Andeh
is teahte tbungafloed
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2007
- Messages
- 3,514
- Location
- Cumbria, UK
- Car(s)
- Fiestas, Mondeos, Anglia, Austin 7, Corsair, Chrys
Good guy Anglia.
1. Don't use repop BL parts. That's sticking a replica of an almost broken part on to replace a broken one.
2. Don't use NOS BL parts. That's sticking a factory almost broken part on to replace a broken one.
3. Use a modern starter: http://www.britishstarters.com/Home.html
4. Use a modern ignition: http://www.pertronix.com/ or http://www.newtronic.co.uk/new/main.php/lumeni
5. Fit a modern alternator: http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=techni&action=print&thread=139910 (don't forget to replace your charging cables)
6. Watch a lot of your BL-derived crappyness go away. Doing much of anything else is just an exercise in futility.
It's definitely getting electronic ignition and a better alternator, not sure if I can get a better starter for it.
The local garage bled/filled the hydraulic clutch fluid, the car is now drivable but the biting point is still very low and the pedal has to be hard to the floor, with with the carpets removed. It's usable with some double clutching and rev matching but nowhere close to the level it was before it failed. Reading on the TDC forums seems to suggest this is a common problem and is caused by the design of the system trapping air above the bleed nipple.
My car has also gone from showing every sign of running too rich to showing all the signs of running too lean. Uneven spluttery idle, will pick up for a while when revved but if left sitting without choke I'm fairly sure it'll just stall out. It also died on me driving home today when I pulled over to take a photograph, as soon as the engine should have sat at idle it just cut out. Wouldn't start until it had cooled down, I suspect fuel starvation caused by evaporation in the carb, I've had this problem before when the engine is warm.
My car has also gone from showing every sign of running too rich to showing all the signs of running too lean. Uneven spluttery idle, will pick up for a while when revved but if left sitting without choke I'm fairly sure it'll just stall out. It also died on me driving home today when I pulled over to take a photograph, as soon as the engine should have sat at idle it just cut out. Wouldn't start until it had cooled down, I suspect fuel starvation caused by evaporation in the carb, I've had this problem before when the engine is warm.
Having talked to a local garage of the sort the has a good turn over of geriatric motors I've been advised to loosen the tappet clearances a bit. Given the generally tired state of the engine setting the clearances to factory settings may well be causing the rough idle and problems with starting.
With this in mind I set to work, taking off the door mirror for a new coat of matt black, and fitting a slightly better radio (one with an aux input) to use until I get my Radiomobile/surround sorted. Can't do any engine work as the car is sat on the street at the moment where working on it is A: illegal and B: subject to the whims of the weather, which have consisted of a strong breeze and sporadic rain.
Was hoping to have it usable for Drive It Day, but that's tomorrow and although the car is drivable I don't want to risk damaging the valves due to over tight clearences, it's also forecast to rain all day.
You can't repair a vehicle on a public highway.What?
Strange law. What if you are broke down on the side of the road and just need to fiddle with it a bit to get going again?
(3)A person is not to be convicted of an offence under this section in relation to any works if he proves to the satisfaction of the court that the works were not carried out?
(a)in the course of, or for the purposes of, a business of carrying out restricted works; or
(b)for gain or reward.
(4)Subsection (3) does not apply where the carrying out of the works gave reasonable cause for annoyance to persons in the vicinity.
You can't repair a vehicle on a public highway.
Probably wouldn't get caught but the neighbours aren't happy with our household having 4 cars sat on the street, I'd not be surprised if they phoned the council to complain.