HKM400

Good eve,

Got part of the interior sorted this week. Very pleased indeed. 

Still have to get the tunnel done but that needs to happen at the upholstery shop. Lucky it's just down the road, and in the same complex there is a mechanic and wof garage who is going to take a look over it and point out anything that needs more attention before I finally send it for the ultimate test.

Also coiled up some cable to wire the steering wheel switches into the loom. 

Also got some JB weld today so can bog up the pinholes in my diff case because I am an impatient bastard and don't want to take it apart again for awhile. I just want to drive itttttt.

Discussion if desired.

Cheers

http://oldschool.co....tus-7-series-3/

Made more progress last weekend, sorted the seat back ply, also fitted my aeroscreen which was easier than anticipated

The view from the business end

Actually sits higher than expected too, so should do a half decent job of diverting the bees and other various insect life vaguely away from my face.

Getting closer....

Excited for seats. Then it'll look proper car like.

http://oldschool.co....tus-7-series-3/

Discussion if you wish,

Cheers

It's been a looooong time.

But I have actually made much progress no laziness here...

Car has now been properly tuned and has been driven several successful times- have switched back from electronic ignition to a lucas dizzy as the electronic kit I bought was a bit of a let down.

I am starting to sort out the finishing touches- have got an aeroscreen for it many reasons for this including the fact that I don't want to phaff around with wiper motors + unlikely to be actively pursue driving in the rain, interior is underway also. Trying to get it looking as tidy as possible before the warrant finally happens.

Drives nice, pulls away in 4th with minimal encouragement on the throttle. 

No recent photos but will suss that for the next post. 

One other thing.... haven't sorted a bonnet yet- will need to be the last thing made and there will need to be a hole in it as the manifold is on an angle.

Legalities of getting a WOF with no bonnet in the meantime? Guess i'm following the hot rod scene where t buckets often don't run a bonnet at all. Should say i'm not running a mechanical fan, have an electric shrouded one, nothing else protrudes to the point where a pedestrian would be impaled.

In saying that... if you found yourself in a position to be hit by this I would recommend a big jump....

Discussion and thoughts?

Cheers

//oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/46798-hkm400s-1969-lotus-7-series-3/

Have had cars inspected in the past, called the inspector and asked about how it drove, steering suspension etc and the response was, "I like subarus." More than likely got someone who didn't take it too seriously but if I'm paying the money I want a little more than that haha

It's a Renault Clio Sport 182- I've had hit and miss with the AA before- mostly being they take the car up and down the road and generally don't give a lot of comment on how it drives. All depends on the inspector you get. If they like the car- lots of info. Located in Auckland City

Evening...

Looking at buying a car in Auckland but I have nobody that could go and have a look for me.

Should say this isn't really an oldschool car, it's a modern hot hatch but I believe a future classic. Should also say I think this particular car needs to be seen by someone who knows what's up... AA report would not really give me what I need to know in terms of how the car drives and feels. There is a lot of knowledge on here, and I dare say I would rather pay one of you jokers to go have a look around it.

There is obviously some cash (beer money) for anyone willing to go take a look for me.

Either message me or comment on here if you're interested in helping a man out.

Cheers,

Harry

Car was located, and will most likely be written off- currently missing the rear wing and the advan wheels. If anyone comes across someone selling these items I would imagine they are from this car.

Any further sightings of the car please message me, was last seen this morning in Opawa area Christchurch following a pursuit with the police

While not an oldschool car, my mate's white GC8 Subaru WRX STI was stolen today from tower junction car park in Christchurch between the hours of 9am and 4pm. - plate number is END325. If anyone has seen it around the christchurch area please contact me through this thread.

The car has distinctive advan wheels now, photo for reference.

Any info greatly appreciated,

Harry

I rechecked the seal between the carb and the manifold itself, seems the o rings weren't sealing properly hence the leak. Haven't had a lot of time to try start it again and check if it's fixed any of the issues- put some fuel in it last weekend though so might have a crack today and see how I get on.

Evening,

Decided to do some more to this today being that the other alternative was more study...

Went and bought myself some foam, vinyl and contact adhesive and upholstered the dash...

Cut the holes out

Test fit

Apologies for the less than shite pictures.

Pretty happy with how it turned out though

Discussion if you wish

//oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/46798-hkm400s-1969-lotus-7-series-3/page-4

A brief update on this. I've spent the last few days tinkering around tidying things up and addressing some irritating issues. I've patched the small hole in the diff so it doesn't leak anymore- it's really a temporary fix for now but it's doing the job. Was only a small hole from welding the handbrake brackets onto the back of the case.

Also rechecked all the valve clearances and made some adjustment, checked the timing.

I've had a strange issue with the connection between the carb and the manifold. I've been getting a small amount of fuel leaking from one of the O ring seals so I pulled the carb off and checked the state of the gaskets- they were brand new from the rebuild. I just refitted the carb and tried to get the tension on each nut equal so it pulled up tight and flush- I can't get my torque wrench in there to get it perfectly accurate but it seems to have sealed up properly this time.

Getting the shift remote correctly aligned with the selector rods is a massive wanker of a job, with such limited space I'm sure a gynecologist would probably have a go and think, "Oh god i'm at work!"

I really need to sort a windscreen- my mates all ask why it's so close and it's taking so long and I don't really have an answer for them- it's more all the niggly little things holding it back.

As picture less updates are pretty boring- and I imagine half the shit I write is just waffle:

Discussion...

http://oldschool.co....series-3/page-4

Cheers for the comments guys, as for the parabolics I bought them from rocky mountain in the UK, it did jack the car up a fair bit but the old elliptical jobs were pretty saggy to start with. They were supplied with shocks too but I didn't care for them much, seemed way too hard so I swapped them out for some others to try get the rate down. Still bloody hard riding though unless I put a few of the old wheels in the back or it's towing a trailer. 

As for the carbs in the interim stages of the build I'll probably just run it with them to get it started. Had a suggestion from governor sam about fitting a new manifold and a 4 barrel holly for ease of tuning and more efficient.... fuel injection is like a dark art to me but would be keen to give it a crack. 

It was once said that god stated let there be light, and there was, but the electrics were supplied by Mr Lucas and they died later that day 

Discussion link as promised:

//oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/49972-hkm400s-1976-land-rover-series-3/

Cheers

Discussion for this build 

//oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/49971-hkm400s-1976-land-rover-series-3/

Cheers

Evening,

A modicum of progress has been made. Oil catch can is in... A cheapish trademe job which doesn't really fit in with the old English vibe but such is life. Maybe it'll be worth a few extra horses... or make it slide all over the place. Time will tell.

I am also aware that the hose supplied will be rather shite so I will get some proper stuff later this week

In other news the diff in my Landy isn't far from this world... which means it is soon time for me to pull that to bits completely and even put in a new powerplant, my current plan involves 8 cylinders.... 

Discussion if required:

//oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/46798-hkm400s-1969-lotus-7-series-3/page-4

I really do need to do a thorough check of the manifold, there will more than likely be an air leak somewhere. Will have a spanner up today and see what eventuates.

This tuning thing will no doubt be never ending, will just have to get used to it! 

I had the carb refurbished by Simon at Palmside and he assembled it with the correct specs- specific to my engine which is the same as yours, 1600 Crossflow, single weber 40. 

I do have a regulator in the fuel line due to the fact that the pump I have may over or under fuel it...

Seems my engine just needs some attention from someone who knows more than I do about tuning- which isn't difficult...  

When you find your project lurking in the darkness of page 8 it's probably been awhile..

Not much has changed due to many things, I digress. 

In reality the car isn't far from being usable on the road... Just need to find someone to give it a good tuning and see what the carb is up to- whether it needs bigger or smaller jets etc. Can anyone recommend such a person to come to my shed and do that? Just easier than towing the fucker all around town. 

All it needs then is a windscreen and some interior design, a scatter cushion or two perhaps? 

//oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/46798-hkm400s-1969-lotus-7-series-3/

Been awhile, have been low on funds so project is stalled for the meantime.

Can anyone recommend a particular brand of wideband O2 sensor to buy so I can tune the carb properly?

Cheers

Engine never ran when I bought that car, so pulled it out straight away. It first ran last year after I rebuilt the whole thing, carb was rebuilt by a specialist and he apparently used the correct spec jets for that engine. Plus that carb came on the engine originally... wide band sounds like a good idea at this point and I will get someone to tune it properly... will not be driving it until then, damn thing is an arsonist.  

You've got me curious Rookie... I enjoy a good toast but not of the engine variety. I'm actually thinking about what Fliboi has suggested... on my manifold there is a vacuum outlet which I has been blanked off with a bolt, there is also what I believe is a breather coming from the block... should I just loop these with some heater hose so the vacuum circulates? I think the vacuum was used to power assist brakes or something? This will probably make me look like a total moron if I'm wrong haha.

Should also state the engine is all good at idle and starts easily with no choke (hasn't been cold recently though). Idle is around 1k which needs to be dropped, sounds pretty lumpy. Only under load does it start shitting its pants. 

Cheers for the advice, will give that a go at some point, just need it to retain oil and not ruin the asphalt any more than it has already!