TIPS for 1956-65 PMC Motorcars

ROLLS ROYCE and Bentley TIPS 1956-1965
The following are a number of items that the owner should perform.
Obtain and ACTUALLY read the owners handbook. (I have just received some questions from owners, one who has had the car 10 years. The information was readily available in the Handbook).

Join RROC and The Cloud Society. The technical information from the Cloud Society is well worth the price of admission. Do not procrastinate, just do it.

Check the 11 lubrication points and your spring gaters.
Check the propshaft (drive shaft) for one piece or 2 piece. If it is 2 piece, get 2 extra Woodruff keys, and put them in the glove box. If the prop shaft separates, the motorcar fails to proceed.

Check the weep holes in the engine block. They should be open.

Lift the bottom of the back seat cushion. Many owners have hidden papers and valuables there.

Get the chassis card (build sheet), and read it!!! It states colours, dates and options..

CHECK your own tail lights. Check the turn signals and brake lights during the day and the night. I see soooo many of these cars with poor tail lenses, and I hear soooo many lame excuses. With suvs and speedrockets, it is one of the few tasks you can perform, to protect your car. Horror stories abound.

If the transmission is shifting abruptly, or too slowly, the front or rear bands need adjustment. This needs to be done with special tools, before an overhaul is required.

Check the rear armrest. Some owners are unaware that there are vanities, etc in some armrests.
Remove the hubcaps and loosen a few lugnuts. Some have been secured with an airgun, or have become corroded. The time to discover this is BEFORE there is a flat on the road. A friend recently did this and discovered a MISSING lugnut.

Check the boot tools. Clean the jack, and verify operation. LHD cars either have the Tecalemit grease gun, or the front band tool on the boot floor, next to the toolkit. Check the torch for proper operation. The female power outlet is above the speedometer.

Check your tool kit. There are 5 unique inserts with 6 variants. The definitions are on my other blogs. The tools are rare and valuable. Consider it an investment, to enhance the value of your motor car.

Clean and oil the tools. Even if they are not perfect, you can retard deterioration.

If you have any questions, or want your tools upgraded; contact me. ROYAJUDD@aol.com.
About 90% of the kits have something incorrect. You may not care, but at least you should know.

SPRAY the rubber insert with olive oil. In fact, spray your tires, gaters, and all seals with olive oil. Olive oil has been used as a natural preservative, and anti-oxidant for centuries. Since I co-founded the Posh Gourmet, I have learned a lot, and written articles about the many benefits of olive oil. I would always spray on, in several applications.

When removing the hubcap, DO NOT pry the lip. Use a screwdriver thru the valvestem hole, to pop the cap off. Keep a cheap driver under the tool kit for this purpose.

Do not use wax or oil on the wood. They penetrate into the wood, and reappears after stripping; ruining the refinishing task.

If you have any manuals—peruse them periodically. Even if you do not perform maintenance and repair tasks; you should be knowledgeable. Knowledge is power. It is hard to believe, but not all mechanics know everything. Unless you are dealing with Roger Ford.

Always bring the car up to temperature. Never drive for a few blocks. For every gallon of petrol used, a gallon of H2O is sent into our atmosphere. If the vapor, and system is not hot enough, cold vapor remains in side the exhaust headers, the exhaust pipe and mufflers. One reason that some chaps install stainless systems.

I have created a GYM bag with detaling supplies and tools, to take to shows, unfolded cloth diapers, spray wash, brushes, metal polish, etc.

I have a TOURING bag for each of my motorcars. A few tools, for actual use, duct tape--heavy, some brass fitting for fuel lines (thank you Mr. John Decker), a fan belt (mandatory for air cooled cars like Franklin and Porsche), hand cleaner, flashlight, hose repair kit, emery paper, small file, spray lubricant. I also carry a bar of  IVORY soap----handy for lubricating screws, hose clamps etc.

I also have SURVIVAL KIT: water, small first aid kit, jar of vaseline, lip balm, sunscreen.

And of course, my MATCHING PICNIC BASKETS, ready for that impromtu lunch. I grab a bottle of the Posh Gourmet TASTY Balsamic vinegars, infused olive oils, a jar of pesto, (I go nuts over the Parmesan Pesto, in oil), a jar of olive tampenade. Now all I need is a loaf of bread, some cheese, a little fine meat, and a beverage. Now I am set, for a meal that is equal to my motorcar, and the Love of my Life!!!
So much for grey poupon!!!