Birkin42

Sorry to hear. I dropped a valve in a race bike at something like 12000 rpm and the damage was way worst. The crank was OK, but the piston had a hole in the top, the rods small end was smashed, the head was a right off, and the cylinder was damaged but was salvageable with significantly oversized pistons. You didn't state, but is the cylinder OK?

Looking at the stud, isn't there already flats on the stud that you can hold with an open end wrench while backing off the nuts? Also, I've had good luck using an impact wrench as this sometimes allows removal of nuts when you can't stop the stud/bolt from turning.

Duane, From my experience, sometimes when a brake system is completely empty, just adding fluid and trying to bleed the fluid down to the brake lines doesn't work. I guess in some instances the air compresses when there is very little fluid. I have better luck if I force the fluid through the system without depressing the master cylinder plunger. I do this by either using vacuum on the a bleed nipple at one of the calipers, or better yet, use a bleed tool that pressurizes the fluid reservoir like one from Motive Products Power Bleeder. I'd give that a try before you take it all apart. Good luck. Jack

I've been following the races for decades. One of the most spectacular racing on the planet IMO. Every time I watch it I figure any year now it is going to be no more. When I was racing in the 90's I was thinking going over to do it, but unfortunately never happened. The clip towards the end where the rider is carrying the front while leaned over going around a corner at a pretty good clip is pretty awesome.

I know of a Birkin owner that has a Massive head on his Zetec and believe it is making 210 hp at the rear wheels. He's very happy with and highly recommends it.

Loved it, particularly the sideways landing. Kind of reminded me of the chase scene from Bullet for parts of it. I'm impressed they managed to get a section from San Fan blocked off to do the video. Cool.

So many awesome cars through history that I would lust after, but always on or near the top of my list is the Aston Martin DBR1.

I did see a V12 Ferrari powered Cobra in an article some years ago. As I recall, it was a job to get the long V12 in. The sound track in that car must have been special.

Aaron, When you take the clutch apart, carefully inspect the splines on the hubs that engage both the friction plates and the metal plates. These are usually aluminum and can develop wear easily. Once worn, they can hamper the clutch from fully engaging all clutch plates. Also, check to see if any of the metal plates are burned or warped. If some are and some aren't, it's a likely sign that the hubs are worn. Obviously, if any are burnt or warped, they too need to be replaced. Hope this helps. Jack

Twobone, the roads you describe use to be better 20 years ago, but they straightened much of it out in the name of progress. Check out 15 Side Rd north of Burlington as well as Hockley Valley Rd north of Orangeville. Lots of nice roads up in cottage country as well if you make a day or weekend out of it.

So where was this road? Sounds like Limehouse. Jack

Here is what Dick Brink sent out on the Birkin forum: Dear Birkin Owners: You are correct this was an terrible accident! It did happen to one of our customers back in November. We just learned about it today. The good news is that the driver came out of this accident only with some problems with his shoulder caused by the seat belt. They were racing style belts! It seems he was on a narrow road and in a curve a very large deer appeared in front of him. To avoid a direct hit on the deer and another car he lost control and rolled at least two times hitting a barrier in the process. Fortunately he got out of the car and could move ok. We are delighted that he survived such a terrible ordeal! He is also very happy with the protection the car did give him. Sincerely, Dick Texas Motor Works/Birkin America Dick Brink 817-461-7431 214-446-2673 Fax dick@texasmotorworks7.com http://www.texasmotorworks7.com

A Canadain company, Campagna has been making motorcycle powered 3 wheelers for years. I've seen them at shows but have yet to see one on the road. The styling is OK, but not a home run IMO, but much better than the X-Bow. Nicely built car with a good power to weight ratio. A very different flavour 3 wheeler to the Morgan though. http://www.campagnamotors.com/

I prefer the idea of the surge tank inside the fuel cell. It just has trap doors to let fuel in but not let it out. No extra plumbing outside the tank with just your pressure, return and vent lines. You can do this arrangement with the pump in the tank mounted surge tank, or outside the tank with the pickup in the surge tank.

Paul, IMO, you are going to have a hard time coming up with all the hardware required, all reasonable working condition, and have it cost less. I would think that if you want to save some $'s, it would be cheaper and easier to modify the steel oil pan to suit the north/south installation, but just my opinion. I would only consider going to dry sump if you after the traditional virtues of dry sump like better lubrication in all extreme conditions, lower CoG or more ground clearance, and a bit more hp. I am dry sumping my S2K in a Birkin to get the engine to fit under the hood with a barely acceptable amount of ground clearance, at least I hope just enough ground clearance. Not cheap, and a lot of extra hardware required.