Lord Gruntfuttock Posted July 24, 2016 Author Share Posted July 24, 2016 I drove my car today... 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Lord Gruntfuttock Posted July 24, 2016 Author Popular Post Share Posted July 24, 2016 OK so drove is a bit of an exaggeration, but it did move under it's own power... Early start, was out in the shed at 6:00am fortified by the breakfast of champions - cold onion bhajis and coffee... And all fluids added. Was rewarded by a puddle of red stuff as trans overflowed through the vent... And all set to go. the more observant may notice a tube of KY on the shock tower. This wasn't for a congratulatory tug, but to help slide the top radiator hose past the bypass, too much rubber-on-rubber friction going on... And just as all going well, the bloody oil pump drive rod got hooked on the old distributor shaft I was using in the drill to prime the system, and pulled out. There was much swearing as I contemplated the work involved in dropping the sump, but as the clip was still in place, I managed to wriggle and drop the shaft in position after many, many attempts and twice as many rude words. Will be fine, just be a cunt next time I pull the dizzy... I was surprised how much grunt it took to spin the shaft incidentally, spun ok till pressure got up then it was bloody hard (like drill started smoking hard) Think that's why the shaft got stuck. Anyways, then just dropped distributor in, and tried to start it. Nothing. More swear words till I remembered I'd undone the plugs to let me turn motor easier. Quick tighten, connect leads and all go. Ran it for around 30 mins between 2000-3000 rpm, then dropped oil and changed filter. Should be all good to go once I get bonnet and lights back on... 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Gruntfuttock Posted July 24, 2016 Author Share Posted July 24, 2016 See if this works... https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=y7JytT7k5O8 Note, at the end it's steam not smoke out the tail pipes... 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Gruntfuttock Posted July 24, 2016 Author Share Posted July 24, 2016 And real pleased to see clean floor underneath her this morning. Trans fluid was dripping out (fast) so gave pan bolts a tweak (ie a bloody great heave). Left white pillowcase under pan and still white this am... 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Gruntfuttock Posted August 3, 2016 Author Share Posted August 3, 2016 Haven’t done anything since my ‘drive’ the other weekend, so popped into the shed to tidy up some tools/escape family/gaze at things, and unscrewed the catch can while there, thinking there may be a few drips of oil after the 30-odd minutes of running she’s had. Fuck me – full, and chocka-block full at that… Guess that means my attempt at using the factory rocker covers hasn’t worked, drilling bits out of the baffles appears to have created a passage for oil to spew straight out the PCV valve. Bugger, wasted effort… So I bought some taller baffled alloy rocker covers, no big deal but I really wanted it to look as stock as poss at first glance, plus I reckon most aftermarket covers look a bit shit. (I’m not into blinging engines or advertising brand names, but needs must and all that). I did think of painting some 80’s factory Mustang alloys the same blue, but there’s no guarantee rocker clearance will be any better, and I’m over painting stuff to be honest. On the way are a couple of alloy covers, a new PCV valve, gaskets and breather, will be a quick job to bung em on then I’ll set timing and give carby a tune. Still have to sand and paint grille but weather has been a bit shit for that. Sort of want things to get done as my bike projects are nagging me… 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Lord Gruntfuttock Posted August 15, 2016 Author Popular Post Share Posted August 15, 2016 Kids birthday over the weekend so after putting up with half a dozen yelling 7yr old girls on a sleepover (why are they always shouting?) I sought refuge in the shed. Goodbye blue rocker covers... The cork gaskets had stuck fairly well in the short time they'd been on, but popped off ok, and it looked clean enough inside... Apart from a few little bits of black goo. Whatever it was was soft - hoping this is assembly lube remnants...? And side 1 done/new PCV valve installed... Doesn't look too bad I suppose, the big blue frying pan dominates things... And a bit of tidying up to do yet. waiting on black lead clamps and new breather cap in the mail... 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Lord Gruntfuttock Posted August 27, 2016 Author Popular Post Share Posted August 27, 2016 Been super busy with house stuff but decent day today and was out in the shed at sparrows again. Started with the headlight bits and pieces, went together ok once I deciphered how all the screws/clips went... And put some new engine bay decals on, was going to wait and do this last, but couldn't... And put the lid back on... I'd been putting off sanding back the grille cos I thought it'd be a prick of a job. It was. All bloody angles and sharp edges, cut my hands to bits cleaning up the half-arsed job I did last time... But got there, shiny metal... And used the backyard whirlygig thing as a spray booth Got a good etch coat base on... And look... Shot down the bottly in it's dusty, half done state. Was a good feeling, and I may have dropped a decent old skid on the way back... 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Lord Gruntfuttock Posted August 28, 2016 Author Popular Post Share Posted August 28, 2016 Sprayed the grille with rattle can wheel paint. No idea how this'll go, but it's the right colour and it should be fairly hardy? We'll see how it goes. Scored bonus danger points by spraying near a load of bras and things someone had stuck on my rotary parts holder... Colour looks ok, hopefully just a few clips etc to bang it all back together... And took girls for a spin today. Found this pic from last time it was going... And today - a few changes... I didn't notice but my youngest pointed out she was wearing the same top the older one wore in the first pic. They're funny little buggers, they call it the 'noisy car' and as I started it they ran off and came back with their earmuffs for the ride... 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Gruntfuttock Posted August 29, 2016 Author Share Posted August 29, 2016 Had a crack at tuning her up a bit, started with the basics: Checked throttle blades were perpendicular with pedal fully depressed (noticed I need new throttle spring) Float level - just used sight glass on primary, should prob remove screw on secondary side to check it's ok too Accelerator pump linkage - set to have 0.015" free play Then hooked up some gauges and timing light... Timing for initial startup was set around 10 deg BTDC. gave total advance of 28 at 3000rpm (with vacuum advance plugged).Loosened clamp and tried to rotate distributor, was stuck. Had to get strap and vice grips on it to move, bit of a concern as I'd oiled it on install. Anyways, set idle advance to 14 degrees, and now have total of 36, which seems around optimum for these things... And tuned carb idle mix via vacuum method. Connected cheap vac gauge to port on carb and tweaked idle screws together to get max vacuum. Bit tricky but have a base level now at around 18 inches mercury, which I think is pretty good for the cam (drops to around 14 in Park)... And it drives much nicer, smoother all round. Only concern is the bloody catch can is still filling really rapidly. Noticed when tuning there were puffs of mist coming out the breather at low revs. I've ordered a compression test kit so that should say if excessive blowby is due to dodgy rings. Bit of a bugger as it seems to be driving well, we'll see what compression results are before panicking... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Gruntfuttock Posted August 30, 2016 Author Share Posted August 30, 2016 Compression test kit arrived at work so shot home at lunchtime to give it a whirl. Torpedo 7 kit, looks pretty good and has adapters so I can do bikes etc.. Got the following results (warm engine and 5-6 compression strokes per cylinder): #1 130 #2 120 #3 128 #4 148 #5 135 #6 136 #7 138 #8 140 A bit of variation and pretty low overall (cam overlap?) but nothing indicating rings are really buggered. I'll recheck them cold as it's possible I was a bit rushed and didn't have connection done up right. Cyl 2 seems an anomaly but the average is around 135psi... Wondering if it's running way too rich though looking at the plugs... Very sooty... Hard to say as it hasn't had a decent run, and it was left idling to warm up while I made up the remote starter switch, and that blackens up plugs. There were some fuel leaks from carb on startup as it'd been sitting for years, but seems to have stopped and I was hoping seals/gaskets had swelled up and all was ok. Might pay to grab a kit and clean/rebuild carb. If the carb is amiss it could explain the fumes and catch can filling maybe. I'll get the list number and order a kit when I get home... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Gruntfuttock Posted September 6, 2016 Author Share Posted September 6, 2016 Been thinkin. Will prob pull engine and get bottom end looked at. Did cold compression test at lunchtime and couple of cylinders increased psi noticeably with a squirt of oil in em. Bit of a bugger but took the gamble all was ok, and guess sitting so long didn't do the poor old girl any favours. Looks like rings gone = blowby. Hopefully a hone/rings and bearings job. Just gotta figure out if I get it warranted and rego'd first. Will rekit carb and see how she runs. I hate rework, but was worth a crack, and I'd rather have some confidence things have been checked, plus we're planning house reno's so this will be last chance to work on it for a while. Ah well. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Gruntfuttock Posted September 12, 2016 Author Share Posted September 12, 2016 So got the grille all fitted (apart from driving lights) and pulled carb apart while waiting on bits. Pretty basic old Holley 4160. List # 1850-3, 600cfm, vac secondaries. Think date stamp indicates 1989, as it's prior to the anti backfire check valve that came in around 92. Best thing on this one is the quick-change secondary spring system I fitted yonks ago, means you can swap springs to alter when the secondaries come in pretty quickly... Came apart easy as I'd fitted non-stick blue gaskets last time I played with it. Power valve (65) and main jets, size 66 (Holleys give numbers in thousanths of an inch). Bit misleading after you've played with metric scooter jets... The 4160 is a budget but capable sort of carb, both bowls fed via connecting tube from single fuel inlet, and has a secondary metering plate rather than block and jets. Decoding the plate number gives equivalent secondary jet size as 64... Cracks in plate bothered me though, front has circular pattern that could be casting issue... and looks worse at the back... I don't think these are causing my problems, but good excuse to pimp my carb, so ordered a conversion kit that adds a metering block to the secondary side, Means I can swap jets, and effectively converts 4160 to 4150 model. The kit comes with extra gasket and longer fuel tube to suit. It's about now I realise I've misplaced the carb cleaning brushes I got a week or so ago (while I've got 2 carbs in pieces) so things on hold till I have a good sort out... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Gruntfuttock Posted September 27, 2016 Author Share Posted September 27, 2016 WOF'ed and Rego'ed. Driving ok, apart from faulty fuel gauge and bits of smoke. Still plan to pull it and address bottom end, but useable as is. Just getting used to driving an old car again - visibility and engine noise are great, no central locking, wind noise and steering not so much... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Gruntfuttock Posted September 27, 2016 Author Share Posted September 27, 2016 Double double post post... Replaced flasher relay today, old electromechanical one was a bit random, and lost a headlight so looking at semi-sealed H4's as an option, think most sealed beams available now are a bit shit... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Gruntfuttock Posted October 13, 2016 Author Share Posted October 13, 2016 Something arrived to sort out the sky-high front end. Looked at a few options but went with Lovells cos had best ride reviews (plus cos blue)... Shocks coming too, no idea when I'll get them in tho... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Gruntfuttock Posted December 8, 2016 Author Share Posted December 8, 2016 Still haven't pulled motor for bottom end check, and considering it's running and nearly xmas I'll prob use it as-is till next year. No fuel gauge is a pain in the arse tho so killed some lawn today popping the sender unit out... I'd assumed the rheostat was koozed but it checked out fine, 10 to 100 ohms over full movement of the float, and all looked good... Then I realised the float was bloody heavy, yep holed - and so full of fuel it didn't slosh when shook. Put the hot air gun on it and had a cool fine jet of fuel spray out the very tiny pinhole. I SO wanted to light this... And rather than piss around all day trying to re-solder it I ordered a new one. Tried to find something I could rig at the wreckers but nothing really suitable. I'm still gonna pull the gubbins out and sort a few issues and lower the front etc (found puddle of fluid under trans today) but if I have a working fuel gauge I can just keep an eye on the oil and use it for a while while weather is good... 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Lord Gruntfuttock Posted February 10, 2017 Author Popular Post Share Posted February 10, 2017 So, around a year after I started, I've pulled the guts out of her again. It was going ok, been using it a bit, but the puffs of smoke and red puddles were embarrassing, so I'm gonna hopefully fix those properly. Since I've got most of the gear and done all the painting etc it shouldn't be too much of a mission. (I was sooo close to putting a 5-speed box in though, just can't justify the hassle/expense). Plan is to strip engine and get block checked, and put her back together all tight and perky... Also gonna fit lowered springs and have ordered a set of rubber suspension bushes and larger sway bar to tidy up the wallowy front end. Bit of a bugger redoing a lot of this work, but I took the gamble last time, and at least I've got a garage buddy to keep me company... meet Jagger, the 9 wk old Border Collie, great wee bloke - already knows to sit there out of the way while I cock things up, bleed and swear... 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Gruntfuttock Posted February 12, 2017 Author Share Posted February 12, 2017 So strip went well, much easier pulling them apart when you've used anti-seize on the threads, and the gaskets aren't decades old... Disappointingly i didn't find obvious ring issues, so no wiser why it's so smoky. Pulled the piston on the lowest compression cylinder and the bearings, bore and rings look ok (as far as I know, not really sure what I'm looking for) so hopefully a hone and ring job may sort it. I'll check how the ring gap looks and try to take it into a machine shop this week to get it checked out... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Gruntfuttock Posted February 13, 2017 Author Share Posted February 13, 2017 Looked at the ring gap at lunchtime - took the top ring off, levelled it down bore with a vernier, and measured, just looks too big... Bloody hell, kept sliding more feelers in... So it's over 50 thou. I think at 4.030" bore diameter the top ring should be around 0.016 - 0.018" - so that may be where the problem lies. Prob been like that for years, I just never picked up as never had a catch can telling me how misty the crankcase was. I'll try to get block into machine shop this week and get it inspected, hopefully a hone, ring and bearing job will sort her out... 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Gruntfuttock Posted February 14, 2017 Author Share Posted February 14, 2017 Must remember not to hoon to work tomorrow... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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