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You Can replace the exhaust tail pipe without damaging the muffler if you place a block of wood between the car frame and the muffler, then place a jack directly under the block, below the muffler. Only put sufficient pressure on the jack to hold the muffler in place while you work.

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If You are ever short of a valve lifter when you're doing a valve job you'll find you can replace the springs without a lifter if you compress each one in a vice and keep it compressed by means of two short pieces of wire, one on each side. When the spring has been installed and the valve keyed, you can remove the wires with the pliers.

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A Small funnel connected to a length of small diameter rubber or plastic tubing makes an effective stethoscope for tracking down vacuum leaks around the carburettor and intake manifold where the noises made by such leaks are generally drowned out by other engine noises.

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The Top dead centre mark on the timing pulley will be much easier to see if you clean the pulley thoroughly and paint it with black paint, then dab some white or aluminium paint on the TDC mark and pointer. The marks will show up well even with a low intensity timing light. When painting the pulley it is better to use a flat black paint rather than enamel.

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A Calibrated gap simplifies testing engine ignition. Drill a hole through a block of clear plastic, thread it for screws, and scribe the interval marks as shown. Connect the spark plug wire to one connection and [clip the other lead to the engine block.

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A Piece of asbestos siding or cardboard carton opened out can be used to give your car enough traction to creep out of slight depressions and slick spots in mud or snow. A couple of short pieces carried flat in the boot will be out of the way but ready for instant use in cases of emergency.