Tom's UVA fugitive, Tom runs a 14s quarter mile :)

Bit of an update then...

At the weekend I was on Dartmoor wildcamping, on a Scout Leader training course



(That’s a Saunders jetpacker + for any retro tent spotters ) there was no Wi-fi or even phone reception, hence the slow responses

Today, I went and sorted a lighting fault up the farm



And then had a bit of a play with the Fug, just boring time consuming bits

Sorted the bias bar and clevises, and tightened up the clutch pedal



Fitted the rubber bush on the gear-lever (that we couldn’t find when we fitted it)



Ran a temporary fuel line, and put a bit of fuel in to check for leaks on the fuel tap, which seemed ok.
Refitted the throttle cable, and fitted the regulator onto the plate we welded lugs for.... but forgot photos

But that’s 4 of the 8 things I had listed for the bank holiday... so hopefully it’ll be a good Friday

Brother in law Andrew came over today, and the three of us set about the electrics on the Fug.

Ran a 16mm cable from the battery to the starter, and also a 6mm from battery to regulator, then on to the dynamo. We’d run some cables front to back anyway in flex conduit, so used them for oil pressure, rpm, coil live which ran to the engine, and battery light from the regulator





We improvised a white board to write the wiring colours on



And made a temporary dash panel using bits of the original panel so we had a cutout switch in case it went wrong... and wired a couple of fuses to give some protection. This is what happens when you have a couple of sparks doing the wiring



Wired in the Acewell speedo



We turned the key, and the speedo self checked, so got Tom to flick the starter which made him jump



So thought we’d see if it would start, after pumping some fuel through



It does, but won’t idle and is not running on all 4

It was just about starting to rain, so we popped home for lunch and it really started to rain. When we got back we put up a gazebo and started to have a look.

Checked the plugs and leads, we had a good spark

Tried to check the timing but couldn’t see the mark on the pulley with the strobe light, so twisted the dizzy until it was in the sweet spot between slowing the revs

Checked for air leaks, one of the clips is missing on the manifold boots so we twisted some wire, but that didn’t seem to make much difference (but I’ll sort the clips properly)

The carb is new, so that should be fine

Lucy was asleep, so couldn’t go and fetch compression tester (will check over the weekend though) it checked the tappers and they weren’t tight, moved, and pulled the plug on 3 and without a spark could feel it chugging.
It seems to chime in on no 4 when you rev it, but doesn’t want to idle

A couple of mates popped up to help with the fault finding



But in the end, we’d gone as far as we could today, so thought we’d see if it worked

Because it wasn’t running well I drove, but the pedals are a bit close for me, so my leg clashes with the steering wheel when using the clutch



But it works we got it up into 3rd, it steers, has brakes, clutch works (though we haven’t changed the hardlines yet)
I think Tom enjoyed it!



But it needs mudguards, particularly on a day like today!



So the previous list is all crossed off, but now we have another
Happy Easter!

Quickest way to check for a vacuum leak is to spray Wd40 around the manifolds,boots,etc with the engine running. If there is a leak,the revs will pick up/ stabilise when you spray where the leak is,as it temporarily seals it.

Little update, had to work today, but it was for a mate with a transit tipper. So after work went and picked up some more fugitive 4 bits.

Didn’t get any good photos this morning due to the rain, but I brought the panels home (on the van roof so they didn’t get damaged any worse!)





Mate put the frame in his workshop.
It has been blasted and he is going to weld some floorpans into it for us to match the ones in this frame. Then we can swap the engine etc over.... mainly because the new frame has this



And a Q plate!

Whilst we were there, we did a quick compression check, with all 4 cylinders giving the same reading



So going to order some new inlet manifold rubbers, and replace them. Can check manifold gasket as we change the rubbers. Don’t think it’s the carb gasket as it’s only on one side.
And a new rotor and cap. The dizzy on the other engine is a 009 I think, as there is no vacuum advance mechanism. So I think the standard carb will be better for us (I believe 009s need a bit of revving when pulling away etc or they bog down) but we can check with that next.

And before we order a new regulator, have been advised to polarise the dynamo

Yeah, I was a bit green when I first got it, checked online and it said ‘sandrail’ in the description... but it turns out that is the MOT description so wouldn’t hold up with DVLA.
But didn’t want to turn the thread into another discussion on the 8 point rules.... so I’ve buried my head and we’ve kept on going whilst waiting (and hoping) something turns up at the right price.

Ordered a few bits today, so should have them for next weekend... so plan would be to sort the manifold rubbers and gaskets, check valve clearances, pull the distributor drive gear and reset 90 degrees (as lead #1 is where #2 should be... not huge problem but can be a little confusing) then set timing and try again.

I have an almost complete nuts n' bolts kit and with a good few other new bits for the beetle engine that I no longer have, yours if you want them for postage? Drop me a PM here or BB if so.

Great work. Respect to both of you!

Love the gas soldering irons. In blowtorch mode it even put out enough heat to crack my track rod ends off. Top bit of kit.

Good progress, rear lights look ok as is might look better with one of those fog reverse units mounted centrally, not sure, mock up time !
What about a pair of high level brake lights on the top tube for when the lower ones are covered in curse word ?
Thanks for the updates
James

So when Ella is 17 will she get to drive the Fug' and I hope my welding is as good as Tom's!