Sorted the little overheating issue by swapping the thermostatic fan switch for a regular interior switch until we can get a replacement. Also turns out that i forgot to put a regular thermostat back in the cooling system so i've ordered one of those.
And i gave the garage a little tidy up although it doesn't look like it...
And the next mini project is getting these blasted, painted and fitted with new boots!
So... Seems like time for an update post RRG '15, for all intents and purposes that was our aim for getting the car done and we fully intended to drive the car right across the country to it's first proper show since the restoration, but one thing led to another and i ended up being lumped working all weekend as co-workers were frolicking a v-festival. joy. As well as the shocking news about the airshow disaster that happened literally 5 minutes down the road from us made for a pretty somber weekend in all, RIP to all who are sadly no longer with us.
Since i last left it not much has had to be done as the car is pretty well up and running, we had a few issues with low down lumpiness and the car getting a little hot, so we've bypassed the faulty thermostatic fan and fitted a switch, and removed the airlock in the cooling system. cool as a cucumber now.
the lumpiness was in part caused by the hot running and also by the tuning of the carbs, we decided to have a specialist come over and have a look over the setup and he's sorted the choke system out and also the static timing, as well as the mixture, exhaust doesn't seem to leak anymore after he's fixed the mixture so maybe wasn't that much of an issue? the choke now works wonders and the car burbles along at 750rpm at idle. He also mentioned that the cam in the car means the idle wont ever be silky smooth but it's compromise for the extra power.
Here he was with his budding little helpers.
Pulled the dashpots and had a look inside, all nice and clean, he also replaced the oil with autmatic transmission fluid, saying that he's found it to be the best stuff.
A little test drive later proved that it'd worked wonders and it was a different kind of animal! very keen to get up and go. and the overun now burbles and pops quite pleasingly.
Pulled the dashpots and had a look inside, all nice and clean, he also replaced the oil with autmatic transmission fluid, saying that he's found it to be the best stuff.
A little test drive later proved that it'd worked wonders and it was a different kind of animal! very keen to get up and go. and the overun now burbles and pops quite pleasingly.
Multigrade engine oil isn't ideal for dash pots - especially as the viscosity changes with temperature and too thick when cold - I've never used ATF - always used a thin oil like 3 in 1 but I can see why he'd use ATF and it's probably just as good/no different at all
As a little update the spit has found a new garage to hide in for the next few months, just over the road so i can get on with other projects. also seems to be running a tad warm even with the fan on constantly, might need a bit of a cooling system overhaul, so that's my winter jobs sorted.
A months worth of driving has highlighted a few little niggles with the car, but nothing that i'd call major.
the car was getting a little too warm in traffic so a coolant channel flush ensued, which turned out to be the issue, plenty of silty muddy gunk in there from when it sat in storage during welding. then new coolant added, still needs a new thermostat for the electric fan, and a wax one for the engine.
other than that there's the odd rattle and thud, but i've been going around underneath and tightening everything that wasn't nailed down, seems to have worked. as well as adjusting the wheel bearing preload, as it was slightly loose.
adjusted the rear shocks for added comfy and one worked nice and easy, the other was seized and snapped off as i tried to turn it.... new suspension all round then
mesh wheels are my next outlay and they'll be refurbished, new rubber, and fitted with the mike satur adapters.
Regapped the boot lid and it's still sitting tail up... i'll figure that out one day
Then we drove down to the revival and had a fantastic day out
didn't see many small chassis triumphs though, but one nice police herald!
and six slightly rarer cars
Few more bits to buy and fit, but as a daily used runabout it's fantastic! the roof even keeps the rain out!
Another month of driving down and only little maintenance bits being done, bought some new plugs as the old ones were the same as when i bought it 3 1/2 years ago. seemed to make it start fantastically but then quickly made the engine stutter during cold runnign and had a few backfires, seemed to be solved by not using so much choke on startup.
We had an idea to get some rolling shots of the car by mounting my mates camera on a secure tripod in the boot of his clio. worked pretty well but the vibrations caused havoc with keeping it in focus. but a few nice shots were had.
so, few little updates, fixing the cooling system issues and fitting both new thermostats, this highlighted the main cause of my cooling system issues... a dodgy temp gauge! never once checked with a thermometer on the engine and always trusting the gauge, it's at 3/4 at 60 degrees! so i'll sort that in time.
So a new probe run into the hose
And dial.
Spring clips were missing on one side so i just replaced all the pins and clips
then after 4 hours of work the sun set, darn this time of year.
Also picked up some new wheels off the forsales section, Cheers macca
Bit of meat to them, not sure the plans for them yet... maybe on the Fiat? haha.
just purchaced some adapters from mike satur, hopefully this will let me fit basically anything 4 stud that's got a fair offset. we'll see how they work!
So the adapters have arrived! feels like Christmas, well almost.
good news first, they fit all the wheels i own! the real trick is now getting them square and centralized on the hubs, as well as making sure the studs are strong enough to cope with the extra grip from wider wheels. i know of using freelander studs on spitfires and that would solve my mismatched stud size issue, but that's something i'll investigate later.
so gratuitous machined loveliness
Feel incredibly well made and finished. hardware looks good too.
So the black bolts are the new sliding studs, and the nylocks are meant for the old protruding studs, shame the ones fitted to the car already are too small, but i have nylocks to fit those and some nice washers.
Here's how they fit on the ms's
and when tightened down with the tapered wheel nuts the whole assembly locks centralised. i'm going to be buying spigot rings anyway as a precautionary to stop too much wheel wobble but it's one big step closer!
Don't think they'll fit on the spitfire... but i've got hope for the cx's
never once checked with a thermometer on the engine and always trusting the gauge, it's at 3/4 at 60 degrees! so i'll sort that in time. 
