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Too late. I splurged for an all new replacement Clutch Master Cylinder and installed. Out of curiosity the original unit was disassembled for inspection. Its machined cylinder bore ( 5/8″ ) had no corrosion and was therefore in fair condition. The residual fluid however was filthy black with contamination. The annular lip seals on the [...]

No need to pay an automotive service center specialist the big bucks. This is maintenance that can be done in the garage. The local auto parts store has the replacement pads and special tools. Safety stands are necessary since the vehicle will be raised and the wheels removed. Supporting the vehicle with a floor jack [...]

We went to see the cars on display at the show and, as it happened, this 3rd Annual 2009 Historic Occoneechee-Orange Speedway “Celebration of the Automobile” Car Show & Racers Reunion took place at a location that NASCAR devotees revere as holy ground. The old speedway site features an oval dirt track which traces its [...]

The Google Voice service transcribes voice mail messages ( by machine ) which can be somewhat off: “This is James a catholic area calling let you know that your car needs 8 number is that it is not opening and closing properly parts and labor to your place with them. That is about 481. Give [...]

Shade tree mechanic(s) wrestle with a faulty radiator coolant expansion tank: The reservoir was split which allowed weepage and seepage which eventually became leakage. None of these symptoms were visible from the engine compartment topside, except for the occasional adding of coolant. The sickening sweet smell from the slippery glycol mixture dripping from the underbelly [...]

The Driving: A serious challenge and will whip any lazy (brain dead) USA motorist into a focused attentive driver pretty darn quick. The country roads are ultra narrow. Add bicyclists, motorcyclists, farm tractors, pedestrians, equestrians to the mix and there is no chance for bad habits like fumbling with the CD changer or blabbing on [...]

A helpful repair forum suggested removing the oxygen sensor from underneath the car by first removing the catalytic converter at the exhaust manifold. Another poster thought access could be made from under hood above after removing the wiper assembly and other bolt on pieces. The former sounded like a can of worms with possible rusted [...]

A flying rock chipped the glass leaving a starburst. The expert with a battery powered resin pump and UV light to cure the catalyst sealed the fisure insuring continued happy motoring on the OEM windshield. Apart from this pure magic repair the amazing thing was that the total elapsed time from Insurance Co. phone call [...]

Circa 1961: Hillman – Sunbeam. Leach must have been required to take these brands to get the rights to sell Jaguar. Out of view on the NW corner was the new car showroom for Slavich Bros. During this era they began selling Mercedes-Benz through benefit of their Studebaker – Packard franchise. Several years later Toyota [...]

View Larger Map Difficult to imagine but this was a Mercedes-Benz showroom 38 years ago. The sidewalk curb driveway led through to the back of the building which housed a 5 bay service center. This small facility, glassed in at the time, displayed 6 new cars. Next door (right) was the Parts Department. Across the [...]