Cars - http://maxpages.com/carsinhistory/P

P: A tire designation for "Passenger," as used in rating tires such as P185R13.

PA: Acronym for "power antenna."

Pace cars: !!!.

Pace lap: !!!.

Packard: All sixes and eights 1925-34; all 12-cyl. models; 1935 Models 1200-1208; 1936 Models 1400-1408; 1937 Models 1500-1508; 1938 Models 1603-1608; 1939 Models 1703-1708; 1940 Models 1803-1808; 1941 Models 1903-1908; 1942 Models 2004-2008 plus 2023; 1946-47 Models 2106 and 2126; all Darrin-bodied with required application are classic cars. The 1953-56 Caribbean models are milestone cars. The 1946-50 Clipper and Custom Eight are milestone cars. The Pacific sedan and convertible for 1954 are milestone cars. The 1954 Panther Daytona is a milestone car. The Patrician 400 for 1951 to 56 are milestone cars.

PAD: Acronym for "Program Associated Data".

Pad: See brake pads.

Paint: A liquid or paste consisting of a suspension of a pigment in oil or water, etc. When spread over a surface, it dries to form a hard, thin covering colored by the pigment. The primary purpose of paint is to help in the preventing of rusting. A secondary purpose is to provide a variety of color. Also see metallic paint and pyroxylin paint.

Paint film: The actual thickness of the paint on a surface.

Palletized construction: The process of building a vehicle where the workers assemble a complete chassis at a comfortable workbench height, in a well-lighted area, away from the main line -- not underneath a moving body. Working conditions and product quality are vastly improved.

Pan: A thin stamped cover that is bolted to the bottom of the crankcase, it forms a sump for the engine oil and keeps dirt, etc. from entering the engine. Also see oil pan.

Pancake engine: An engine in which the cylinders are on a horizontal plane, this reduces the overall height and enables them to be used in spots where vertical height is restricted. Also see flat engine.

Panel: A flat piece of metal that is stamped to create a body component such as a door panel. Also see access panel, cluster panel, dashboard, header panel, instrument panel, and rocker panel.

Panhard: The Dyna for 1946-67 models are milestone cars.

Panhard rod: A rod or linkage on the axle which runs from side to side. Usually one end is attached to the body and the other end is connected to the axle. Also called a "track bar."

Pannier: A luggage bag used in pairs and fastened alongside one or both wheels of a bike. Saddlebag.

Panniers: Luggage bags used in pairs and fastened alongside one or both wheels of a bike. Saddlebags.

P. ant: Abbreviation for "power antenna."

Paper air cleaner: An air cleaner that makes use of special paper through which the air to the carburetor is drawn.

Parallel circuit: An electrical circuit with two or more resistance units so wired as to permit current to flow through both units at the same time. Unlike the series circuit, the current in the parallel circuit does not have to pass through one unit to reach the other.

Parallelism: See axle parallelism.

Parallelogram steering linkage: A steering system using two short tie rods connected to the steering arms and to a long center link. The link is supported on one end on an idler arm and the other end is attached directly to the pitman arm. The arrangement forms a parallelogram shape.

Parallel parking: !!!.

Parking: The action of placing a vehicle at a full stop out of the flow of traffic.

Parking brake: Hand or foot operated brake which prevents vehicle movement while parked by locking rear wheels, or transmission output shaft. One type applies the rear brake shoes by mechanical means and the other type applies a brake band to a brake drum installed in the drivetrain. Also see emergency brake.

Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles: (PNGV) established in 1993, this partnership, between the United States Federal Government and the Automotive industry, was founded to establish global technical leadership in the development and production of affordable, fuel-efficient, low emission vehicles that meet today's performance standards.

Parts car: A vehicle that has been damaged beyond repair or restoration, or that has deteriorated badly. It is useful only as a source of parts. It may be drivable though unsafe, but it usually is not in drivable condition.

Pascal's law: A principle which states that when pressure is exerted on a confined liquid, it is transmitted undiminished. The law is particularly valid for hydraulic systems.

Passenger capacity: The maximum number of people that a vehicle can carry.

Passenger vehicle: four wheeled motor vehicle that also includes mini-vans and sport utility vehicles.

Passing: !!!.

Passing gear: An automatic transmission gear that shifts a vehicle into a lower gear for a short burst of extra power to pass other cars on the highway. The gear is engaged by sharply depressing the gas pedal. When the pedal is released, the vehicle returns to normal to normal driving gear.

Passive safety: Any device which automatically provides safety for the occupants of a vehicle such as the bumpers, seatbelt, padded dash, laminated windshield, etc. In contrast with active safety.

Passive safety features: !!!.

Patch: 1. To repair a component. 2. The added part used to repair a component, e.g., a rubber disc glued to a tube to cover a nail hole. 3. The footprint of a tire in its contact with the ground. See contact patch.

Pawl: A bar, pin, or stud that can be moved, pivoted, or slid into engagement with teeth cut on another part, such as the parking pawl on the automatic transmission that can be slid into contact with teeth on another part to lock the rear wheels.

Payload: The actual weight of cargo being carried, including packaging, etc. (GVW - Unladen weight = payload).

PB: Acronym for "power brakes" or for "pushbutton" as in PB radio..

PCV: Acronym for "positive crankcase ventilation."

PCV system: Abbreviation for "positive crankcase ventilation system." A system which prevents crankcase vapors from being discharged directly into the atmosphere. Also see closed crankcase ventilation.

PCV valve: Part of the positive crankcase ventilation system, which reroutes crankcase blowby to the intake manifold and back to the engine, where it is reburned in the cylinders as part of the fuel-air mixture. This cuts emission pollution and improve fuel economy because unburned fuel in the blowby is consumed the second time around. It also keeps the blowby and water vapor from fouling the oil in the crankcase, thus reducing the formation of engine sludge.

PDA: Acronym for "Personal Digital Assistant".

PDB: Acronym for "power disc brakes."

PDL: Acronym for "power door locks."

PDLR: Acronym for "power deck lid release."

PDR: Acronym for "power deck release."

Peaking: A condition, usually in the cushion rubber, resulting from local material starvation and excessive flow from adjacent areas.

Peanut: A small motorcycle fuel tank which holds about five litres (one gallon). See chopper.

Pedal: A lever operated by the foot. See accelerator, brake pedal, clipless pedal, clutch pedal, dead pedal, low brake pedal, spongy pedal, and throttle pedal.

Pedal free travel: See clutch pedal free travel and free pedal play.

Pedal free play: See clutch pedal free travel and free pedal play.

Pedal to the metal: To fully apply the accelerator for a fast take-off.

Peel: 1. The action of rapid acceleration so that the tires slip on the road surface (i.e., the wheels are turning, but the vehicle is not moving very much) which may result in a strip of rubber on the road surface. See peel rubber. 2. The action of paint coming off. See orange peel.

Peel rubber: Rear wheels slipping on the highway during acceleration. Also called "burn rubber."

Peen: To flatten out the end of a rivet, etc., by pounding with the round end of a hammer.

Peerless: The 1926-28 Series 69; 1930-31 Custom 8; and 1932 Deluxe Custom 8 are classic cars.

Pegs: !!!.

Pegaso: All models from 1951-58 are milestone cars.

Penetrating oil: A special oil with very thin viscosity that is used to free rusted parts (esp. nuts and bolts) so that they can be removed.

Penny-farthing: An early bicycle which had a large front wheel (which was both the driving wheel and the steering wheel) and a smaller rear wheel. Its name comes from two British coins -- the large penny and the small farthing.

Pent-roof: A combustion chamber whose upper surface resembles a shallow peaked roof. Usually used with four valves per cylinder.

Percolation: A condition in which the fuel actually boils due to excess heat. Percolation prevents proper atomization of the fuel causing rough running. Also see anti-percolation valve.

Perf: See hi Perf.

Perimeter frame: !!!.

Periphery: The outside edge or circumference.

Permanent magnet: The permanent magnet does not need electricity to function and will retain its magnetism over a period of years.

Perpetual motion: A situation where a device will turn forever because there is no friction between the moving part and the stationary part. Although friction can be greatly reduced, it can never be eliminated. Thus a perpetual motion machine is impossible.

Petcock: A small valve or tap which is used to control the flow of liquid. You may find one at the bottom of a radiator to permit draining the radiator. A petcock may also be found on the line coming from the fuel tank in small engines and motorcycles. It allows you to cut the flow of gasoline going to the carburetor. On some motorcycles, the position of the petcock lever may permit draining the last part of the fuel tank as a reserve position. In units where the carburetor is fed by gravity feed from a fuel tank, turning off the petcock when the unit is not in operation may prevent gasoline from leaking past the carburetor's needle and seat and into the crankcase to dilute the oil.

Petrol: A British term for gasoline.

Petroleum: Raw material from which gasoline, kerosene, lubricating oils, propane, diesel fuel, etc. are refined. Consists primarily of hydrogen and carbon; but also contains other elements. Its source is decomposed organic matter which has been buried. Some used to think that the action of ice ages moved soil over great forests of tropical vegetation. The current suggestion is that great bodies of water flooded tropical vegetation in a cataclysmic event.

Peugeot: With required application the 1925-1948 models are classic cars.

PG: Acronym for "powerglide" automatic transmission.

Phaeton: An open-type body with two cross seats, it usually accommodates five passengers. A folding windshield, folding weatherproof fabric top and removable side curtains are usually standard equipment. The four-seater was called a double phaeton, and the six-seater or seven-seater was called a triple phaeton. Also see sport and Imperial phaeton.

Phillips head screw: A screw having a fairly deep cross slot instead of the single slot as used in conventional screws.

Phillips screwdriver: A screwdriver with a pointed tip that is shaped to fit the crossed slots in the heads of Phillips screws.

Phosphor-bronze: Bearing material composed of tin, lead, and copper.

Photochemical: Relates to branch of chemistry where radiant energy (sunlight) produces various chemical changes.

Pickup: A utility truck with a closed cab and an open box. Also see pick-up coil and yoke.

Pick-up: See yoke.

Pickup coil: See pick-up coil.

Pick-up coil: The coil in which voltage is induced in an electronic ignition.

Pierce-Arrow: The 1925-1948 models are classic cars.

Piezoelectric ignition: A system of ignition that employs the use of a small section of ceramic-like material. When this material is compressed, even a very tiny amount it emits a high voltage that will fire the plugs this system does not need a coil, points or condenser.

Pigment: Finely ground powders in the paint that give it its color.

Pile: This is a steel or concrete bar which is driven into the ground to form part of the foundations for a building.

Pillar: A shaft or upright member holding up the roof. Also see A-post, B-post, and C-post.

Pillion pad: !!!.

Pilot bearing: See clutch pilot bearing.

Pilot jet: !!!.

Pilot shaft: A dummy shaft that is placed in a mechanism as a means of aligning the parts. It is then removed and the regular shaft installed.

Pin: A small cylinder used for fastening something or as a pivot. Also see pawl piston pin, cotter pin, dowel pin, floating piston pin, hood pins, shear pin, spiral wrapped pin, and worm and taper pin.

Pin spanner: A wrench with pins on forked ends, used to turn an adjustable cup on a bottom bracket of a bicycle.

Ping: See pinging.

Pinging: A metallic rattling sound produced by the engine during heavy acceleration when the ignition timing is too far advanced for the grade of fuel being burned. The noise is caused by vibrations in the cylinder walls, head, and piston. When an engine pings, the normal, controlled even spread of the flame front is disrupted by the spontaneous combustion of pockets of fuel. Their collision sets off the pressure waves that result in the pinging sound. Pinging can be caused by bad timing, inadequate octane rating, incorrect fuel-air mixture, a hot spot in the combustion chamber caused by a glowing piece of carbon, or an overheat condition. Also called "knocking." Also see detonation.

Pinion: A small, tapered gear which meshes with a larger gear or rack. It is found in two primary places in an automobile: the differential ring and pinion and the steering's rack and pinion. Also see drive pinion.

Pinion carrier: That part of the rear axle assembly that supports and contains the pinion gear shaft.

Pinion gear: Pinion Gear: The smaller of two meshing gears. A pinion gear is used in a starter motor to engage the flywheel ring gear and also rides along the surface of the steering rack (a rod with grooves cut in it to mesh with the gear) See rack and pinion gearbox.

Pinned piston ring: A steel pin, set into the piston, is placed in the space between the ends of the ring. The ring is thus kept from moving around in the groove.

Pinned ring: A steel pin, set into the piston, is placed in the space between the ends of the ring. The ring is thus kept from moving around in the groove.

Pinstripe: !!!.

Pipe: A tube used to transfer liquid or gas. Also see breather pipe, downpipe, exhaust pipe, inlet pipe overflow pipe, and tail pipe.

Pipes: exhaust system.

Piston: A round or cylindrical plug, which closed at one end and open at the other. It slides up and down in the cylinder. It is attached to the connecting rod and when the fuel charge is fired, will transfer the force of the explosion to the connecting rod then to the crankshaft. Also see accumulator piston, autothermic piston, belted piston, cam-ground piston, and slipper piston.

Piston boss: The built-up area around the piston pin hole. Also see boss.

Piston collapse: A reduction in the diameter of the piston skirt caused by heat and constant impact stresses. Also see collapsed piston.

Piston crown: The very top of the piston. Also called piston dome.

Piston displacement: Amount (volume) of air displaced by a piston when moved through the full length of its stroke. Also see displacement.

Piston dome: The top surface of a piston. It is often shaped for better combustion and to prevent a valve from contacting the surface. Also called piston crown. See piston head.

Piston expansion: Because pistons are usually made of aluminum and the cylinder walls are made of iron, the piston will expand more rapidly than the cylinder when they get hot. Some type of compensation needs to be made for this expansion or the piston will seize in the cylinder. Also see split skirt, T-slot, steel strut, and cam-ground piston.

Piston head: That portion of the piston above the top ring. See piston dome.

Piston land: That portion of the piston which is between the ring grooves.

Piston lands: That portion of the piston which is between the ring grooves.

Piston pin: A steel pin that is passed through the piston, it is used as a base upon which to fasten the upper end of the connecting rod. It is round and may be hollow. Also called "wrist pin" or "gudgeon pin." See floating piston pin.

Piston pin boss: See piston boss.

Piston ring: A metal, split ring installed in the groove on the outside wall of the piston. The ring contacts the sides of the ring groove and also rubs against the cylinder wall thus sealing the space between the piston and the wall. Poor rings can cause poor compression and severe blowby. Often seen as blue smoke out the exhaust pipe. See compression ring, dykes ring, and oil control ring.

Piston ring, chrome: A piston ring which has a thin layer of chrome plate on the outer edge.

Piston ring, compression: See compression ring.

Piston ring end gap: The distance left between the ends of the ring when installed in the cylinder.

Piston ring expander: A spring device placed under a piston ring to hold it snugly against the cylinder wall. Also see expander.

Piston ring gap: See piston ring end gap.

Piston ring groove: The channels into which the piston rings reside.

Piston ring job: Reconditioning the cylinder and installing new rings.

Piston ring, oil control: See oil control ring.

Piston ring, pinned: A steel pin, set into the piston, is placed in the space between the ends of the ring. The ring is thus kept from moving around in the groove.

Piston ring ridge: That portion of the cylinder above the top limit of ring travel. In a worn cylinder, this area is of a smaller diameter than the remainder of the cylinder and will leave a ledge or ridge that must be removed.

Piston ring side clearance: The space between the sides of the ring and the ring lands.

Piston skirt: That portion of the piston below the rings and bosses. (Some engines have an oil ring in the skirt area.).

Piston skirt expander: A spring device placed inside the piston skirt to produce an outward pressure which increases the diameter of the skirt.

Piston skirt expanding: Enlarging the diameter of the piston skirt by inserting an expander, by knurling the outer skirt surface, or by peening the inside of the piston.

Piston slap: The condition caused by too much clearance between the piston and the cylinder walls. The piston rattles or slaps against the wall of the cylinder. It makes a hollow, muffled, bell-like sound.

Piston thrust: The pushing action of the piston which occurs at the sides of the piston 90° away from the piston pin as it pushes against the cylinder wall.

Pitch: 1. The back and forth rocking motion of a vehicle which compresses the front springs and extends the rear springs so that the nose of the vehicle is down while the tail is up. Then the action reverses so that the nose is up and the tail is down (i.e., dive and squat). 2. The distance between two threads on a bolt or screw. 3. The distance between a point on one gear tooth and the same point on the next gear tooth. 4. The quality of sound with respect to the frequency of vibration of the sound waves. 5. The angle at which something is tilted. See variable pitch stator. .

Pitman arm: A short lever arm splined to the steering gear cross shaft, the pitman arm transmits the steering force from the cross shaft to the steering linkage system. In this way rotary motion of the steering wheel is turned to lateral movement of the arm. Also see idler arm.

Pit: 1. Area at a race track for fuelling, tire changing, making mechanical repairs, etc. 2. Small craters in the surface of metal.

Pit road: !!!.

Pits: Area at a race track for fuelling, tire changing, making mechanical repairs, etc.

Pit stop: 1. A stop at the pits by racer, for fuel, tires, repairs, etc. 2. Colloquial term for going to the toilet.

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Page Updated Sun May 20, 2001 8:08pm EDT