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Aug 25, 2010 22:33:46 GMT
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I went to start the Traveller on Saturday morning to take it to a nearby classic car show, only to find the battery totally flat, so I had to start it on the starting handle. It got me to the show but then I had to restart on the handle again, which was a little embarrassing. The ignition light was permanently off, so I suspected a charging problem. First off, I replaced some of the wiring from the alternator which was a little flaky looking but still no joy, so I then whipped the alternator off, and opened the back for a look at the brushes. They were last replaced 12 years ago (the Lucas 18ACR alternator has been on there for 20 years!) but the outer one was down to the limit and the slip rings had 1mm or so trenches worn in them. Ideally, both brushes and slip rings would need renewing. Fortunately, a rummage in the garage for something else revealed an Austin Maestro 1.3 alternator, bought some years previously and forgotten about until now. So, this has now been fitted and the Traveller now has its battery being charged again  |
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The fact that you actually have a starting handle for your car is most excellent! There's been a couple of times I've wished for one. Always nice to have a backup plan if your battery runs flat, as not many motorists will stop and help you push-start a car if you're in need!
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Aug 26, 2010 21:19:04 GMT
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Thanks! Yes, the old starting handle (the Minor was the last British car to have one) does come in handy now and then. Today, I replaced the worn slip rings and brushes of the Lucas 18ACR alternator with good spares from an otherwise manky Lucas 16ACR; The slip rings removed from both alternators, and the worn brushes:  Close-up, showing the difference between replacement and worn slip rings:  Replacement slip ring and brushes fitted to the Lucas 18ACR alternator:  So, I now have a good spare Lucas 18ACR alternator ;D On the down-side, I tried to test-run the Twin-cam Minor today, to discover that the starter motor is bogging down and smoking for some reason (with a hot main feed terminal), and won't start the car! The battery and connections appear fine, so I'm assuming the starter motor itself is worn out. If it's not one thing, it's another.  |
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Aug 28, 2010 22:13:38 GMT
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Well, I finally managed to get the twink fired up today for a brief test run, which confirms that the lowering of the rear of the gearbox by 10mm has indeed stopped the clutch rubbing on the steering rack, so that's good news. I removed its starter motor today and cleaned the terminals and commutator (the solenoid nuts were slightly loose also, but the main feed surround was cracked, and being bakelite, fell apart  ). The motor still works but it's not much better, so I'm on the lookout for another Magneti Marelli 63321403, so if anyone has one spare perhaps they could let me know... The damaged starter solenoid:    |
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1953 Minor (Long term project)
PT Cruiser
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Sept 14, 2010 21:31:52 GMT
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Thanks for the tip. I would have liked a high torque starter but they're over £200, and this is intended to be a low-budget project, so I settled instead for a Ducellier replacement for £82 with mine in exchange. Fitted it today and it's a runner again |
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Oct 12, 2010 21:19:13 GMT
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Fitted the carpets (as supplied with the car), some original BMC static seat belts and the front door cards this week, to make it a little more civilised:  |
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Lacy
Part of things
Posts: 247
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Love the twin cam....always promised myself one.....One day, maybe.......
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2007 Porsche 987 Boxster S 'Percy'
1994 Landrover 300tdi 90 CSW 'Connie'
2001 Buell M2 'Bertie'
1976 Kawasaki Z1000 A1 'Nobby'
....and my wife has some nondescript modern box of some sort
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Oct 13, 2010 11:58:42 GMT
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Lacy
Part of things
Posts: 247
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Blimey, that is cheap!....Gotta say though, at my age, If I were to buy one it would have to be standard looking....just like yours then really!!!!!
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2007 Porsche 987 Boxster S 'Percy'
1994 Landrover 300tdi 90 CSW 'Connie'
2001 Buell M2 'Bertie'
1976 Kawasaki Z1000 A1 'Nobby'
....and my wife has some nondescript modern box of some sort
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mmjosh
Part of things
Posts: 70
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Oct 17, 2010 12:12:07 GMT
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hi the saloon isnt almond green thats a non standard colour
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Oct 17, 2010 19:05:47 GMT
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Hi Josh,
That's what I was thinking today, while looking at the glovebox lid (which I believe to be in the standard, rather dowdy-looking Almond green.)
I quite like the brighter green, though would prefer it in British Racing Green.
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mmjosh
Part of things
Posts: 70
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Oct 17, 2010 20:56:47 GMT
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it looks nice and i like your traveller
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Decided to fit a set of slot mags to the Traveller (which needed new tyres for winter anyway). Handling is considerably improved - the car felt a tad skittish on the standard Minor rims, and each alloy with tyre weighs 1kg less than the Minor steel rim with tyre, reducing unsprung weight:  |
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Dec 21, 2010 17:51:18 GMT
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Well, I finally got the Twin Cam Minor through the MOT yesterday. I was pleasantly surprised that it had only failed on a few small and easy to sort out issues - front hub bearings needed tightening, handbrake needed adjustment, headlamps needed the aim raising and I had to borrow the Traveller's nearside windscreen wiper arm because the TC's spring was too feeble. The car, I am pleased to say, drives well  The Fiat engine has noticeably more torque than the Midget mill in the Traveller, meaning that only light throttle input is needed even in a high gear to make good progress. Only snag is, I went to get the tax disc for it today, only to discover that the V5 still has 'PLG' in the taxation class, when it should, of course, be 'Historic' and thus, tax-exempt. I have to return the V5 to a DVLA office to get this changed. So, until this is done, I can't drive it (probably just as well, since there's alot of slippery ice about!) |
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Well, I took a trip to my local DVLA office this week, and got the taxation class changed from PLG to Historic, and they kindly gave me a free tax disc there and then So, the twin-cam Minor is now in use, as the Traveller's windscreen wipers have conveniently stopped working just as I need them in the bad weather! |
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Jan 22, 2011 22:35:07 GMT
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Some updates: Fitted a nice Mountney 13" steering wheel in place of the old Mini 'Mr Bean' 15" bus type one, and fitted 'Minor 1000' bootlid badges, bought for a tenner off E-bay ;D   Also fitted new Champion NY7CC spark plugs and leaned off the Weber carb mixture a touch. |
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Jan 25, 2011 14:26:07 GMT
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I noticed that the twin cam, although starting and running OK, was consuming fuel at a somewhat alarming rate, so yesterday I adjusted the ignition timing, which was way out! It should be 10 degrees of advance at 850rpm, and mine was on TDC. The car immediately feels far livelier and hopefully should return better fuel economy, if I can refrain from using the new-found performance, that is I also fitted a new windscreen wiper park switch to it, and a replacement wiper motor on the Traveller, after its one mysteriously packed up, despite recent new brushes. |
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Well, after a month of daily use, I'm pleased to say that the twin cam has performed reliably in some pretty dire weather.
The only major snag I was having was some clutch slip, so I ordered a new clutch plate.
However, I think the slippage had more to do with my incorrect setting up of the clutch pedal/cable, as I realised yesterday that for some reason, the clutch wasn't fully disengaging but 'corrected' itself by snapping the bowden cable I'd used between the clutch pedal and the bulkhead to restrict the clutch pedal travel (to prevent it touching the steering column).
So, although the pedal is now riding rather high, the clutch appears to be working well again.
Hence, some more work required on the actuation side, but at least the car remains driveable.
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75nut
Part of things
Posts: 512
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Bloody loved this! Had the twin cam in a 105tc and 130tc, great motor, always loved the moggy conversion! Sorry I did not catch if you fitted the engine yourself or not, how hard is the conversion
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90 Alfa 75 3.0 V6 Cloverleaf
79 MGB Roadster
88 Saab 900i Convertible
94 MK1 MX5 1.6
05 Volvo V70
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). The motor still works but it's not much better, so I'm on the lookout for another Magneti Marelli 63321403, so if anyone has one spare perhaps they could let me know...
The Fiat engine has noticeably more torque than the Midget mill in the Traveller, meaning that only light throttle input is needed even in a high gear to make good progress.