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My knee is getting slowly better but I am being very careful so have kept away from the Sprite until now, when I could not resist the temptation and so I jury rigged a connection to the starter solenoid.....
and it worked!..
and the starter turned the engine over for a few turns!!
Next to get the fuel pumps to work, the ignition to connect ..... and try again, in a couple of days time.
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Jul 13, 2024 14:35:20 GMT
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The ignition to the lumenition module is connected but I have yet to get the ignition switch connected (as it will be a bit of a fiddle on my knee). I do like Webers!   |
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Jul 17, 2024 20:17:28 GMT
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My knee is just about OK so I ventured back under the Sprite and got the exhaust system back in place....given that it is only two pipes and two silencers it is amazing how long it takes when you cannot easily see what you are doing! Still all good now. Then I tightened up the steering column and plugged in the four wires to the ignition switch, connected the battery and turned the key...Nothing. Out with the tester and no wires are live. Opened up the panel to access the fuses...nothing live there either. Then I tried the big red wire that was floating around the engine...Live! I looked again at the big Brown wire to the fuses....when I pulled it it was only 15cm long and cut off. Evidently the big red wire had been connected to the big brown wire....but now wasn't. No problem I can feed the big red wire alongside the oil pressure pipe and starter solenoid connection and other wires back into the car via the new hole at the top of the footwell. Except the exhaust manifold and steering column and engine mount and alternator are all in the way. Also there is actually a double bulkhead and the two holes do not line up. So I could not poke the big red wire through. I took the alternator off and still could not get the wire through!
But I could attach it to the oil pressure pipe and pull them both through, however, after two attempts I needed to disconnect the pipe from the gauge to get enough slack in the pipe. Finally it was through......
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Last Edit: Jul 17, 2024 20:20:37 GMT by flyingphil
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Jul 18, 2024 20:19:47 GMT
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Well it has continued to fight me all the way....and I cannot get a spark from my Lumenition system - despite swapping to a spare unused power module...nothing....grrrr!
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Liked for sympathy, not because I enjoy reading about your struggles Phil.
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Proton Jumbuck-deceased :-(
2005 Kia Sorento the parts hauling heap
V8 Humber Hawk
1948 Standard12 pickup SOLD
1953 Pop build (wifey's BIVA build).
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Jul 19, 2024 14:09:21 GMT
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Thanks Crockpot.
Typically when I came to wire up the ignition switch I had a rough diagram showing the wire layout to the four terminals - but I could not identify the actual terminals due to them being facing backwards under the dashboard alongside the steering column. I tried to get a close up photograph - not clear enough, I tried what I thought was correct but it didn't work...so I had to undo all the bolts and get the column out again to actually see the terminal identification numbers! Then put it all back and connect the wires, checking at the fuse box as I went.
Then I discovered no sparks.
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Jul 23, 2024 13:58:12 GMT
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I'm going round in circles at present....I had disconnected my wiring loom back in 2012 and re routed it. Unfortunately there were odd coloured wires joined to make it all work. Now I am having to go back to basics to try and get it to work again and I'm not sure if the coil, power module or optical trigger are still working.....and I don't like electrics!
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Jul 23, 2024 14:53:59 GMT
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I don't know that I am "Enjoying" your latest post as much as I am just "relating" to them.
I can't recall exactly at what point in the hobby I started assuming that everything is always going to go wrong and that is just the normal progression of things; our job is to overcome all obstacles. The epidemic of curse word components being sold today just re-enforces this reality.
Pete
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v8ian
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,832
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Jul 23, 2024 16:51:44 GMT
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Phil, how many sprites raced in the v8 challenge…?
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Atmo V8 Power . No slicks , No gas + No bits missing . Doing it in style.
Austin A35van, very different------- but still doing it in style, going to be a funmoble
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Jul 25, 2024 12:01:29 GMT
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Phil, how many sprites raced in the v8 challenge…? Hi Ian Mine was the only Sprite and Martin Cowell was the only Midget according to my records. |
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v8ian
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,832
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Jul 25, 2024 12:58:59 GMT
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Phil, how many sprites raced in the v8 challenge…? Hi Ian Mine was the only Sprite and Martin Cowell was the only Midget according to my records. The only reason I asked was many moons ago I bought a 3.5 rv8 which I was told it was a spridget RV8 challenge engine, not a massive spec, but the heads were nice, but not as nice as my TVR challenge heads, so I moved it on. |
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Atmo V8 Power . No slicks , No gas + No bits missing . Doing it in style.
Austin A35van, very different------- but still doing it in style, going to be a funmoble
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Jul 25, 2024 19:14:15 GMT
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Hi Ian
Throughout the RV8 series we were told that more cars were being built and that the number of competitors would steadily grow. Whilst that was true, the numbers racing were only slowly growing and at the finish it was still only about 12 Pro Rovers and 15 Street Rovers in 1993. it started with 13 in 1986, 16 in 1987, 23 in 1988. In 1989 we had Group 1 with9 and Group 2 with 24. 1990 had 8 in Pro Rover and 20 in Street Rover, 1991 saw 10 and 11 respectively, 1992 11 and 11, 1993 12 and 15 then in 1994 14 Pro and 16 Street.
So that engine might have been for a car that was intended for RV8 but never actually appeared?
In other news, I spent two hours checking and tracing wires....and the engine fired up!
I then spent another two hours getting my SU fuel pumps to work and pump fuel, then another hour checking the four Weber carbs, and the engine ran again for short while.
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Jul 26, 2024 10:18:21 GMT
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Needless to say it is a huge boost to get the engine running again after its long, 12 year, layoff. In fact it is even longer effectively, as I stopped running it regularly back in 1995 ish. I then used it briefly when we moved house in 2001, then for a couple of RWYB in 2011 and 2012. Then it was resprayed and de wired, but never restarted until now.
From running yesterday there are a couple of small fuel leaks to sort out, not surprising as seals and gaskets have dried out and shrunk.
There are the wires and connectors to the front lights to sort out as well.
I should also thank the folk on here who have provided support.
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Jul 26, 2024 18:14:07 GMT
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Fuel leaks sorted with a couple of old fuel pipes and a tee piece replaced. The engine now ticks over but I have not yet put the radiator back and or put coolant in, so that will be the next big test!
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Jul 29, 2024 16:48:19 GMT
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Another couple of hours getting the electrics sorted at the back of the car and finding out what odd wires under the dashboard do. It is slowly coming together but there are only a few days left before the Kelmarsh show...
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Jul 30, 2024 16:18:16 GMT
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A good day! I got the engine started then decided to try my old Lumenition power module before I took it off. I wired it as per the working spare.....and it worked absolutely fine. So it was obviously me with my dewiring and rewiring making a mess. Still the engine ticked over for a couple of mins and I found another couple of leaky petrol pipes - so they were replaced. Then I put the radiator back on and filled it with coolant, no leaks so I fired it up and still no leaks. I then tried putting it in reverse but the clutch wasn't disengaging. I stopped the engine, put it into reverse and started it with the clutch down .... and it all freed off so I moved it backwards and then forwards - all good but the brakes are peculiar with the brake pedal staying down - I suspect it is a rusty pivot, so I can check that tomorrow. I also welded up one of the hood brackets that had broken when I tried folding it and that joint had rusted solid, all good now.    |
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Jul 30, 2024 17:04:14 GMT
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Looking good Phil.
It's never an easy ride bringing them back to life.
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Proton Jumbuck-deceased :-(
2005 Kia Sorento the parts hauling heap
V8 Humber Hawk
1948 Standard12 pickup SOLD
1953 Pop build (wifey's BIVA build).
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Jul 30, 2024 18:38:17 GMT
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Thanks crockpot
It will be noticed that the hood is not attached to the windscreen frame. I had made two special clips for that job, as the standard fittings do not work with the front of the roll cage against the top of the windscreen.
Can I find those clips???
So that's another job to make two new ones - then I will find the originals!
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Jul 30, 2024 19:24:14 GMT
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This is such a cool car.
For what it is, its spec., etc.
But also for its (Drag Race) history.
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Steadily getting more electrical bits working but I did buy some cheap side/indicator light fittings and now that I am actually trying to connect them they really are poor quality - so at some stage I will need to buy again....I really should know better!
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