Cars of Technology

These old Snap On jacks can be rebuilt. Parts are still available .                    There are two important concepts to remember. First, a floor jack is for getting your car off the ground. Jack stands are a way to keep it up in the air. Don’t ever forget these two basic principles.             E ventually every floor jack starts to leak hydraulic fluid. A leaking jack won’t hold a car up in the air. That’s why you need to use jack stands every time you get your car to the required height. You  just can’t predict when those little hydraulic seals in your jack will finally expire.             Most of us have watched NASCAR on TV. This introduced us to something called the Racing Jack. We never needed this but it sure did sound cool. Then we found them on line for a cheap price. You’re a racer – why shouldn’t you have ...

             Every engine on the starting grid is connected to a transmission. This connection usually consists of some sort of clutch mechanism. This clutch mechanism in your car has two basic functions. First, it has to be able to momentarily disengage the engine from the transmission for gear changes and to stop the car. Next, it has to be able to transfer maximum engine torque without slipping when it is engaged. Sounds pretty simple. The problem is with all of the details. The Flywheel             Let’s start with the flywheel. This is the disc that’s bolted to the end of your crankshaft. A flywheel can be made out of iron; steel or aluminum and it can come in a variety of diameters and weights. The flywheel has three main purposes.             The primary purpose of the flywheel is to store kinetic energy and maintain the revolving inerti...