The Dark Wob

Bought this as a temporary stop gap until I figure what to do next with a better distributor solution.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 2638374453

Looks in reasonable condition from the single crappy photo. The advance curve looks reasonable on this model too. From the same 18V engine family as mine, just the pre ECE15 emission standards. Also has a curve close to the 40897 that everyone always goes on about.

All withstanding that the description is correct and it's not completely knackered inside...

fried onions wrote: ↑Sun Jun 16, 2019 11:07 pm Oh aye. The age of the fuel you're talking here will have nothing to do with it. Weaken it by a flat or two after a 7 mile hard run. Hooli mentioned the thermotat, it's worth checking the rating at least because that too has a significant effect on fuel economy. You want it running as hot as practically possible, which means 70-80 centigrade indicated on the thermometer.

No numbers on my temperature gauge. Only cold, normal and fecked. It happily sits solid at around a quarter once upto temperature - i.e. half way between cold and normal. Previous owner replaced the thermostat, so should be ok. Not to say it hasn't failed due to being a crappy modern part of course, but as it sits solidily still once upto temperature I suspect it's ok. Before I replaced the knackered radiator cap it sat quite a bit higher. Probably normal on the gauge has shifted from what it was out of the factory. Same dual gauge as the oil pressure gauge, so [the worry gauges] are probably out of spec anyway!

Still loathed to put any other stat in it right now, including winter stats. Especially living in a city and sitting in traffic has the potential to start eating up any reverse cooling capacity I have. Providing if we actually will get a summer this year of course.

Mt old man said the gauge on his would sit between C and N in normal driving, going anywhere up to about the 3/4 mark stuck in traffic.

Do bear in mind that the gauge is also not linear- at the bottom end a large change in coolant temperature liberates only small movement until you hit about N, where by you have about 15 degrees before you reach H and the needle moves alarmingly fast when it's getting hot. This is normal.

--Phil

PhilA wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2019 2:45 pm Mt old man said the gauge on his would sit between C and N in normal driving, going anywhere up to about the 3/4 mark stuck in traffic.

Do bear in mind that the gauge is also not linear- at the bottom end a large change in coolant temperature liberates only small movement until you hit about N, where by you have about 15 degrees before you reach H and the needle moves alarmingly fast when it's getting hot. This is normal.

--Phil

That's very useful info. I did suspect it was unlikely to be linear, however wasn't really sure which way the curve was bent. Also something I need to remember if it does start moving above mid way, I need to keep an eye on it like a hawk.

In our current weather, even sat in traffic at the many traffic lights we have around here, it stays rock solid still. So I'm currently quite happy with it how it is - hence not wanting to fiddle with changing stats or the like. It only goes up to the N mark and occasionally slightly over if the engine is stopped and left to sat while hot. Once started it rapidly drops as the coolant begins to be pumped around again.

That behavior is also normal- which is why after a hard drive they say to let it sit and idle for a few minutes before switching it off, else you run the risk of the coolant beginning to flash boil around the liners.

--Phil

Hmm tempting. On offer at Moss this week with their 6 week's worth of different offers.


https://www.moss-europe.co.uk/shop-by-m ... 3-155.html

I wouldn't have considered it before but now the gearbox has loosened up with use, the throw shouldn't be much heavier. Just less of a reach to the stick, especially nicer thing to have when rifling through the box on twisty roads.

I must admit I'm happy with mine and replacing it would be one of the last things that I'd do.

Maybe I've got arms like a gorilla?

Pictures for Mr SiC's perusal.

Because I'm going on my holidays in the car soon I've been looking over it and the top front suspension bushes were poorly so out with the old rubber ones and in with blue plastic ones. I noticed that the trackrod end rubbers are both perished - they were renewed a matter of months ago. Classic car parts really are of the shittiest quality. I shall speak to my MP about it.

cros wrote: ↑Sat Jun 22, 2019 2:15 pm Classic car parts really are of the shittiest quality. I shall speak to my MP about it.

I hope you are in the constituency of East Yorkshire.