Pete Lewis

the basic specs across the uk were 82c for cold climates 88c for hot climates 78c the amaerican spec could have been raised to 88c as this allows leaner running and as the states were in front of the uk with emission laws could be to aid leaner mixture running many manufactures went up to 88c in the 70/80s when lean runnning gave many popular cars a almost white exhaust tailpipe after an hour on the motorway. all old hat now i would advocate the temperature switch be in the top hose not in the cooled returning bottom pipe which can be almost cooler than tepid if the rad and flow are working well. Pete

5 deg is significant, now youre a dab hand at correctly checking and setting wait the replies and go from there dont remember the error on the Vit6 when i bought her in 2003 but it turned a lumpy six into a rev mobile, think out there there's more set wrong than right Pete

guess you do have the separate steering arms, on the GT6++ I have seen these packed away from the upright but needs a decent hard washer with good surface contact , no idea if this is approved or not keep the hub end float at the minimum 0.002" to stop disc float spec is 002/008" needs must rules Pete

I recon voltage drop is a built in feature Ha !!! Pete

you may find the old wire from the alt to the control box in the left foot side well is poorly co joined to convert from dyno to alternator. ,best remove it and run a good sized cable direct from alt to starter solenoid, ( if thats the case) On recon alternators it was found common that a failed diode would just be cut off at its stem wire , solves the warning lamp glow and drops the charge capability, saves fitting a regulator .....nice box. and clean though. easy to check the diaodes on these packs with a multimeter on ohms as it will pass current only one way if you get a reading when reversing the probes its gone . Pete

dont forget club shop sells the Aldon units ... always check and reset the timing after fitment of any make as this will change from the points setting some cheaper versions were found by a classic mag. to have irregular spaced magnetic triggers , just a thought Pete

Power loss from a failed diode is a good possible, also indicsted by the low charge rate there should be no current drain or resistance between the alt and the battery , as the diodes should close this down. If one in the bank has failed then current passes both ways not just one way connect a panel lamp bulb between battery post and its terminal if it lights there.s a loss going on so then you just keep disconnnecting or dis bulbing till you find the action that puts the lamp out pete

An odd design as it must pitch the rear mounts which are less flexible Guess it must pre load the lh rubber but why its not for torque as its not on 2ltr cars but seems only on swing spring spitfires Many spits can suffer a lean but not to the left it may just be to correct the effect of road camber which the swinger might show a lean or low n/s which wont show up on the driveway pete

the common places to give connection problems are the aged snap/bullet connector as you've found above the front grill ,and also where the column switch is connected to the flying leads to front /back left /right , this is located just under the dash above the lower outer coulmn Pete

Certainly shows on Oe parts manual for both mkIV and 1500 as fitting between nut and first steel washer as packer on leftside only these would be swingers ? so who knows the relevance at HQ fhere will be a service bulletin with some design reasons to introduce it you need to get to lubenham and have a read pete

did you load the car with rent a crowd on each seat ? or have you got the unladen spec ?? all you can do at the back is get the toe near '0' Laden and even up the alignment down each side to be equal which may need a different shim count left to right . as for camber ......one old favourite is drive shafts intermixed one is around 1/2 longer on later spits they get mixed around over the years quick look with a tape measure over the shaft you can see will tell you. tight trunion bushes, off centre spring eye's ...diff mounts . ..... is there any 'lean' Pete

looking 'Nice ' Pete

and hood tension can pull the A posts rearward as others, this may need to tip the baulkhead forwards by adding solid packers under the side mountings and that coses the gap to bonnet ...!!!! and so on and on dont overtighten the hinge bolts the cage nut plates are weedy thin plates and strip easilly, replacing apost ones is not easy Pete

for the 2000 Ill stick with chris witor they are also superflex and do the whole range , garth cant stock them all . but indian rubber tricks and chinesse bendy wonga are def off the horizon from now on. might be cheap the story ends there Pete

it was something at the dvla database end of the incontinence, well Im quite regular Hmmm !!!!!! just fed up that i could have taken the long route weeks ago Pete

the bendix /helix probably needs a clean wash with petrol or safer brake cleaner , dont grease or oil it as this attracts clutch dust some pencil lead ground on sand paper makes a good dry lubricant Pete

Doug,. there's a lot of hope going on this week Ha !! Pete

my 2000 is now ok for free road tax under the Historic classification, a while ago i made contact with DVLA just to check this was easy , no dont do it yet wait till you get the reminder and yes pop down the PO, update and hand over the V5C and its all done ....just like that !!!!!! well after its MOT today I duly trundled of to the local PO all went well till the lass could only offer disabled !!! or payment a call to dvla requested a personal call from me, so back home , strong tea , call them and there's some mismatch of data even though they agree the dates , so now its recorded deliver post to swansea, with all my papers and copies of the heritage factory build dates. await the revised V5c I guess going from payment to Free was never going to be "just like that" at least i have till the end of month for them to "tax it" live in hope Pete

just had the Blue dragon MOT , first one in my care, having rebuilt the front suspension its not failed but the new ,made from heaven knows what rubber company, the tie rod Rubbers that position the lower arm have a load of float, in less than 500 miles Pah .... so more useless look alike parts , now off for some poly bush reputables Pete

Think I would double check the lamp holder earths and flash rate is dependant on the load , check the bulbs are all 21w and no twin filiament 5/21w have got fitted to the flasher bulb holders these have the dreaded claw fitting lamp holders many get mix and matched as some earth via the claw and some need a dedicated earth wire, intermix the twin filament offset bayonet holder and the single filament holders and then mix up the earth requirements on rear lamps on mk3 gt6 and lV &1500 spitfire and these little sods make headaches easy pete pete

sounds a good plan think youre on the right track. but make sure the tank is breathing ok Pete

factory figures the 150 raise the 70bhp solex to 82 bhp, on CD150 I have no idea what 125 would do but as similar to the solex doubt they have the desired improvement Pete

yes there's a scheme to add a plate which overlaps the top main rail so the top of the outrigger can be welded it can be welded from under , if only welded on down bottom and sides it will crack the main rail. later on. sorry no other clues as any Ive been with have had the tub off. add a wsm on your summer wish list club shop selll them Pete

Clive, not after changing the forum, just as you say some questions need to give some basic clues pete

Maria, the 2 metal cups are fine, certainly last longer than the plastic cup in the kit, so use what you have , with a new spherical ball pete