Proper cars and newfangled garages don't mix

[Junkman]

Ever more garages are turning away cars with the correct method of mixture creation.

In addition, since the Soviet Union's westward expansion now has reached Ireland and thus one has to wait 18 years for an appointment,

it makes more and more sense to acquire some tools and testing equipment to enable one to carry out routine maintenance oneself.

 

Wouldn't it be a good idea if people living in the same area bought shares in the expensive stuff?

I mean, rarely do three people need a gas analyser at the same time, do they?

 

Is anybody in the GMA interested to invest in a pool of such equipment?

 

 

On a different note, you guys should start stocking up on consumables such as fanbelts, radiator pipes, PCV valves, filters, etc,

since that kind of stuff is ever harder to come by.

 

Suggestions what other odds and ends would be wise to hoard welcome.

 

 

[Zelandeth]

To be honest, gas analysers pop up on eBay pretty often for not much. The bugger is that they're heavy, awkward bulky things so always collection only or shipping for £sillymoney.

 

I'm keeping my eyes open for one near me for a sensible price, once I spot one will bag it.

 

I do have a basic CO% meter, but it's not much use for anything new enough to have a cat.

 

I do have a Crypton Motorscope 335 in the garage which has proven bloody useful when I was setting up the ignition on the Skoda when I figured out that Billy the Bodger had got at it in the past...

[Faker]

I think I've mentioned it before... but I'd love an old Crypton tuner for the garage...

[New POD]

 

Suggestions what other odds and ends would be wise to hoard welcome.

 

On an Omega MV6 ?  

 

Gearbox?

Rear brake "pins",

Gates Cam Belts and tensioners ? 

Oil cooler. 

ECU's 

Dampers (If anyone knows where a genuine set of dampers for a 3.2 MV6 can be had from) and springs (Upgraded bilstein parts are available.

Exhausts - Think £600 for mild steel 

 

It's too late for any part that isn't used on a later GM car. Inlet manifold seals are not available, but cam cover gaskets are. 

[New POD]

 

 

Is anybody in the GMA interested to invest in a pool of such equipment?

 

 

 

I should have invested in Man Club Cave. 

[Zelandeth]

 

It will hopefully be more accessible at some point!

[Faker]

It will hopefully be more accessible at some point!

My fuking hero!!!

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Father Bluejeans was Crypton's chief design engineer in the eighties - until 1986 anyway. What model number is the beast in the pic? Looks too small to be a 322.

[DodgeRover]

On an Omega MV6 ?

 

Gearbox?

Rear brake "pins",

Gates Cam Belts and tensioners ?

Oil cooler.

ECU's

Dampers (If anyone knows where a genuine set of dampers for a 3.2 MV6 can be had from) and springs (Upgraded bilstein parts are available.

Exhausts - Think £600 for mild steel

 

It's too late for any part that isn't used on a later GM car. Inlet manifold seals are not available, but cam cover gaskets are.

I have a complete ECU set for a V6 omega with all the bits to make it run with the key tag etc if anybody is interested.

[Zelandeth]

Father Bluejeans was Crypton's chief design engineer in the eighties - until 1986 anyway. What model number is the beast in the pic? Looks too small to be a 322.

Motorscope 335 if I remember right. Sadly not with the CO Meter expansion fitted. Keep hoping I'll come across someone with one that they're willing to part that out from.

 

I love tech from this era in general but find lighting and display tech of particular interest, so seeing both flipdot indicators on the buttons and a Panaplax digital readout, had to have it.

 

It *does* just about fit in the back of a Classic Saab 900.

 

...even if getting it out again did nearly kill me.

 

Have about ten years worth of data books to go with it too.

[New POD]

I have a complete ECU set for a V6 omega with all the bits to make it run with the key tag etc if anybody is interested.

 

I assume 2.6 / 3.2 ? 

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Motorscope 335 if I remember right. Sadly not with the CO Meter expansion fitted. Keep hoping I'll come across someone with one that they're willing to part that out from.

 

I love tech from this era in general but find lighting and display tech of particular interest, so seeing both flipdot indicators on the buttons and a Panaplax digital readout, had to have it.

 

It *does* just about fit in the back of a Classic Saab 900.

 

...even if getting it out again did nearly kill me.

 

Have about ten years worth of data books to go with it too.

 

 

I don't know what year the 335 came out, but Crypton were around in the sixties; the familiar yellow bodied stuff arrived around 1977 iirc. They're still going but sadly moved from their old Bridgewater base on Bristol Road years ago but AFAIK the buildings are still there and called the Crypton Industrial Park.

[Zelandeth]

Early 80s I'd say purely based on the construction methods and the type of devices on the electronic side of things. Never actually looked for a date now I think of it...

[busmansholiday]

I should have invested in Man Club Cave.

https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Barn-Find-Man-Cave-Stuff/312163426882?hash=item48ae63e242:g:vfoAAOSwSatbJP7h

[DodgeRover]

I assume 2.6 / 3.2 ?

2.5

[Sigmund Fraud]

Testing equipment ? A quiet B-road and a spark plug wrench is all the equipment you need

 

[Wack]

To be honest, gas analysers pop up on eBay pretty often for not much. The bugger is that they're heavy, awkward bulky things so always collection only or shipping for £sillymoney.

 

I'm keeping my eyes open for one near me for a sensible price, once I spot one will bag it.

 

I do have a basic CO% meter, but it's not much use for anything new enough to have a cat.

 

I do have a Crypton Motorscope 335 in the garage which has proven bloody useful when I was setting up the ignition on the Skoda when I figured out that Billy the Bodger had got at it in the past...

 

 

I'd think every MOT station in the country has a surplus gas analyser now, they have to plug a dongle in the OBD port as part of the test so I assume they've all got new machinery

[sierraman]

I don't know what year the 335 came out, but Crypton were around in the sixties; the familiar yellow bodied stuff arrived around 1977 iirc. They're still going but sadly moved from their old Bridgewater base on Bristol Road years ago but AFAIK the buildings are still there and called the Crypton Industrial Park.

Yes they are still there. The field across from them behind the petrol station is full of old chod, a commer van and a few Maxis.

[anonymous user]

Testing equipment ? A quiet B-road and a spark plug wrench is all the equipment you need

 

But first I need some better reading glasses when viewing this on my phone, I honestly thought that was a display of trilby hats until I looked closer

[Sigmund Fraud]

But first I need some better reading glasses when viewing this on my phone, I honestly thought that was a display of trilby hats until I looked closer

 

They're spark plugs... like this :

 

[Dippy]

I love my Crypton tuner, here it is in action on my Vauxhall. Sadly the car has gone but the Crypton is still here and gets ocassional use.

I always remember the works garage at the factory i worked at having one in the 80s and I was mesmerised by the scope trace.

 

[panhard65]

I have got a Crypton Cudos but it is so rare it gets used the bloody thing won't boot up again now. Beware more modern co machines as they need to be calibrated and this can only be done by the specialists. I think it's once a year and when it times out they stop working. If anyone wants this Cudos you are welcome to it as it is getting in the way now.

[Faker]

I have got a Crypton Cudos but it is so rare it gets used the bloody thing won't boot up again now. Beware more modern co machines as they need to be calibrated and this can only be done by the specialists. I think it's once a year and when it times out they stop working. If anyone wants this Cudos you are welcome to it as it is getting in the way now.

Price?! Location?! Can I arrange a courier?!!

[Kiltox]

Can a resident MOT tester shed more light on this “new” emissions test? Do you really need to plug in to the OBD port?

 

What’s it looking for? What happens if the OBD port doesn’t work?

[MorrisItalSLX]

I have a tame mechanic called Graham. He is a grumpy old bastard.

He has taught his sons the "good old ways" of car mechanics.

His sons are teaching their children the "good old ways" of car mechanics.

 

They can all can tune a triple weber setup with a blindfold on and an arm tied behind their back.

 

and the best part is the field behind is workshop full of junk. a sea of orange-brown metal.

 

There will always be proper mechanics as long as there are proper cars on the road and proper people owning them.

[red5]

Indeed.

 

I try to address the lack of willingness first. The knowledge and skill part comes after.

 

[Fabergé Greggs]

What sensors/ inputs does a crypton actually have?

 

Surely in the interests of sustainability, between all of us we could knock up a software version with an arduino and a couple of sensors for about £30..

[Junkman]

Testing equipment ? A quiet B-road and a spark plug wrench is all the equipment you need

 

 

 

Sorry, but they all look like knackerd spark plugs to me.

[Zelandeth]

Inputs on the Crypton? Nothing that a basic automotive multimeter these days wouldn't have, possibly aside from the HT voltage measurement.

 

From memory: Electrical system voltage, HT voltage, dwell angle, ignition timing (strobe as well), ohmmeter, scope trace to show alternator/dynamo charging waveform and HT system voltage (that's actually really interesting to watch). There's a CO% option on some, but sadly not on mine as it was an apparently expensive option.