83 Triumph Acclaim Sprint

Those lights do work well don't they, unlike the stupid little 'globe' versions without the big board.
Congratulations upon bothering to mount it properly rather than leaving it floating as mine has for years!

Ive wanted to do a red, white and blue acclaim photo shoot for a long time. asbo.

i also did another one with a full width backing plate in the hope it might give a more even spread of light, it didnt, but it did get me to go back and fit some heat shrink to the wires as they looked like they might chafe on the edge, cord

Isn't it strange how things happen, I had quite happily put the acclaim in storage, thinking I wouldn't get it out for the for see able future.
First I get bumped up the list to have an injection in my back, then I'm at the RR weekender and for some unknown reason get the urge to do a track day, can't think why!

So I mention it to the Mrs thinking she will put the kibosh on the whole endeavor, she only says she wants to go too....

I'm writing this sat in my camping chair looking over the emptying weekender campsite imaginering what it take. More power is the main part, as I recall the power comes up nicely but plateaus early and at the top of the rev range is only making 70hp which is only one or 2 more than stock and that will not do.

I think the issue is in the yamaha r6 throttle bodies themselves I don't think the shutter behind the valve is fully opening, this is vacuum controlled much like an su piston.
The options as i see them (if you can see more please let me know)

1: delete the shutters, this will probably leave me with a very sensitive accelerator pedal.

2: change the springs either by cut the springs down, my head says if you cut a suspension spring down you get a lower car with a harder spring, I want softer springs not harder, but it might not work the same in a this application.

3: change the size of the hole in the edge of the shutter that I think controls the lifting again head says make it bigger but I'm not sure.

4: take the lot up the common and burn it.

Answers on a postcard or preferably in a reply to this message.
Pics to follow when I'm abit closer to the car.
Dan

Ps thanks hotwire and co for a great weekend.

Glad you had a good weekend, Dan. If I'd plan things better I'd have been on the site with you for a catchup. Instead, I ended up in the Peak District! 😄

It would have been ace to have seen you.
Catch up soon tho.
Dan

Thanks Paul, sorry i seem to have missed it when you posted it.

No implied sucking of eggs education taken.
You have answered the spring question with the same answer i came up with. Then come to the same conclusion, can the quadrent be made larger, any thing is possible so i guess that will be the next step.
Frank however is still slumbering in a friends garage and no progress has been made with any project. I seem to be procrastinating with every thing.
Dan

So some paint happened in the engine bay, but photos didn't.
Carbs happened too, I'm sure I took a pic, but my phone got jealous and must have hidden it. Then I found the 40 year old wire hose clip that was supposed to be keeping the coolant in the heater matrix manifold just decided now was exactly the right moment to relax and let it all run out, so that was replaced, a very annoying oil leak was tracked down to the cam cover seal, which was replaced when I rebuilt the engine and had shrunk.



it was duly replaced with a 40 year old item which didn't leak

The lights were checked, and an indicator repeater lamp needed its contacts cleaning and the 3rd break light was reattached.

Barry popped over for a steak dinner and some light brake bleeding.

If anyone was curious as to what an acclaim with BC Racing suspension looks like on full droop,



It looks a lot like normal ride height.

If I can find some sensibly priced insurance, Frank will be off to the MoT station and ill be buying him his last VED.

Wow, I'd forgotten how much I love this car

What a glorious day to be outside working on my car.
The plan for today was, find and fix the water leak, refit the Newman reground camshaft, remove the rear ARB as it's way too stiff, and it's causing the body to flex.

The MoT man said the water leak appeared to be coming from the thermostat housing to heater valve pipe, a quick look with the air filter box off, it was obvious it was coming from the thermostat outlet, the cause was the seal that goes around the stat which fell apart when prodded, rumour has it that a Rover K series one fits (on left),



It doesn't, euro car parts lists a stat for the Acclaim, but that's a Rover K series one too and doesn't fit either, I had hoped it would as the Pic shows 2 seals in the kit, but only one was in the box, Nill Point.

Turns out what you need is a stat from any Honda B,D or L engine like this



Which Barry The Acclaim Guru had in stock, Top Chap, and as he lives 15 mins away, a brew, natter and a poke about in the workshop quickly ensued.

When I had Newman regrind the cam, David Newman said to set the cam up the same as a standard cam, It has an extra 12 degrees of duration and .75mm extra lift. I've done a few timing belt changes on Acclaims, and they are all 1/2 a tooth out from where the book says to set them up, so there's a 50/50 chance of getting it wrong, if it doesn't sound right when revved just pop the belt off and try the other. I have an adjustable timing wheel, but set it up with the woodruff key in the normal slot for now.






The ARB came out fairly easily, by dropping the back of the fuel tank and slowly working it passed the hand brake cable round the trailing arm and rear shock then out.

Then I took Frank out for a quick drive, luckily the gearbox seems to have survived the lack of oil, handling has changed slightly but not by much just a slight roll on cornering. But there's no shove in the back when accelerating, to be honest I'm really disappointed, it just doesn't pick up speed like I was expecting.

I'm of to sulk.

Dan

Has it been on a rolling road? The numbers don't actually matter but the shape of the curve can tell you more about where improvements are needed.