Automotive Trouble Shooting. WW2 Training Film

[enigmas]

Found this 16 minute but very pertinent film on trouble shooting a GMC petrol 6 cyl truck engine using simple tools and a methodical method on Youtube.

Interestingly, although it was made in 1942 the procedures shown apply to any conventional petrol fueled carburettored engine.

All the information outlined is pertinent to maintaining peak performance of any P5 3 litre or P5B V8 Rover engine.

As illustrated in the film by virtue of it's many uses, a vacuum gauge is a simple, low tech, diagnostic tool for both assessing and tuning an engine.

Note: The film jumps about initially until 0.52 which is a good starting point.

[Warwick]

Now that brings back memories, Vince. I've still got all that gear somewhere in the shed. Last used on my 1976 2-door Range Rover 40 years ago. And first used when Dad taught me all that stuff when working on my 1955 FJ Holden in the late 1960s. A similar looking engine to the one in the film. One improvement that Dad taught me was to put a dot of white paint on the timing ball on the flywheel, to make it much easier to see with the timing light.

When he replaced the family car, the FJ, after giving it to me when I got my licence, it was with a 1967 Peugeot 404. He removed the large clock from its instrument panel and replaced it with a vacuum gauge, and added a dash-mounted tacho. Apart from using these for any diagnostic or tuning purposes, he also used the vacuum gauge while driving, to optimise fuel consumption.

[dmaxwell]

I recall that back in the late 60s and early 70s, I would see aftermarket vaccum gauges in cars of friends and boyfriends of my older sisters. At the time, I wasn't sure why they were there, though I do now.

David
California