azzurro

mint rx photo shoot bomb/stealing

yellow why does snoop carry an umbrella? fo' the drizzle, fo' rizzle tho i think this icy grill is better

nice moonies that look cool! ...and to my right is my new van...

hope its got a grumpy sidevalve in it grrr dont spill any blood red wine

so i rolled to this, snuck in behind the OS rotary club, a glorious sight and sound indeed. heres some pictures- Love the dudes face like a tweenie spotting one direction shiney red death race red spare engines in that one red standing by for spare engines

Took the car out to Caffine and Classics today, //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/42367-caffiene-and-classics-23-febraury-smales-farm-akl-10am/?p=1349227 on the way there i got a puncture/flat tyre, but the tyres are a bit old and pretty stuffed had slow leaks anyway so this afternoon after taking this last photo with (3 out of 4) the wards on (for now): i swapped back to my meshies with nice near-new Direzzas, which i repainted to an off-white aaages ago, and some better wheel bolts instead of the (bloody rubbish!) two piece conversion studs i had before Also took another half coil out of the front and put an extra 5mm wheel spacer on too, could maybe go another half coil, but ill wait till the 2L is in as its a bit heavier - suspension seems quite a bit firmer too. Pretty happy with that, hopefully the meshies will gain some depth when they dust up a bit. the 1608cc engine still starts and runs really nice, but it left this mess on the driveway, This is just from from sittling while swapping the rims over today, which is very annoying after changing all the seals not long ago, and its embarressingly smokey on over run going down hills etc as well. So Ive also pulled finger and built up the 2L and stuck the 5 speed gearbox onto it, just waiting on a couple of small bits and bobs (which may turn into a big order now im getting them from overseas...), and hopefully getting the main missing puzzle piece : a 5 speed tunnel section should be making its way up in the next couple of weeks :D

If it was workign sweet for 6-8 months then its not palsides fault. If it is a sudden change then its something that has suddenly changed to cause this. what i mean is you should find and fix the issue properly, instead of masking it with more force. should return to closed without a large® return spring (on the accellerator cable or whatever) there is a small coil spring on the end of the throttle shaft(s) which is more than capable of snapping the throttle closed - if this isnt working propertly theres something wrong (could be that very spring of course). Its probalby something dumb like a nut comeing a bit loose and letting something catch. You also said its flooding? non-closed butterflys will let in more air & fuel so will be running on idle/transition or main circuit rather than just too much gas? ie will 'idle' really fast.

Moved the Croma to mow the lawn under it again. swapped the original injectors back in (with new orings and filters) and took it for a blast. Goes great guns, if a bit laggy, and no skids (did a mean one getting it off the grass tho!) Seems to cut the ingition or something, on high load - i think it may be fuel related (fuel pump too weak?) as the OEM higher flowing injectors have moved the cut sumptoms up the rev range a bit from the last time i took it out. On the way back from the last run, it blew an intercooler hose off, but lucky the walk home to get a scredriver wasnt too far! back on and now it wont idle and is hard starting, and i seem to have lost a park light cover, so thats that i suppose. Mowed its patch before putting it back, but the next time it gets driven is to get its engine pulled out. i <3 boost...

they are pretty simple mechanically, you should be a ble to spot it, but you might need to pull it off the manifold could be - something jammed in there, - one of the springs or tabs on one end of the throttle shaft has shifted or come loose/catching on something? - butterfly come loose? - throttle shaft a bit bent (they run on bearings)?

EURON8 came over yesterday afternoon to see if we could get the Croma moving, the only thing stopping it being the clutch. Jacked it up, and managed to get the turbo winding up while in gear and applying the brakes (also to try to jolt the clutch off the flywheel) Thus motivated and after some epic bleeding and bodging there is enough clutch to just disengage the cutch while in gear and took it for a blast. is actually really nice to drive and the engine will be certainly scary enough in the 125. The Croma were set up as a tourqy cruiser rather than a top end screamer and is pulled well. I think it was leaning out on boost tho, so I will clean up the original injectors and put them back in and tidy a few other things before a couple more test drives . Success!

clutch pedal feel is very soft and stays on the floor, but shifts the slave about 5-10mm (which is about the same as my corolla), and im pretty sure the hydralics are working as intended - they just have no resistance to push against I can move the clutch arm (that the slave pushes on) with my fingers about 20mm without resistance (cant budge the rolla's one at all) so im thinking rookie & ky may be onto some sort of 'inside the bellhousing' problem. the clutch is effectively stuck 'on' (off?) and wont disengage. Ill move it to the driveway (which is level) and give it another bleed/rock in gear before giving up and dropping the subframe/engine out and binning the rest.

in Croma news, i have replaced the slave cylinder with a new one ($30!) and a uno master (+ extra flexi from the uno slave) from pickapart. unfortunately i cant seem to get the thing bled properly despite pushing at least 3 liters of fluid though it. Either that or the clutch is jammed on somehow (i can move the arm on the gearbox by hand quite a bit). I dunno. Engine starts and runs fine, so its a bit annoying that i cant test drive it. Grass is getting long around it so i will move it to the driveway and give it another bleed soon, and based on that either drive it then strip it, or just skip the driving bit. ___ Recent monarchy related long weekend, we went on a family holiday up to the Tutukaka coast (east of Whangarei), 3 adult sized humans + one medium sized dog + stuff for 4 days 3 nights, 2 surfboards and wetties, no worries. Only drama was a carb blockage (a small bug/worm in the main jet?!) about 2km from our local servo, which was easy fixed and not really the cars fault. Also a knock in the rear suspension was traced to (both!) top nuts on the shocks coming loose. One has worn the thread off a bit on one side, and both are missing the lock nut - WTF. It is using a lot of oil tho, and i pulled the plugs before leaving - #1 was very ashed up to the point of no gap, and all the others were also ashes/oiled to lesser degrees, and these were brand new before heading to Nelson. Smells of oil on overrun and puffs a bit of bluey smoke on startup, free revving and after idling for a while as well, all of which point towards worn valve stem guides. This is the head that came with brass sheet under the shims, so despite having new looking pistons and a rebore i also suspect worn rings. Way too many oil pressure light on oil surges (one is too many, but sump-baffles have cured this, probably a bit too late) and slowly reducing oil pressure over time also point to worn/wearing main bearings too. Doesnt really seem to be affecting starting, idles like a top, or performance (surprised plenty of fellow holiday makers thinking they would pass 'that overloaded old blue car' on the hills ) but time to pull finger and put the NA 2L and 5 speed in which are just taking up valuable room in my too small garage. Anyway, pics:

keen. will try to remember to investigate wobbly voltage/flickery lights before then. maybe have a goork at the carb too. (im sure it will be fine)

i have a box of weber bits incl jets you are welcome to swapsies with. (on a busy nightclub one in one out basis ) bring to BF tomorrow? we can play carbs. those jettings dont seem to out there. could be the mixture screw is busted, or its seat worn or maybe idle jets too big, or ??? i have same issue on my downie and it runs best wound right in and adjust using the throttle stop. seems bung but it goes fine (mostly)

U MAD BRO! I dunno man, stop hassling me. I probably will, but all this electronic shit is new to me. I mean, calibrated orifices and weights on springs is pretty simple. 2x computers, 10x sensors, and 100x wires to do the same thing (but better, i know) just doesnt seem as elegant somehow. OTH, TURBO!!! I got a new slave cylinder for $30, with a parts order for the dailies, but masters are like $120 if they are instock. So to 'save' me $98 i drove 50km round trip to PaP Takanini, spent 3/4 of a sunny Saturday in the greasy mud and got one from a wet and smelly Uno for $22. Hopefully next weekend should be able to test if the boost guage works on my private test track.

yes, i was awake pondering this last night. Mircroplex (ignition) &/or Jetronic (Injection) doesnt need dizzy for signals, but does need 2 tooth crank wheel (crank position) and pulse from coil (RPM). However the engine does needs spark - either from dizzy (which dont fit) or some alternative - edis needs 36:1 trigger wheel (already have 2 tooth for Microplex and Jetronic in way). I thought maybe mounting two wheels (one front one back?) might work, but unsure of practicality May just copy Nick (which is a good strategy i suspect!) to keep 100% OEM management withonly packaging to worry about or go fully Link or Mega-thing or whatnot.

cheaps is my favoirite price

maybe? basically need to replace the dizzy with something non-dizzy cam mount will clash with brake booster, there is no block mount hole (or oil pump shaft to drive it), current possition will be in firewall, and nicks solution, well i probably will mess it up. and hoping EDIS might be the go, if i can make it as 'dumb' as possible (no advance) as the Microplex will handle the advance. Essentially a dizzy but firing the sparkplugs off a crank trigger wheel instead of a rotor in a cap - maybe COPs? All sugestions welcomed, this fancy electronic stuff is all new to me! evlone said on t-124: "if its magneti marelli microplex as you say it is they are run a full 3d map of the rpm and crank sensor and vacuum and all the advance is done in the ecu same as uno turbo 130 tc etc distributor does nothing but send spark down the plug leads as it swings past " "microplex is full 3d map ecu decides on advance based on rpm versus crank position and engine load based on vacuum and boost"

also, have a read of this, i think im gonna be busy 124 Special croma turbo repower http://www.turbo124.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=2905 main jobs will be - changing the head from 'reverse flow' to normal flow, but a normal head just bolts on and the manifolds bolt on the other way - rwd bell housing bolts up, puts starter on (normal) inlet side - tap 1 bolt for RWD engine mounts - turbo/inlet/intercooler packaging - ignintion - dizzy issues - no boss for the block mount and booster is in th eway of cam box mount, so cant use the Digiplex initially, (unless do what Nick did above) but probably to EDIS, just need a new trigger wheel and the module, is a common conversion in the US. - injection - will use Jetrronic for now May use the red car as a mock up whn it comes to that point so the blue one can keep running.

Got this in the mail the other day, all of it will be needed in RWD too. - CPS sensor - Dizzy cap and Rotor - Cam Blt and Tensioner my order came to $16.62 more than I paid for the car (but that included a mechanical fuel pump for the 125 and postage) chcked that in (apart from the cam belt and tensioner) and Ive got it running now, after a bit of connector drama. went to pickapart and stole some injectors (704 vs 401 so a bit leaner, but not sat for 10 years) from a BMW and a bunch of bosch connectors as well as the Fuel Injection is LE-Jetronic controlled + a Marelli Digiplex (with a vacuum line input!) to handle ignition so both can be standalone. CPS connector swapped over - now have signal to the injectors! woot-woot! pop in the bmw ones and she fired up almost straight away! starts first pop now, and revs out, but i dont know if the turbo works as it wont boost without load. Which brings me to the next issue is the clutch hydraulics, so i can take it for a test boooost on my private test track. It seems the master and slave cylinders are jammed in thier bores, Dont really want to spend $200 on new parts just to bin them after 10km, but i also want to take this for a drive to motivate me to put the engine in the 125. Anyone got Fiat croma/Lancia thema/Alfa 164 or Uno clutch master and/or slave cylinders kicking around in the shed? Here it is in the slopy corner of doom having some wagon time till i get clutch bits to test drive it, then/or drag it onto the driveway to drop the engine out.: ______ Nothing much to report on the 125, been distracted by other stuff and the croma has been sucking up car time. However did get it out it for the first drive since geeting back from Nelson the other night to a BBQ and then to Burger Fuel.. Before that I got a new mechanical fuel pump in with the Croma parts order, and in, wow, heaps better, fuel pressure & flow must have improved considerably, bowl in regulator was actually getting drained before on hard runs! old one had a slightly different angle on the 'foot' that would have made about 5mm difference at the aux shaft lobe which is only 10mm or so eccentric - i think it was probably pumping less than 1/2 what it was meant to. --- I also sorted the steering column switches and swapped the steering wheel for a slighty larger one i got from an op shop (ex-subaru momo), which made a bit of differnce to turning effort. Can also see all the guages and the steering wheel offset (which is a bit much the other way now ( ) Must get it out more!

i liked that no-one took any photos of all the billions of swweet whips there.

ill shank your nuts!

^ bad idea, as even 'proper' bolt-to-stud conversions are shit, but to make it less bad i would locktight/molten metal the allthread into the shank nut (to make a shank bolt) as there is way more thread to catch (20mm on a nut vs about 12mm for the hubs) Also they are Ward Atlas, so will polish up real nice. Good to see some photos of the Panda, Mr C Dog! Gonna put some flares on that and ddrop it?

since OS Nationals, ive not done too much. Ive - swapped out the noisy RR wheel bearing/axleshaft, - swapped the column switches to the Special ones, and - replaced the diff swing arms with adjustable ones (Toyota AE10* rear toe adjusters) to correct the pinion angle. In other news, Euron8 (cheers bowl!) and I picked up this yesterday: for this: and especially this: and all the gubbins that make all that go. Its a 1987 Croma Turbo ie, 2l fuel injected 8V Turbo. 155hps and some 115kw, that will (sort of, lol) bolt in to my 125. Not that i was looking for it but it was too cheap not to BUY NOW! It is the peak of '80s electroniques and design. unfortunately the factory sunroof has ruined it: and the inside is totally minging. Shame because brown velour corduroy is my favourite cordoroy. Good bits: To keep: unmolested 2L Turbo ie engine, and all the etc to make it go. full stainless 2 1/2" exhaust To sell: rebuilt gearbox full nolathane bushes all round uprated shocks and springs 14" cromodoras with good tyres If anyone wants any bits other than the engine, let me know!

POST NATS UPDATE Phew, what a weekend. Was super rad and there are heaps of photos here: //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/42690-os-nats-14-marahau-pic-chur-thread/?p=1283072 Basically my trip was: Wednesday night: Finish work, pack car, Auckland to Taupo, stay at Toms Thursday - Taupo Convoy to Ferry in Wellington, which is now delayed 4.5 hours. Get to Camp in Maharau at 1:30am Friday: Cruise via back roads to Upper Motere Pub Lunch and then back to camp for beersies Saturday: Over Takaka Hill to Golden Bay. poker run and park up/swim, then back to camp for beersies Sunday: Cruise to Nelson, park up/carshow at Tahunanui Beach, then Grasskhana, then back to camp for beersies Monday: Maharau to Picton via Queen Charlotte Drive, Ferry to Wellington by 10:30pm, stay at mates place. Tuesday, Wellington to Muriwai via every Opshop in the lower North Island. Home at 10:30pm. No more beersies Wednesday, WORK Car went really good TBH, returning an average 10.6l/100km fuel on 98 and 2.6l/1000km of oil over 2500km, oil consumption reducing as the lashings of Moreys and cheap mineral 15W40 slowly replaced the fancy synthetic 10W40 i put in before i left Clouds of smoke on overrun going down Takaka Hill caused one wag to note that at least the smoke matched the car Other than excessive oil consumption, which was not impacting driveability, the only other problem was On the way down from Auckland i stayed at Toms and had a revalation on the drive on the miss on throttle thats been plauging me for aaages: the secondary idle jet! there are two designs - one that has an o-ring, and one without - i had an o-ring on a 'without 'type, putting the jet slightly off seated. after that doooort to 6k rpm and beyond! Also at Grasskhana, seems blowby from the PCV glugged up the carb a bit (oil filter was dripping, so ok a lot), but that only shitted up the idle. Other than that I only got my tools out to borrow them to others _____ Since this is my blue car thread here are some of my blue car in profile against a range of bluish backgrounds: @ Maharau, NO AMPING!. Outside a shop in Motueka, with coincidentally related Family injoke name: Plenty of this, looking forward to a 5 speed now tho! But nowhere near as much of this as I would have liked! (Photo Credit: Roman) Queen Charlotte Drive, great road. Back in the north Island: Foxton (up the road from Otaki but with worse pies, and second hand shops instead of outlet stores) Desert Road: Taupo: I have a long list of mainly minor improvements, aethetics, and 2L/5speed related items now, but overall it went very acceptably, and Id take it anywhere confidently. Better living everyone