Lord Gruntfuttock

I'd shout myself a new battery given it runs noticeably better. I did that even tho it was the regulator giving the problem (diagnosed after new batt) Nice knowing you have a good battery in any case... Did you say what voltage you get at battery with engine running?

Think around 9.6v is minimum crank voltage. Here's one I did yesterday with new battery and new alternator...

So the battery went flat as I was wombling about installing the central locking. No prob, I'll give it a charge but it took ages, so shouted myself a new one, thinking the 12 yr old one had done ok... But it started cranking slowly, and let me down once in town, requiring an embarrassing jumpstart. Testing showed low volts when running so I ordered a new alternator... Of course just after ordering it I thought I'd check the regulator, gave it a tap and volts shot up, but no harm in getting rid of the antiquated Ford external reg system. Before I started work I gave it a run with my Ali bluetooth battery monitor. Driving straight after a full charge with the lights on gave 11.68V, and cranking volts were around 9.8V. So out with the old, shame as I'd reconditioned it, is original, and am pretty sure it's working, but they were only ever 40A... And in with the new, a Bosch 70A, and it was a straight swap (luckily, as cost close to $400, came from Aus)... But how to wire it in? Wiring diagram with alternator was no help and the Ford diagram was confusing, till I realised they work on a balance system, with volts on both sides of the lamp, so when it's charging there's no potential difference and the lamp goes out. Was simpler to utilise one of the existing wires from alternator to regulator (connected to D+ on new alt.) and just short the ignition wire to the stator wire at the regulator plug for a test run... Great success, lamp comes on with key, then off as the engine starts, and look... Cranking voltage was over 11V too. Rapt with that, also started much easier, and ran far smoother, didn't need to warm it up near as much before driving off. Guess the electronic ignition needs a good voltage to operate. Really pleased with the battery monitor too, love seeing the status of things like that without wiring in extra gauges etc. I'll connect those wires properly and leave the old regulator in place for looks. Should prob get another WOF now in prep for sunny day cruising...

Oh yeah finished this ages ago. Rear doors were a bit of a pain, could get in on an angle then had to file out to size as the step drill bottomed out... But got both done, not much room for the rubber boot when the door's shut but will only be a couple of wires in there... And fished draw wires through everywhere in prep for installing the loom. Had to use bent bits of wire and quite a bit of swearing to get some through... And replaced the worn door latch bits, can see the difference between old and new... And made the loom up to match the diagram, laid it out on the driveway and soldered, taped as required where some extra length was needed... Then fitted my garden plastic and new mastic under the door cards... And done, handles, locks, windows all work so much better after a clean and lube... Work bloody well. I connected the optional siren output to a 12V piezo so get a single/double chirp on locking/unlocking, plus the indicator lamps flash in unison. Added a small switch under dash too so I can turn off the siren. Want it to operate when parking in town etc, but don't want it going at other times. Has made the car much more useable and so handy not having to lock each door/check kids have locked them...

81 so cheap rego when u get it sorted. Looks good...

Enjoying this build. Lucky you had gaskets/sealant etc upon surprise lockdown...

I have scraped plastic fuel tanks with a single edged razor blade then polished with jif etc...

Seems bloody dear. Home brew ones are less than $5. (Only 10 - 30 degs scale tho)...

Agree completely. If factory colour was shit then yes, but that's sweet, and black looks like you're hiding something... Maybe colour matched bumpers too?

Bit of progress, parts arriving and seam welding under way...

Should have posted this. If you touch the screen it brings up values and you can drag to see at any point during the graph... Plus this is via Brewfather app. Pretty easy to link...

So good having live updates at work etc. Stepped green line is just battery voltage, red is SG and blue is temp... Plus it works inside a stainless fermenter inside a metal fridge. [Edit] was 58 english pounds including freight and gst...

There's a few around now, I bought an iSpindel. I bought it on eBay from a seller called gingerneil. Is legit, here's a snap from this morning. I'll add a summary of setting up etc later...

Mine arrived yesterday...

Oh yeah. Will chuck some pics on when I get a chance...

^ I shall probably womble along to that. The girls will hate it. Anyone want pics?

Apparently it's something to stop them hitting the seals under rally stresses? Standard they are ok on roads but I think they put a stop/flange/something on axles to stop them hitting seals and coming loose. I'm too mechanically derp to understand, was relayed to me as recommended to owner by diff specialist. Can find out if you're really interested...

So a long overdue update. Put car on a rotisserie for inspection, and not great news... Surprisingly for an EA coon there was some rust issues and the certed roll cage was, well, junk... Bends all had deformation/wrinkles, welding was sub par, and wall thickness was pretty thin... So this happened. ED? body shell bought locally for around 3 hundy. Bloke wanted to keep the engine so we yeeted that out for him, so easy with workshop crane... And front suspension was bent so new mounts etc need fabricated. Rally car block is in the engine shop but bloke there had a fucked Clevo block we used for a mock up. Apparently have exactly the same mounting dimensions as the windsor, which makes sense... So we lifted that in place to find the optimum position... And will make up mount modification blocks to suit... Body is actually in really good nick, and new roll cage is well under way... Proper steel, properly bent, properly mounted, and properly welded (not by me, obvs)... Owner looked at using a long crank/shorter pistons for rally torque, but got too hard with supply issues atm (even Summit couldn't find right parts) so he's ordered some pistons from Aus. Also new diff being built in Ch'ch after some bits were found to be missing... Think the axles are being modified too for rally use. So things are coming together, he's looking fwd to bolting the engine together and putting things back in the painted shell when that's done. Financially the initial purchase has not proved great, given all the gear being swapped, but he's philosophical bout that as it's given him an interest/something to work on. Old car life eh...

Yep, the Amarillo one in the middle (only uses Amarillo hops). There's a few Dr Smurto recipes but the latest one I found has 20% rye so I used that. Only just conditioned now, tried one last night, not bad...

Brilliant... Here's my first few brews/labels.

Whoa. Bluetooth battery monitor...? I'm in..

Yeah I don't mind it so much yet, quite therapeutic washing and rinsing botts, and it only takes an hr or so to bottle when you get into the rhythm. Plus I can take bottles somewhere/give them away. Getting good 500ml botts from the footy club helps, worst bit is getting labels off. Banged my bottle washer together on Saturday. Cost me $10, all of which was spent on a small chilly bin at the charity shop... Rigged up a cradle for Dad's old Black & Decker drill out of scrap shelving... That drops inside, thus... To make this enclosed unit. Just rivetted a s/s washer in place inside and out as a wear preventer/guide... And she spins... So should be able to plonk this on the bench and see how it goes. If goes ok might rewire with a switch on the bin. Also scored a FastRack drying rack/tray from a brew place on Saturday. Found it tucked away covered in dust, scored it for $17, so bought 2. If I wash bottles at lunchtime and leave to drain they're clean ready for bottling after a sanitising step, which is easy using the bottling tree and squirty plunger thing...

Done 4 brews now and waiting on things to ferment/condition. Done an APA, a Milk Stout, a NZ Pilsner and a Golden Ale. Not sure what to do next, but have some bottling to do before I decide. Tried the Pilsner last night (although too early) and should be ok when properly carbonated... Looking at making a bottle washing device to make that task easier, and have ordered a wifi tilt sensor to monitor fermentation process in real time. Brew I did last Friday was first one where everything went right/no fuckups so that's something...

Yeah years ago there was an old bloke who was the go-to guy for old pre-war BSAs, vintage cars etc. He was renowned as a magneto expert and was flown to India to sort out Maharaja's old Rolls Royces etc. He'll be long gone now prob... [edit] Doug Banks?

Brilliant. Well done... There's money to be made by being known as the guy who fettles magnetos. So many bike projects stalled cos they cant find/fix em...