The Merkur Club of America Forums

I've mentioned this before relative to other posts and problems - there are SOME Pinto 'damper' pulleys which have a different TDC mark. If your XR has a change to the (preferred) crank driven AC you need to confirm the position of the notch. The difference is maybe 10 degrees or so - the car will r...

You probably don't want the 'triple square' bolts. The main issue is it's hard to get bits of varied lengths and suitable quality. IF you mess up a bit you'll need to go to "a special place" to get a new one. Porsches have these fasteners on the flywheels - only worse as they are very, ver...

http://home.rr.com/php.aspx?id=1f40d2bc-bc26-4bdc-80f6-c84ca76673ec&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1 This isn't a proper link, as I don't know how to do this and the wife isn't avail. Copy and paste, go to photos - you'll see the after and the rust that was removed. It isn't worth it and if you nee...

Many '89's leak in this exact spot because the fan shroud bangs and presses on this very spot. If an '89 rad leaks it is likely to be right there. If your '89 isn't leaking, check that area and move/insulate the rad shroud. I couldn't find '89 radiators anywhere on the planet.

My good friend's brother bought a new '69 Z-28. It was the first stick, neutral start 'safety' I had ever seen. I couldn't figure out why it existed then and I still don't understand the logic.

Once again, see the "Gallery" section on MerkurSport. I show the little plate on the firewall and show the modification to seal the cable. Look under 928 Jaguar, I think.

Regarding your issue with the hole line up on the support bracket: These never (?) line up. The bracket will 'spring' when removed in every case I've experienced on XR's - this is over maybe 8 trans R&R's. Now I enlarge the holes right away. The starter is the worst part of the job IMHO due to t...

Lots of Ford bodies would like a 351. They aren't all that common and they make an excellent swap for many Fords with the room for the deck height, can handle the weight, and owners who can afford some of the '51 specific parts. In an XR - I don't think so.

Mine always siphoned - even if you left it sit and applied vacuum. I now shoot 8 psi or so air down toward the tank through the supply line. This breaks the siphon. This is very useful if a problem develops and it takes more time to do the job.

This MM thing is big with the Porsche 928 guys. The very heavy engine/bell/torque tube is hung with 2 front mounts. The stock ones are liquid filled and expensive - over $100 each. Interesting, like most Porsche parts, they ARE available. Almost nobody uses the stock mounts. The usual method is to u...

The contacts erode in addition to corrode. I've built up with solder - of course this doesn't last as the heat is a little too much. Years ago someone suggested a capacitor - those who recall points ignition remember that this fix keeps arcing in check on the points when the coil unloads. Another ol...

We have so-called 'reformulated' gas in SE Wisconsin; it is 10% ethanol in addition to other manipulation. Counties in Western Wisconsin sometimes have 93 octane which (at times) isn't reformulated and the premium sometimes has MTBE rather than alky. With my son driving - with my supervision - at le...

I know there were color changes in the neutral start harness between '85 and '89, just when and on which cars, I forget. I had the issue during a trans change where I was mixing parts around. Don't remember what the deal was, but I've had mostly '88's and '89's and my workshop manual is an '85. I th...

I've seen the tools - I have the hammers and dollies like in the old days and I've used mortor joint tools and cut wooden blocks, but never the purpose built tools. I also have the suction cups, which I have used to some degree. Personally I've never been able to get metal good enough without some g...

I think it has been some 19 years - XR's as our main and usually exclusive daily drivers. Reason we kept them was kids. I hate front drive and at 58 years old we've never owned (or even rented) a Japanese car. You need more than one (we have 3), you absolutely need snows in a snow climate (once got ...