Paula

Getting bad feeling about the smoke too. IMG_6035.mov

I've popped the thermostat out and tested it again. It seems fine. There wasn't a lot of water in there though. Just foam. Maybe ii just needed to bleed the system?

Should i get the 74'c thermostat to get it open a bit ealier?

I'll get the thermostat and see how the gauge behaves. It's always made sense in the past

I'm hoping that's it!

I re did this connection to make sure. Thanks

Ok. Stand by for some classic "Paula" I cleaned the plugs up and got him running again. Sounds pretty noisey i think. Like there's more low end noise. Like a grumble. Anyway. Went for a drive avoiding traffic and he runs fine. There was a point where i heard what sounded like something was clunking around in the engine. I thought i had maybe left a spanner on the engine or something, but it sounded bad. I turned around and came home. The noise didn't come back. I got home and got my IR thermometer out and checked the top of the thermostat housing. 85'c Then i checked the radiator 30'c So i guess that's the thermostat not opening. I swear i checked it, but i did boil it in a pan. So maybe it isn't opening early enough. I'll get a replacement and then check again. I am a little worried about the weird noises. Tappets are a bit noisy too, but i can adjust them. I took 2 videos so you can hear it (should you be inclined!). One before i set off and the other is from me accidently leaving the phone recording in my pocket. It does pick up the clunking sound though Oh and Sorry @Pete Lewis The gauge is a fast type one. Any tips on the best thermostat to get? Clunking.mov Engine sound.MOV

It's a slow meter. It does seem to drop down quite a bit once i get moving again, but by then the plugs are fouled up. The traffic around me at the moment is much worse than normal. Lots of temporary traffic lights. You seem to go from one to the next. It's almost like they are doing a coordinated attack! Maybe it's just that? I've adjusted the carbs so they are slightly lean. I'll try all the things mentioned and report back!

So I might be overheating. I’ll look into it

Dammit. Spoke too soon i think. He's running lovely even when left idling for a good time. But after about 30mins in traffic he starts to run lumpy and eventually only runs on 4 or 5 Cylinders. One of the plugs is wet and most of the rest are sooty. I've checked the carbs and they are not running rich as far as i can tell. I've replaced the coil and the electronic ignition. I've also put new plugs distributer capo and rotor in. I'm starting to think something else may be wrong. Maybe valves seals? It's a shame because he's running like a dream up until the long time in traffic. He's overheating a little maybe but hardly at all over halfway on the gauge and that's after a long time in traffic.

‘New’ coil fitted. Went for a lap of my test track (A30 to Esher and back) We’re all good! Thank you. I forgot what a little pocket rocket he was. Been having far too much fun on the way back. runs like a dream.

It doesn't smell like it.

It's electronic ignition. Hopefully the coil

Oh! That's something i hadn't thought of! I have one knocking about too!

Well here i am again. This one's stumped me. It's running very well and keeping cool until i've been stuck in traffic for a long time or i'm giving it the beans on the motorway. It runs fine until i put my foot down and it runs lumpy and starts to lose power. This gets worse until i'm limping home and breaking down outside sainsbury's (where you see everyone you know!) I have to let him cool down and then limp home. It doesn't recover until it's completely cooled. Then it's all good again. The plugs are very sooted up. Changed 4 of the plugs (all i had in the boot) I've flushed and cleaned out the cooling system and checked the carbs. When i push the little button to raise the carb damper piston the revs rise slightly and then settle down to idle. I've changed the distributor cap and rotor that was badly corroded. (when i saw that i gave a hurrah that i later had to withdraw) I've checked the thermostat. I've changed the air filters. Put a new fuel filter on. I'd like to check the fuel pump, but it seems to be fine when i remove a pipe it has a good squirt. Any ideas?

I'd take 38 for sure! I'm all good. Feargal is being a right pain in the bum at the moment though. I'll post on my own thread all about it

Ignore my last! 😂

Mine is 1 4 2 6 3 5 what’s that all about?

Think I might have done that by moving the manifolds out of the way. Possibly shorted the battery flat too. getting good at this! 😂

Thank you! loose cable on Solenoid were off 68459050411__AC3511DA-CBF3-4756-8A5E-0BEB79F822A1.MOV

All back together and he’s refusing to start. Just turning over slowly. I’ve tried jumping from the van but that’s not making any difference. I can turn the engine over fine with the fan. There’s fuel as I’ve also flooded the carbs and they are now dripping. I feel like it would start if I could get a good crank on it. weird how the jump doesn’t work from the van though.

Oooo nice

The head and block are all lovely and flat. I checked with a brand new steel ruler. I wonder if the whole problem was the lack of little hole in the thermostat all along! I'm waiting for my Stud and Wellseal to arrive before putting it back together so i got the paint out. Do i just do a very thing smear of the Wellseal on both sides of the gasket when it finally arrives?

I have a new thermostat coming too. I do have some step drills. That is slightly terrifying though!

That’ll do!