Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Add to Clyde's List of Self-Cleansing Hobbies

[Peter Rychel (dino308gt4]

“...in the days of early (late 60’s early 70’s) emission testing all a person’s vehicle needed to do was show an ‘improvement’ in emissions…”.

 

A trick that was also used up here when we had smog testing was if a car failed, pour about a bottle full of methyl hydrate in the gas tank and go back. Most of the time all that was needed was a good, fast run on the highway.

 

As for clocks, I don’t know why, but the one in my 308 is the most accurate gauge on the whole dash!

 

Peter

 

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

 

 

From: Doug & Terri
Sent: March 24, 2018 8:54 AM
To: PeterGT4
Cc: 'The FerrariList'
Subject: Re: [Ferrari] Add to Clyde's List of Self-Cleansing Hobbies

 

…in the days of early (late 60’s early 70’s) emission testing all a person’s vehicle needed to do was show an “improvement” in emissions.  Maestro’s kit was a spark plug that had zero gap.  The plug sparkies points were mashed together.  SO the testee would replace a good spark plug with the “kit” plug, go to the smog station and fail BADLY.  Go home and replace the “kit” plug with the old plug, return to the smog station and IMPROVE.  Hooray.  Here’s your sticker…

 

…So what about the clocks?  In the olden days, Porsche as well as many many Euro cars used the electro/mechanical clock winding mechanism.  Clock would wind down to the place where a set of points made contact . . . clocks solenoid would snap the winding arm back and about every ten minutes you could hear a faint zzzzztt.  All 356 Porsche’s with clocks left the factory with this electro/mechanical clock.  So what does Harry say about these clocks?  When shopping for a used 356 he used it as a doctor uses a blood test – if the clock works – proceed to checking car out either personal or technician sort of PPI.  If the clock DOSEN’T work – walk from the car, now.  Unless you’re buying a parts car.

 

So that’s that.

Onward

DOUG