tomopope

Hi all, As a few of you may know from your help on a "chugging in low revs" thread, I'm a novice Spitfire owner. Bought to learn and I'm definitely learning. I can report back that I managed to solve that issue this weekend thanks to your (and particularly thanks to Pete on the phone) help with the ignition - new plugs, condensor, points, cap, rotor and leads eventually did the trick once I'd realised I had the timing about 100 degrees out - d'oh. To celebrate this victory I decided to take the car on a trip to Devon. We stuck to 50mph with a few decent rests - very careful - but in the last mile of 150 - literally - clouds of white smoke from the exhaust. Limped the last mile (it was 2am) - here's the situation: - Lots of white smoke for that last mile and on arrival last night - Today, mayonnaise under the rocker cover (although dipstick looks ok) - Lost about 2l of coolant, and a slight film of something on the top - Spark plugs are all tan with some matt black on the threads, getting progressively lighter from 4 to 1 - Tried to see if it would start: first attempt turned over ok but didn't fire, followed by a "hissing" from the top pipe of the radiator (sounded a bit like fierce bubbling of coolant) - you can hear it on the video - Second attempt, engine totally "seized". Wouldn't even turn over. I then got coolant leaking from the air vent opposite plugs 4 and 3. This engine is 300 miles old after being rebuilt by a specialist MG garage in Bristol. It cost an arm and a leg! I could do with some advice as to what to do next. I can't afford another garage bill. This feels like it might be a head gasket again (or worse - why won't it turn over now?) - is that right? If so, surely the garage should bear some responsibility? If not, any ideas for what I can investigate? I've never taken a head off before or anything like that, but willing to learn as I really don't want to sell (the drive down was fantastic) and I just can't spend another penny in a garage. I'll attach a few photos. Plugs are in order from 4 to 1. Thanks all very much. Tom. IMG_9631.MOV IMG_9631.MOV

Thanks - unfortunately still can't get it to start. Getting the spark, got the right voltage at the coil, and started fiddling with the dizzy position as it does catch every now and then but still no joy. Had the plugs out, cleaned and heated up too just in case. Unless anyone knows of a decent call-out mechanic (the one I had this morning didn't know the first thing about older cars) it's going to have to go on a low-loader and get to a specialist garage unfortunately.

London - I'll PM you the address

I'm sorry chaps but I think I'm close to giving in and calling out a mechanic! This is now all getting beyond my novice skills. New coil arrived today and went in: - Checked for spark from the king lead = now I get a yellow / orange spark to the block - Checked for spark at the plugs = again now I get yellow / orange spark at the tips - Checked for fuel at the carbs - all good Is orange a problem? I've heard different things. I've got an external pack rigged up to the battery too to try and give it as much juice as I can When it turns over it did sound like it was catching slightly, little puff of smoke from the rocker cover cap hole, but I couldn't recreate it again. All in all I think I've bothered you all enough and it's time to call in the professionals unfortunately (I move house on Friday) - unless anyone has any last ideas?!

Fixed the points but still no spark - bugger So checked the plug wired directly to the coil as John suggested - still no spark Looks like it's the coil then (and hopefully nothing else). Will get one ordered !

Pete - Ah of course that's stupid on my behalf. I'll check and get back to you John - Excuse my ignorance, what's CB?

Sorry for a misleading description John! Right, now I'm totally stumped. - Checked for spark. No spark - Resistance tested the coil. 1.5 ohm across the outside and 8.6k from the middle to the outside. It's getting 12v. That seems OK? - Put the old condenser, points, cap and rotor on one by one and no change - Swapped the leads for new ones for good measure. Definitely in the right order. No change - Checked for spark again. Still no spark What can I test now? All fingers pointing to the distributor? What might I have put back wrongly (there's not much to go wrong..!) or can I test to try and narrow it down? Here are a couple of pics in case that helps (when old gear back in).

That's tonight's job... Thanks all, will report back. Leads definitely in the right order so something's not making the right contact somewhere / dodgy earths / dodgy bits. John - here's a photo - they weren't too black - what do you think?

Today I investigated the ignition as per pete and john's comments. It's mechanical, lucas 45D4. Pete - checked the earth, condenser and ignition feeds, and all looked good. Had a spare set of plugs so pulled those and replaced, but they came out fine (matt black carbon deposits, but not much). Also had a spare ignition servicing kit from the club shop, so swapped everything over (cap, points, rotor, condenser, leads). Anything else to look for on the bits that came out? Now won't start at all! Fuel's going in and can't see it being a compression issue so I've definitely b****d something up... Will pull the leads and check for a spark as soon as I can (was alone today and my arms aren't long enough!). Will report back when I've done the basic checks. I'm moving house in a week so at least that sets a deadline on when the old thing will need to be able to move...

It is hard to describe - I went for a drive last night and it was initially fine, but once up to temperature (15 mins or so) the chugging was back, although not as dramatically as before (after an hour or two on the motorway). It's best described as a jerky acceleration, the car doesn't almost stall. Bit like a bucking bronco. Not sure if it's relevant but the speedo needle will flick about too, about 10mph either side of the speed it should be. Low revs only. Mjit - that sounds like a very similar problem although I do have the heat shield fitted... I think next step is to take a look in the carbs and then to Pete or one of the local meets for an in-person diagnosis... Thanks all for your input so far, much appreciated.

Tom: Nope, the temperature was normal - middle of the gauge. I need to try it again tonight to see if it's better now it's cooled. No idea how old the ignition system is unfortunately - definitely not been replaced in the last few years and may be much earlier. Worth going over? Yep - mechanical thermostat. I'm loathe to touch the cooling side though since the temperature was normal - or am I missing something? Pete: Thanks for chiming in. OK I'll give this a go, might need to come back to you if I can't figure it out.

I'm based in relatively central London (Clapham) unfortunately which does tend to make things more tricky as I'm not 100pc confident it would make a long trip elsewhere at the moment. I did think ignition, it's points and condensor. The garage did say they felt the carbs needed tuning which is why I'm leaning more as a potential problem in that direction. Anything I can do to try and isolate more which system it might be? Thanks.

Hi all. First post here, I'm new to this game... Decided to take the plunge and buy a '79 1500, as having always been quite handy I fancied learning about cars... so far it's been a steep curve. The engine was fully rebuilt (for the first time - it's done about 75k miles) by a garage about 100 miles ago (long story - series of cooling issues culminating in blown head gasket, and the rebuild was way beyond my abilities unfortunately). On the drive back, after an hour or so, it started "chugging" at lower revs when hot and I was wondering what I should do to investigate this further. Engine sounds quite "throaty" and will accelerate in jerks. It seems to idle fine. It has had problems with the choke sticking before but I checked and the jet bases were up where they should be, and would have thought a choke issue would have been apparent from the go? Feels like carbs / fuel problem but they're all new systems to me! Where should a newbie who can't afford any more garage bills start looking? All help gratefully received. Cheers Tom