Names of weird or abscure car parts

Dashpot

Part of some carbs, used to prevent stalling in certain vehicles, cars that spring to mind are some old Chryslers with the hy-drive transmission, a two speed manual with an torque converter. The dashpot kept it from stalling when coasting to a stop.

Choke Tube - British term for Venturi (carb barrel)

Crown Wheel - Ring Gear

Dynamo - Generator

Nave Plate - Hubcap

Prop Shaft - Driveshaft

Needless to say, British car terms are a good way to confuse people.

My 1971 MGB has a ‘gulp valve’.

Ahem.

[Simpsons reference]

“Iraqi Peanut steering”

[/Simpsons reference]

Another British term is “wing”. Every car has 4 of them, a “wing” is a fender. I have a '68 Thiumph GT6 and what is refered to on most cars as the clutch fork or clutch lever is called the “operating lever” in my car. No reference to the clutch whatsoever.

<nitpick>
This is incorrect. ISO’s English name is International Organization for Standardization. The name is not an acronym, it comes from the Greek prefix meaning “equal”.
</nitpick>

Well, there is the magneto, which is an electrical part that produces the AC power for the spark plugs in certain models of car. I looked it up after seeing X-men and finding it amusing that Wolverine would ask, “Magneto? What’s a Magneto?”

In older electronic ignitions, you’ll find a reluctor

pumpkin is slang for a rear-wheel-drive car’s differential.

You can find a **clockspring[/] nestled within an airbag-equipped steering wheel.

Speaking of steering wheels, the turn signals/wipers/windshield washer/brights doohickamus is called a stalk control

Just tell him your muffler bearing is shot, your low on blinker fluid, and you can not find a 710 cap anywhere. Cross-drilled brake lines are always a good upgrade as well as an exhaust O-pipe. All these can be found at www.kalecoauto.com

That is all.

Here’s a good one (zerk) a grease fitting

A favorite: dashpot: a motion damping device used to do things like preventing the throttle plate from closing too fast.

A Watts Link (more properly, a Watt’s linkage): a linkage of rods that allow a solid axle rear suspension to move up and down while preventing side to side motion,

Good lord. I didn’t see how decayed this zombie was this morning. So embarrassed.

I was really hoping this was going to be a lot cooler

Opera window?

Curb feeler.

WOW !
I’m surprised someone didn’t reply. If you still don’t have an answer if you look up a 1975 Lincoln Continental, the opera window is the (oval) window on the side, back of the front door window

That only works with two door sedans, correctamundo? I was wondering where “opera” comes from.

My Dad had a two door something-or-other with opera windows and I kept expecting Rocky Balboa’s boss to get out of the thing. Massive engine compartment.

Might as well convert this thread into a list of once common car things that you miss, like vent panes, window cranks and doors that use a post to lock like in the movies.

Where can I get an aftermarket running board installed on my Prius?

I can make you one. Drop on by “.5-Fast Fabrications”. Wide range of designs and materials available.

Pretty sure most of my parts are from your shop.