Classic car tuning tools

[MrFerrisBFW]

So years ago working on my old cars in the late 80's into the 90's I had a selection of Gunson tools, eg strobe gun, and thing for accurately seeing rev's under the bonnet and a remote starter switch.

I gave up all this in the mid 90's and never even owned a car for almost 10 years. Sold it all.

FFWD to now and I have been working on my t5.1 van and have now bought a SA import Lancia Beta. So working my way through the issues and I am aware I need to set timing etc at some point. Do I go and buy the old stuff used or is there something I should look at for this job that is better?

Any thoughts?

[MrFerrisBFW]

a shot of the car from last night

[InitialDave]

I have a strobe gun (Accuspark I think) which has an RPM readout on it as well as the advance/retard controls etc.

[TwinKam]

MrFerrisBFW said:

a shot of the car from last night

That's lovely, what a find! ...rust-free you say? I still miss my HPE.
WRT the question, buy a strobe with an inductive HT lead clamp, a 'xenon' bulb, a digital display that gives you rpm readout, and a facility to 'dial back' the advance (helpful where there is just a TDC mark). Doesn't need to be branded as you'll only use it once a year, you'll get one on EBay for under £30.

[gazza285]

Lovely cars, but I don’t think any of them were rust free. We had a five year old Montecarlo come through the workshop for welding, my old man turned down the work. Looked fantastic to me though.

[droopsnoot]

I've bought loads of this sort of stuff from car boot sales for a pound or two - as it's the season for boot sales, maybe have a look around them. Stuff like Colourtune things for setting mixture, exhaust gas analysers, that kind of thing. I haven't bought a timing light but they do pop up - I have a Crypton machine so I don't really need one.

[MrFerrisBFW]

gazza285 said:

Lovely cars, but I don t think any of them were rust free. We had a five year old Montecarlo come through the workshop for welding, my old man turned down the work. Looked fantastic to me though.

Thank you for all the advice. Looking at new timing lights on eBay as we speak.

And yes i know my rusty Beta’s and this has zero structural rust. Some possible crash damage to one lower door, but baring the odd area of surface rust of about a couple cm2 i have found zilch. Even the original factory underseal looks a couple years old. Mad

[Belle427]

They are all quite similar, the Accuspark ones look ok but anything from the likes of them or Draper etc will do.