Replies

1. 
   highfigh | Jan 15, 2006 09:48pm | #1

   Looks like a gasket scraper.

   "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
1. 
   lwj2 | Jan 15, 2006 10:21pm | #2

   Thanks. I gave up on automotive stuff when they put computers in them, so the last one I worked on was a 1978 Toyota.Leon

1. 
   highfigh | Jan 16, 2006 02:02am | #3

   But they still have gaskets. Some of them, anyway. Some have gone to captured O rings, which fit onto a groove in the castings that are just a tiny bit flatter than the ring. When the bolts are tightened, it squashes the O ring and makes a really good seal. Still fixable, though. The only time the computer comes into the picture for doing a repair is when it throws a code or a scheduled maintenance light goes on. Other than that, changing plugs, fluids, wires and filters is the same.
   "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."

1. 
   lwj2 | Jan 16, 2006 02:45am | #4

   Good point, when I worked on the Toyota I had a place to do it, now I've got the curb in front of the house, no garage.About all I do these days is change air filters, replace dead bulbs and stuff that doesn't require crawling under the beast.Mike the Mechanic is very nice about not thanking me for my contribution to his kid's out-of-state tuition at CalTech and the first class airfare. :)Leon

2. 
   philip | Jan 16, 2006 10:30am | #5

   Leon, I recognise that as an old screw driver of yore. They were pissant. I reckon a blacksmith type of fellow lost his temper with it, anf reforged it into something more useful-like a gasket scraper.
   These days not even car plug changing is straightforward. First, you have to decide where they may be, then dismantle most of the engine to remove the cover that hides them .Then you see that they are buried deep between the cam shaft housings-you can actually see them by removing the hood and reflecting sun light with a mirror like looking into a bore hole. Then you find that only a specially made original part tube wrench will fit down there.
   That is why one books one's car in for a service now-like going to see the dentist.

   Philip Marcou
1. 
   highfigh | Jan 16, 2006 07:23pm | #6

   I thought it might be an old screwdriver that was "task modified" but since there's nothing to indicate its size, it seemed more likely that it's a scraper. I didn't think there was enough steel to go that wide without cracking, although it could have been pounded down to allow for this. I thought pissant was two words.
   "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."

2. 
   lwj2 | Jan 17, 2006 01:32am | #7

   Yeah, Phillip.I tried to change the sparks on my Chevy wagon once. Easy, y'know.Then I discovered I could'nt find half the plugs. Turned out that you have to put the thing on a hoist to get to them.Sorry I forgot to put a scale in the pic, my bad, it's about ten inches long.As I said, it was in a box of stuff I bought, odds and ends, but had some decent old screwdrivers in it, as I recall. I'd kept it only to do this, as I'd never seen anything like it before.Thanks for the replies, all.Leon