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Post by dave1800 on Sept 20, 2014 9:31:43 GMT
And again in the Autumn 2014 edition! regards David Thanks for the kind comments about this Forum in your article in the latest edition of the LOCI magazine. Regards David |
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Post by dave1800 on Sept 20, 2014 11:13:10 GMT
Andrew Looking at your engine bay photo in the Autumn 2014 LOCI magazine, if I am correct, it looks as though you are using a modern electric fuel pump combined with a fuel pressure regulator? I used a similar regulator many years ago on my Frogeye Sprite without any problems. However looking at the Moss video covering replacement pumps for MGBs it suggests that a higher pressure (than the SU) pump and regulator could lead to insufficient fuel delivery. I thought this was a bit odd when I watched the video a few weeks ago but it would appear you don't have any problems. Moss fuel pumps. Any thoughts? regards David |
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Post by Penguin45 on Sept 20, 2014 23:44:46 GMT
Nice write-up, Andrew.
Chris.
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Post by andrewa on Sept 21, 2014 21:04:48 GMT
Thanks for the thanks as it were.
Interesting video - makes sense - esp the bit about volume. I had a word with the fuel pump people who suggested mounting it vertically as it may just be encouraging vaporisation the way it's mounted at the mo.- which I've done. It's only played up twice and those under extreme use - I've been unable to replicate on the road. Peter Burgess is a fan of the Facet pump and regulator set up I note. I can either play trial and error or plumb in a fuel pressure gauge to see what's happening...will let you know.
Cheers
Andrew
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Post by Penguin45 on Sept 21, 2014 23:12:07 GMT
The logical extension would be to add a swirl pot and a return line to the tank, but then you're getting into major works.
Chris.
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Post by andrewa on Sept 22, 2014 8:22:28 GMT
Yes you're right! At some point I'm going to change the tank as Ken Green has a 2200 tank (slightly bigger) that I can have - so might leave until then. Problem is, part of the deal is I've got to take it off his 1800 and put another tank back on for him...and he lives a long way away from me!
Cheeers
A
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Post by andrewa on Oct 8, 2014 12:20:03 GMT
 Fuel seems ok now with repositioning of pump - we'll see - and now started eliminating rattle in earnest. Heater pulled apart and re-packed with new foam/tape/rubber etc and dashboard on its way out to see what can be resolved. Speedo off to Mr Recalibrate for service and re-calibrating in near future. Then oil change check tappets etc then back to rolling road just for fun. I've put nearly 3000 miles on it since May so it should be nicely run in and am just interested to see what she's making. Cheers |
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Post by andrewa on Dec 11, 2014 17:23:46 GMT
No update for a long time – apologies. Heater back in and working fine and most of rattles eliminated. I have to admit that some of them are probably self inflicted. I’ve got engine mounts that will ensure the engine never falls out – whatever the terrain - but have sacrificed some (a lot of!) flexibility as a result. Speedo was serviced and just needed recalibrating back to standard. It was done for a very reasonable sum and I took the opportunity to put Led’s in place of the original bulbs so now I can see what speed I’m doing at night as well as during the day. Have also got LED's in the rear lights which are great as well.
With more use, the steering became squeaky and stiff but a new top bush seems to have cured that.
Took car to Sigma Engineering (near Shaftesbury) for a rolling road session. The guy there is a lovely fellow who know’s SU’s inside out and mainly works on E-Types these days. It’s a proper old school engineering set up with a lot of years of expertise and the latest kit as well. He sorted out my fuelling problems and plumbed a fuel pressure gauge in so we could check that at higher revs it’s doing what it should do. A couple of hours on the rolling road, two or three changes of needles and spark plugs and much fiddling with the timing I was seeing 90 hp at the wheels but more importantly 75% of max torque at 2,750 rpm and from there it was linear up to 6,500 rpm. He then regaled me with stories of how the company used to have an 1800 as a tow car in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s to drag customers cars to racetracks and so on and how great the car was. Anyway, the car is stunning now and just wants to run and run!
So to it’s first track day last Friday at Goodwood.
Despite much more exotic machinery present, it was quite an attraction and most people either had one back in the day, learnt to drive on one or had worked on one.
It had been below freezing over-night and was only 2 degrees by 9.30 a.m. so the track was slippery to say the least and this was my first outing on a circuit in her so I was taking it very gingerly.
Anyway to cut a long story short, the car was great. The car was incredibly stable and when we did lose traction would slide all fours in a nice predictable gentle drift – it was hilarious (and no doubt slightly irritating to the other drivers) that I was able to hold my own with Caterhams and Elises through the bends as they twitched and slid everywhere. The track warmed up to about 5 degrees c and I was then able to be slightly more adventurous, getting off the clock (120 mph) on the back straight. The brakes did protest a bit hauling it down from that speed so I limited myself to an indicated 115mph which the car ran up to very easily and which the brakes were happy with. The best bit was definitely the handling though - lots of grip and then gentle four wheel slides – fantastic. I reckon she could handle a lot more power but I’m not sure how to find another 50% (and a fifth gear!).
A 200 mile round trip to the circuit and possibly 60 circuit miles at between 5,000 and 6,500 revs and she used almost no oil, tyre wear was even, brakes held up and didn’t boil/warp. I love this car! 
Having just overtaken and now pulling away from the Alfa (not!)
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Post by dave1800 on Dec 12, 2014 10:30:47 GMT
Andrew That is really impressive, congratulations. Shame I can't get hold of Classic Car Weekly here in Thailand so I won't be able to read the article unless some kind person .....  May I ask again what tyre pressures you ran to give the excellent balance? I've copied your comments to a couple of Lotus owners in my local classic car club. I don't think they will be amused, but I am! Regards David |
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Post by andrewa on Dec 12, 2014 15:38:20 GMT
34/32 worked best.
Don't upset them too much - middle daughter wants an Elise, despite my best efforts to convince her that what she really wants is to buy that new 1800 shell from Patrick do everything non-structural in grp, stick in a Peter Burgess 150 hp race engine, forget the interior etc etc.
She's not convinced though.
Cheers
Andrew
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Post by andrewa on Dec 17, 2014 13:31:01 GMT
Back to Maniflow today to sort out booming exhaust - they put in their version of the bean can silencer and it's much improved. They also ran up the proper "S" mitred tailpiece (as they described it). Also idle seems steadier but that could be my imagination. Chap at Maniflow said they'd exhausted four landcrabs this year as well as mine and a Ute in the last week. He was also in the process of sending a stainless landcrab exhaust out to Canada. Where are all these cars that people are spending significant sums on (besides Canada that it is!)  ? Also I have to comment on the Windmilling piece in the latest magazine. I haven't laughed out loud on my own for a long time but I loved that bit about "he turned round to check the car. He always did that. To admire the looks of that car, but also to see if it was still level." What a classic and so true - I almost reach for the spirit level everytime I go into the garage. Cheers Andrew |
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Post by dave1800 on Dec 18, 2014 3:15:14 GMT
What idle speed to you have to use to get it smooth with your hot track cam? Did your car appear in CCW? I see their website is still showing 10 Dec magazine but on Facebook there is a photo of the Dec 17/24 edition but no sign of a Landcrab! Regards David Also idle seems steadier but that could be my imagination. Andrew |
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Post by andrewa on Dec 18, 2014 8:05:20 GMT
My mistake it is classic car buyer....turns up in a piece about the whole track day....there's one photo of the car and that's it. I think I got the wrong end of the stick and / or it's up to the magazine editors what actually gets printed at the end of the day!
The idle moves around a bit on it's own but normally but it's around 800/850 rpm. It's a little lumpy but nothing stupid, you can drive it quite normally and it idles without struggling at that speed. Anything much lower than that it feels like you're hurting the engine!
Will scan article later.
Cheers
Andrew
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Post by Penguin45 on Dec 19, 2014 0:37:20 GMT
I enjoyed Christiaan's comments about penguins...... And yes, I do check without thinking whether or not the car is leaning. Chris. |
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Post by dave1800 on Dec 19, 2014 3:45:05 GMT
You are doing well; I've seen comments from MGB owners debating the 270 vs 285 cam arguing that the latter won't idle properly below around 1200 rpm. The only real solution appears to be to go for a programmable ignition that would allow more advance under 1000 rpm to stabilise the idle while while not altering the cranking advance(so you can start the car) or the higher range you seem to have well sorted. Regards David My mistake it is classic car buyer....turns up in a piece about the whole track day....there's one photo of the car and that's it. I think I got the wrong end of the stick and / or it's up to the magazine editors what actually gets printed at the end of the day! The idle moves around a bit on it's own but normally but it's around 800/850 rpm. It's a little lumpy but nothing stupid, you can drive it quite normally and it idles without struggling at that speed. Anything much lower than that it feels like you're hurting the engine! Will scan article later. Cheers Andrew |
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Thanks for the kind comments about this Forum in your article in the latest edition of the LOCI magazine. 
?