If so, should I soak every gasket in water, or just certain ones?

2. I have to install a voltage drop on my gas gauge. Should I put it in the trunk or under the dash? I am ***uming this thing is going to heat up like my ballast resistor does.

3. My Chevy has a throttle cable and a choke cable running to the dash. Well, it's supposed to. What can I replace the throttle cable with...or can I go without it, just using the choke.

4. Being bereft of an air compressor, what should I use to insure my gas lines are blown out? I hesitate to mention it, but I do have a bicycle pump...

5. Why did guys used to chrome their glovebox doors? Does it relate to the reflective quality of highly polished chrome, and the predilection of young ladies to wear shortish skirts in the good old days?

Thanks

Tucker

 

1. I have heard that I should soak gaskets in water before installing them? If so, should I soak every gasket in water, or just certain ones?


I don't soak any gaskets in water. I don't know why you'd do this.


2. I have to install a voltage drop on my gas gauge. Should I put it in the trunk or under the dash? I am ***uming this thing is going to heat up like my ballast resistor does.

The voltage drop needs to go between the power source and the gage, but also a resistor might not give the best results, unless you match it properly to the current draw of the gage. The gage will not take much power, so the reistor won't get very hot...***uming it's the correct ohm and watt rating for the job.


3. My Chevy has a throttle cable and a choke cable running to the dash. Well, it's supposed to. What can I replace the throttle cable with...or can I go without it, just using the choke.

You don't need the throttle cable.


4. Being bereft of an air compressor, what should I use to insure my gas lines are blown out? I hesitate to mention it, but I do have a bicycle pump...

Just use your mouth to make sure air goes thru them ok.


5. Why did guys used to chrome their glovebox doors? Does it relate to the reflective quality of highly polished chrome, and the predilection of young ladies to wear shortish skirts in the good old days?

I think it was because it was a part that they could easily take off, and it didn't affect the operation of the car while it was at the chrome shop for a week.

 

Addition to #4: Mouth method works fine generally, but if your lung blows out before the obstruction...move on to your trust bicycle pump. US Army Ordnance supplied air pumps used to come with a little tapered adaptor that made it easy to apply them to lines. You can get a similar, albeit cheesy plastic, piece in the tire repair section at Walmart...also pick up a tire stem or two amd some rubber hose and clamps...with this stuff and a knife, you can make a strong, airtight adapter to anything.

 

soaking gaskets is for header gaskets. It is supposed to give you a better seal as the gaskets soften up when they are wet and conform to any imperfections in the flange.

This trick does not work with copper or aluminum header gaskets...

 

Another water/gaskets connection: Old paper gaskets used to shrink after long storage--something like a pan gasket would lose about half an inch, and you'd notice that maybe the third bolthole was off, the fifth WAY off, everything beyond that totally unworkable...correction was hot, preferably boiling. water. I don't think modern gaskets do this, but people with seriously rare and obsolete iron frequently have to use old stock gaskets. I think copper-over-asbestos type headgaskets were soaked as a way to fluff up used ones going back into service in times of poverty.

 

I learned a long time ago that the only dumb questions are the ones you don't ask. Don't be shy, this board is full of knowledgeable people with years of experience. Good luck with your project.

 

Chrome glovebox doors were so you could look up your date's dress.


Mutt

 

Actually, in the fifties chrome anything just meant you could afford to chrome it, since everyone wanted to chrome everything on the car...how much you actually got chromed was a big status indicator, with some heavy hitters even chroming blocks and frame rails...

 

What if that dude from Austin jumps in the co-pilot seat?

 

HAAA!!! That's funny... yet REALLY sick!!!

 

Stop, get out of the car and sell it immediately... You will will forever ***ociate it with naked manscrotum... They don't make a cleanser strong enough to get that image out of your head.

 

I don't even want to think about bare womanscrotum...

 

If you see a rust colored cloud of dust when you blow out your gas lines, you may want to replace the gas lines. At the very least, buy a good gas line filter and locate it just before your carb.

Also, this is interesting (see the attachment)

 

I think for your gas gauge you should use a voltage drop made for gauges. I tried a resistor and my gauge didn't work right until I put an instrument cluster voltage reducer on there. Ford used them from the late '60's at least through the 80's. The older ones have easier terminals to work with. A napa IR2 or IR3 would do the job.

I've heard about that with the glove box door, but I don't know if it's true.

 

I'm sorry but you need to ask 8 or more questions for it to be qualified as a,"plethora". Just yahking your chain;there are no stupid questions.Looks like they've pretty much been taken care of also.

 

The very fact that you thought of that is unnerving.....

That you posted it to share is scarey. Some thoughts really should be kept locked in your mind...


Mutt

 

I apologize for the paucity of my plethora, safarinut.

Thanks for all the answers, everyone. I did buy a gauge drop, but it is ceramic, like my ballast resistor, hence my heat concern, because I know how hot those get.

Oldcarmike, you really need help, man. I have to go wirebrush my brain, now, to get that image out of my head.

Thanks

Tucker

 

GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUT! *slapping side of head*








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You still soak some gaskets in water......I have to do it in Diesel cl*** on occasion to get gaskets to fit. Sometimes gaskets will come round and stiff, altho the part they were intended for has a curve to it. Soaking in water allows them to be shaped. ALSO, my flatheads rope seals were soaked in oil for 2 hours.....so says the original rebuild manual, so does the Brandy. All this time my parents thought I couldn't read.

Hey! I've got a chrome glove box door........who wants to go for a ride?

 

Any Scotsmen in Kilts want to take Brandy up on her offer??

Dawg