The last episode didn't go as smooth as expected. Someone commented "not sure if you're breaking it or fixing it" LOL Hopefully this episode will be more on the positive side
Elin, I am restoring my 1962 TR4 that I bought in 1968 and it has sat in my garage until I retired! Your videos are invaluable and entertaining too. Thank you so much, Fred UK
Elin, First of all keep these videos coming. I really like them. Secondly keep on the good work. The smaller radiator belongs to the 1300cc engines. On starting your engine, I could hear your crankshaft rumble for a few seconds which is normal for those engines. That can be solved in a very cheap way. When I had my Triumph Herald I used oil Filters with a double valve and it makes a very big difference as the filter will always keep oil in it even though it is upside down.. The filter we used was from an old Fiat 127/Yugo 45 which has a 3/4 thread and double valve. All you need iis to change the oil filter adapter(thread).
Thanks Paul. Yeah, I can't believe they reduced the size of the radiator for the bigger engine.The car runs a little hot now and I don't like that. I will buy a big rad again if I find one used. Thanks for the tip with the oil filter, but where do I find a Yugo filter in Canada :) I grew up with these cars, but far away from here :)
Unbelievably, you really have universal skills, mechanics, electricians, painters, locksmiths, welders, saddlers ..... etc. etc. etc. I certainly did not name quite a few ..... Elin You are irreplaceable. You can therefore sometimes allow yourself a mistake. Thank you for the really good explanations. Cheers Bernd
:) I don't want to blow my horn, but most of these skills I got after I started restoring cars 3 years ago. But I spent another 41 years on this world before that so I learned some other things as well :)
..... and what I already learned from you....you are also a good teacher :-) Your videos are very good and also entertaining. I am happy when you bring anything news
Another nice video, I was looking forward to watching this all day and it was worth the wait. I've just started to watch your spitfire restoration and I'm really enjoying it.
Thanks! The Spitfire restoration was my learning curve so there might be some moments, where I do stupid stuff :) but in general, I think it was an interesting restoration.
So after some 4 months looking for a good condition original radiator for my '78 Mini I found one. Tested it and all fine so stripped it all out and was very carefully tapping out the 4 mounting holes for the short mounting bolts. 3 went fine and then my phone went. After the call I forgot to check where the tap was then went 1 turn too far and punctured a core. Not obvious until I had fitted it all in the car 3 weeks ago and put water in .... The garage floor became wet and the air was filled with some good old Anglo - Saxon cursing! The only difference I would have made to that electric fan is to have it 'switched' by a temperature sensing switch. British Leyland (and Kenlowe) did many variations but the easiest is to tap a hole in the thermostat cover / top hose outlet (or buy one) and fit one there. The relay is mounted nearby (in a rubber 'boot'). No wires into the car interior and just the one you already used from the fused feed from the Solenoid (battery) and another from the ignition coil so it is switched off by the ignition key. On the rally cars we just bridged the fused power feed from the '30' terminal to the '85' terminal and let the sensor switch from the '86' terminal turn the relay off regardless of ignition switch. This avoids 'afterboil' when an engine has been worked hard and is just switched off. (Cooler fluid contracts reducing pressure)
LOL, like I said, noone can hurt us as bad as we can hurt ourselves :) Yeah, I might add a temperature sensor, but it looks like I don't even need the fan for now. Maybe in the hotter days. It is only 30°C these days :)
I didn't have much luck yesterday either Elin,,,,, The front carbs metering needle is seized,,,,wanted to lean it out slightly,,,,couldn't get it to move at all Better days ahead
Hi Elin, have you thought about putting in a thermal switch and dumping the mechanical fan save some fuel and power keep your mechanical switch in parallel that way you can switch in if you hit traffic. Tape a spare fuse to the side of the fuse holder, one hot day you will thank me. I have to say I hate those crimp on insulated terminals with a passion lol. I tend to use blocks or sockets for relays these days as they are as cheap as chips and changing on a dark road is a doddle. Glad to see you back on the road I have an accelerator cable to shorten, have fun.
Yeah, I might add a thermostat, but I like the look of my engine with the stock fan. I am not looking for extra horsepower or anything. This is a car to drive for fun so I will keep my stock fan and the electric one is there only for safety. I have extra fuses in the boot :)
Elin Yakov yeah I like the look but it seems to me a mechanical fan is poor at cooling at low revs stuck in traffic when you might need it and robs power at high revs cruising when it's not needed. BUT no motor and thermostat to go wrong...
Knew you would get it sorted out. You should consider removing the stock fan and using the e-fan for a test- most people report that they can feel the engine run more freely not having to beat that stock fan against the air, by the seat of their pants even. If your cooling is just as good or even a little better with the e-fan, you could keep just that, and later put a temperature switch in line to turn it on automatically if you don't want it on all the time. I did this with one of my toys and love it, except the cheap CHINA relays were crap. Weird, huh.
I think driving on the right hand side Lane is more dangerous driving on the left-hand side late but put the UK the left-hand side Lane is more easy it's just seems to me where you lot all the USA or the continent drive on the right hand side seems to me a lot more dangerous for UK we have to give way to the right where do you give way to sit on the left-hand side
At the end of the video on your test drive I noticed what seemed like a lot of free play at the steering wheel...or is that normal for the Spitfire? Otherwise, great recovery on the fan issue:)
Good eye! Yes, I have to rebuild the steering rack eventually, but I am getting more and more used to drive like this, which is bad. I don't even notice it anymore LOL. One day I will have to do it though! I skipped that during the restoration.
