Hi again,

Glad to hear that you made the car run a little bit quieter.
I'am afraid that is about all you can expect for working on it from the outside.

It was interesting to read that the oil was changed "supposedly religiously" yet a tune up on the plugs, new or not adjusted, had been so far between. I wonder who does the oil changes or sings very well from some lessons. She said he use to be a mechanic?

I feel by closing up the gap with a set of new electrodes helped the combustion chambers burn cleaner and most likely corrected a timing deficiency. Since you have had that engine in your hands, I would like to add in this later edit, that you probably have removed some carbon build up in the cylinders.
In most cases these engine are not prone to becoming caked inside. Her short runs on low octane gasoline can do wonders in that direction.
I hope you advised her to run only 89 octane, it's in her owners manual, or higher as for what little gas she probably buys she cannot possible consider it over spending.

As we know a longer spark jump requires high voltages in order to NOT get blown out like a candle. We cannot double the voltage but having better octane volatility can only help.
The whole ignition system could be in the same shape as the plugs. So, I bet you were wise to advise her where she stands on that. That is if she was there for it becoming to hard start in the first place.


I noticed that you used some Lucas oil thickener or "Bandaid" that I suspect would be the same as going to a 20w50 oil. Either would allow more oil "cling."

I thought the quantity needed for a Lucas product was more in the range of 20 percent, or more, of the sumps capacity to work. I doubt six ounces would do a whole lot but you must know better than I.

The Lucas name started with a "drag racing cult" background and they burn alcohol for fuel! They run their oil sump "on near dry" so the excess oil will not slow anything down. They worry about dilution of what slick film they can keep up in a very loose fitting engine.
Again with racing, a quarter mile, a few times and it's rebuild time.

As a side comment of fun like in bumper cars.
Beats me why they don't build a flat rail or roof over the top of the track and attach a spring from the car to the top to hold down the rear wheels, that need a rack and pinion setup on them anyway!
Sure save lots of rubber and the car would be gone!

Of course, whole drive train and the car has to get a lot stronger because the whole car would just twist up on the other end.
You know, As soon as they built a track like that, someone, one jump up and say "I am going to try an electric motor in my car and tie into a nuclear reactor somewhere!"

Imagine the booster cables hooked to that contact spring! (:-)
Check this out.
They are only thinking of plugs and only two styles maybe. You got to be kidding me with how many makers of these cars wanting to play on both sides.
Tesla is going into home roofing and guess with whom? Musk and his cousins, owners of SolarCity.

http://m.industryweek.com/environment/white-house-announces-us-electric-car-recharging-network?NL=IW-07&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_1&utm_rid=CPG03000005733027&utm_campaign=15480&utm_medium=email&elq2=01b4b16e6269408d8a417e3dcacfd62c

Phil