Been a while since I've updated this...
Got the oil leak sorted with the replacement oil cooler lines - resisted huge temptation to mount them out front Boso style
Was having real trouble getting the engine to run smoothly - a lot of rocking, unstable idle and floating revs so ended up backing off all the idle, throttle stop and balance screws and starting again.
Got it right this time, idles nicely considering the cams and seems to rev a lot freer ;D
Slightly worried about the amount of smoke on start up and through the breather though so did a compression test - no.1 is a couple of bar lower than the rest so there might be a problem there
Last week I decided that with the engine idling properly there was nothing major stopping me going for an MOT so booked it in to a place round the corner from the garage so I wouldn't have to drive it too far in traffic (just in case - you know first trip out and all that)
Did a pre-mot check this morning to find the wipers and indicators not working - they were fine last time I checked 
Traced the wiper problem to the wrong fuse being fitted and the indicators to a wire grounding out that shouldn't have been and another loose wire so easily sorted.
Told myself it didn't matter if it passed or failed but couldn't help being nervous beforehand but there was nothing to worry about.
Didn't pass first time, but all it failed on was one main and one dip not working - after swapping the lights around and disconnecting a few wires it was all sorted and it passed (just an advisory about excessive exhaust noise) ;D
and everyone working there seemed to appreciate the work I'd done to it - all of them were under the ramp at one point.
Also took off the BGW before the MOT (needed to do some flatting down to the boot lid) and now I'm thinking it doesn't look that bad without it. but still think there's something missing from certain angles - may try making some low rise mounts to get it close to the boot (as suggested a few pages ago) see what that looks like.....
Right, off to the post office to get a tax disc......
Got the oil leak sorted with the replacement oil cooler lines - resisted huge temptation to mount them out front Boso style
Was having real trouble getting the engine to run smoothly - a lot of rocking, unstable idle and floating revs so ended up backing off all the idle, throttle stop and balance screws and starting again.
Got it right this time, idles nicely considering the cams and seems to rev a lot freer ;D
Slightly worried about the amount of smoke on start up and through the breather though so did a compression test - no.1 is a couple of bar lower than the rest so there might be a problem there
Last week I decided that with the engine idling properly there was nothing major stopping me going for an MOT so booked it in to a place round the corner from the garage so I wouldn't have to drive it too far in traffic (just in case - you know first trip out and all that)
Did a pre-mot check this morning to find the wipers and indicators not working - they were fine last time I checked
Traced the wiper problem to the wrong fuse being fitted and the indicators to a wire grounding out that shouldn't have been and another loose wire so easily sorted.
Told myself it didn't matter if it passed or failed but couldn't help being nervous beforehand but there was nothing to worry about.
Didn't pass first time, but all it failed on was one main and one dip not working - after swapping the lights around and disconnecting a few wires it was all sorted and it passed (just an advisory about excessive exhaust noise) ;D
and everyone working there seemed to appreciate the work I'd done to it - all of them were under the ramp at one point.
Also took off the BGW before the MOT (needed to do some flatting down to the boot lid) and now I'm thinking it doesn't look that bad without it. but still think there's something missing from certain angles - may try making some low rise mounts to get it close to the boot (as suggested a few pages ago) see what that looks like.....
Right, off to the post office to get a tax disc......
RETRO VAUXHALLS OF THE VIVA KIND
