Anglefire

It is a vitesse. 1969. Registered 1st August. 2ltr.

Well, the sun was not shining, but the rain has held off this morning and I got the old girl out with the intention of getting the idle better. First checked the balance and was as near to spot on as you would want. But idle too high - so turned the idle screws - and nowt. Checked the choke and that was a bit tight to the cams, so backed them off - and still a bit too high - backed off to nothing and still too high - so took the needles back to basics and adjusted and whilst better is still a bit high - but snap the throttle shut and it almosts stalls, settles and then runs high again. I've sprayed around the obvious places and no leaks that I can spot - but does seem to have too much air going in. My carb balancer is showing about 4 on each carb. So its not as if all the air is from elsewhere. Anyway took it for a short run and it drives nicely. got to about 50 and felt nice. Exhaust is "sporty" though not too loud - not sure what the missus will say though. Got a couple of water leaks by the looks of things so will have to look at them another day - as well as the leak from around the dizzy - which is a bit annoying. But its getting there - can't wait until I can get the roof off again (Though no idea where I'm going to put that now I also have an engine crane and engine stand in the garage..........)

Never knowingly passed a fuel station probably

Or just some light and stand back a bit!

I would think so. If they are easy to push, then they are knackered.

Solder also tends to "go off" too over time. I would either just replace the bullets - given that they have been there for what 40years - they ain't done bad! Or with heat shrink butt joints https://smile.amazon.co.uk/BargainBitz-Heatshrink-Connectors-Terminals-Connector/dp/B007OUXB0U/ref=smi_www_rco2_go_smi_g1616883267?_encoding=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0&ie=UTF8 something like this.

I fitted them to my 1500 Spitfire and it was a struggle to compress them on my own - I did use a piece of wood but it wasn't easy.

My dad is an ex school teacher and would call him a self cabinet maker. Does a lot of antique restoration - all I can say to that is to not believe even the experts when they say it’s genuine. ? He is getting on, so I need to get him to do it sooner rather than later (he’s 80)

That’s ok Clive. You were trying to sell stuff. I wasn’t looking for anything in particular- though was interesting to see what is available. i did notice one firm selling new dashboards- the spitfire one being about £220. Best not tell my old man as he has offered to make me one - which I might well take him up on now!

Thanks for the adapter Clive I didn't get much from the show - but enjoyed wandering around and seeing what junk interesting bits and bobs was about! Did quite like the Mayflower outside the entrance we came in on - mostly for the reg plate MXC907 as its got 2 of my initials in it

Thanks Dave - was a bit of a school boy error to be fair - though I really thought I'd checked it before I first ran the engine - but clearly I didn't! One for the memory banks! I hope if I have got the cam timing slightly out (It is within a degree I think) that its advanced as that will benefit the engine! Does feel good and strong at low revs however its timed though! Snowing again now on and off so not going to do anymore for the time being - just happy that I know it runs!

It runs! It was either the carbs (at least partly I suspect!) or the fact that the points gap was too small! Sun was out this morning - So thought I'd just try it. Went out for a spin and it is pulling lovely - no misfire, no hesitation. The idle speed is too high still - but I've not adjusted the carbs at all - so that is a result in my book. So going to go to Stoneleigh now (Not in the Spit!)

It’s a shiney refurbed dizzy from the dizzy dr. So I sure hope there is no wear!

Hi Roger, et al, I’ve not properly checked the cam timing again yet - its wet and have been doing calcs on my home heating system as I have fitted a new pump and want to rebalance the system (I bought a state of the arts variable speed pump and Bluetooth dongle which allows each rad to be easily set to the right volume for the room. ) anyway, I have been doing some more research and even if my cam timing is out it should still run - so I think my issue is elsewhere and is either carbs (hopefully sorted) or ignition. I hope by getting the points right now, that is also sorted, though other basic components like condenser haven’t been checked (how in reality do you?) - I hope tomorrow is dry for an hour or so ? by basis for this conclusion is from this. Which comes from this site http://auskellian.com/paul/links_files/performance_enhancements.htm#gearing

Thanks Pete. That’s how I did it before. I’m pretty sure it’s right but as it’s raining might as well check it again.

Isn't it a very small radiator for a 6 pot?

Perhaps it was white - so French chalk - Black, white, it’s all the same ?

From my memories of casting when it could still be done at school before Elf and safety got its claws out, you used a fine black dust over the mould as a releasing agent and then fine sieved sand as a cover and then just sand to fill the "box"

I got one with my new cam - but its just a bit bigger than the pulley - and I (for some totally unknown reason!!) didn't want to cut it. So I thought I'd draw one in autocad (well it's actually nanoCad5 as its 100% free!) as its easy to create the divisions - though the scale was a challenge in layout view, so just exported it in model view Never thought of the cam having one too - though I'm hoping that cam timing isn't my issue!

Whilst it is raining, I thought I would draw up a cam timing disc that should (Not tried it yet!) fit over the crank pulley of a Spitfire to enable the cam timing to be checked - obviously to fit it, a hole will need to be cut - I've drawn a line 4" diameter as a cutting line - but it is not critical - it should print to form a 6" circle (When cut out!) which I think will fit on the pulley about right. Cam Timing.pdf

Hi Roger, I do hope so! I really hope it's not cam timing - I did follow the instructions and checked TDC first and checked the TDC of the cam with a dial gauge etc And I checked it again before fitting the radiator etc. It might be a degre out - but can't see it being much more than that (Tooth is about that from memory?) The Duplex chain doesn't have the option of reversing the large sprocket either as its not symmetrical. And it's now Peeing down so as they say Rain Stops play

I ordered a Heritage certificate a week or so ago and it arrived this morning. Makes for interesting reading! It was built on 20th April 1977 - registered in August that year. It was originally Brooklands Green - it's now Blue. It had a beige interior - now its black. Options included Radial tyres, Centre arm rest, Map light (Where's that?) Dipping interior mirror (Not looked!) Exterior mirror, inertia belts and laminated windscreen. Also has the original engine number - Fm/85847-HE - which I know was changed before I had it and I've changed it since. Door key isn't the same as the original either!

I couldn't wait until tomorrow - so popped into the garage tonight to see if I could check the cam timing - I did it by marking the pulley at 110' and then rotated the engine until that marked up with TDC - and no1 rocket looked to be at the top - I say looked, because in the process of doing this, I had the dizzy cap off and as the pulley past TDC I thought I'd just check the points gap - and it was bugger all of sweet FA - Now I'm sure I checked that before I put the dizzy in - but can't have. That's not going to help is it?

It will only go to an account that is registered on the Paypal account - but if you already have your bank account on it, then to withdraw the money is indeed free

Hi Richard - their prices are a lot different to the others. Wonder if its the north south divide? My only question on the fuel pump was whether it was delivering too much pressure - but given its the same basic design as the original then that's not likely.