Swifty's Navigator

[Mister Towed]

Cheers Swifty, will get in touch when I need a gate making (for a future project).

Will look out for the magazine article, sounds like it'll be an interesting read.

[Paul L]

Swifty - Great news on the magazine article and professional photo shoot.

I'll keep an eye out for both editions of the magazine that feature your car.

Take care, Paul.

[Paul L]

Picked up the magazine on the way home and it is a great feature.

Although seeing all those photos of your major modification work gave me "flash backs".

Really looking forward to seeing their "finished" photo shoot.

Take care, Paul.

[swifty]

Payed a local car show a visit today and came across this kit based on a triumph chassis.


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[1iTim]

I'd seen that too but not in the flesh. A fiorano or something.

[Paul L]

Swifty - There are two build threads for these cars on here:

http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...ead.php?t=5515

http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...ead.php?t=5951

[swifty]

Cheers Paul, i have been following Car Photographers thread for some time now.


The gear gate is now finished and fitted which works a treat, just need to machine a round gear knob to finish off.



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Machined out of solid ally or as known in the trade a billet.




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No more mistaken reverse gear for first now.



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Image of the original gear stick.

[Roadster]

Great attention to detail
I am envious of you skills

[DaveP]

Almost a work of automotive art.

Wicked stuff

Dave

[Paul L]

Swifty - Great job on the gear gate.

[swifty]

Cheers guys.

Hot start saga still continues.

Still not 100% sure as to what's causing the none start when hot, been playing around with the pick up air gap for the electronic ignition and found that the info given by the supplier is not entirely true so are at the moment in negotiation for a solution.

Also been looking at the heat shield which Ive now extended so the whole underside of the carbs are covered.


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Fabricated a plate from 2mm ally with 7mm spacers to give an air gap between the original shield and the new one.




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New shield in place, bolted to the original plate.




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Side view showing how far the new heat shield covers the underside of the carbs.


Gave the car a run out then stopped for 10 mins parked up in the garage to retain as much heat as possible and she started after about three cranks with the throttle wide open, i may be on the right track but i still feel there's an issue with the electronic distributor. The dizzy shaft has 0.5mm side float which will give a fluctuating air gap when running, while the focal length for the pick up is 0.08mm to 0.10mm which is well below the half mill side float.

[Mister Towed]

Very nice indeed. Can't wait to see it with a ball gearknob.

[redratbike]

Can you wrap the manifold to assist in reducing the heatsoak? Or ceramic coating???

[swifty]

The manifold and just about the whole exhaust system has been wrapped which made no difference, ive also tried the higher octane unleaded petrol, checked the carbs over float height etc and made adjustment but still no solution. The distributor was brand new with built in electronic ignition but it looks like the dizzy may of been a cheap copy that's why i am now turning my attention to the ignition components although i can't understand why a hot ignition would cause problems to not start but ok when cooler.

[Mister Towed]

How's your mixture? As my old 150 Stombergs wore out I had to keep enriching the settings as it was stuttering in the mid-range with them set to what had been the optimum. Eventually the mixture got so rich that I got starting problems both hot and cold, which triggered me to change the carbs. It hasn't missed a beat since.

Having said that, the only actual breakdown I've had was down to the modern MSD multispark ignition module failing at full throttle (my fault I believe as my 'work in progress' header tank had just dumped a load of boiling coolant all over it) -





Phew! Lucky I had those cones on my head when I set off.

My point is that modern electronics can both help and hinder an old car. Perhaps your distributor has a fault that only manifests itself when hot. I'd be inclined to change back to a standard distributor and see if it cures the problem. If it does, you have your answer. Good luck.

[swifty]

My thought's also about trying another dizzy, the engine originally came with out a dizzy so i bought a replacment so whilst i can see the benefit of trying another i am waiting to see if the supplier will send a replacment electronic dizzy. I am keeping an eye out for a points dizzy for a GT6 if its a resonable price.

[Paul L]

Swifty - I know very little about engines.

But I saw this post earlier and thought of you, even though it is for a V8 engine.

http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...&postcount=276

Full build thread details here.

http://www.madabout-kitcars.com/foru...ead.php?t=5254

Hope it helps, Paul.

[swifty]

Thanks for that Paul.

Right from the beginning i have just assumed the new electronic dizzy/coil supplied was ok but your comment/link has got me thinking that maybe there's a problem with the coil getting hot or may be a lower supply voltage when hot and cranking the engine over. I also have a high torque starter motor fitted which was second hand so maybe the starter motor draws more current when hot which in turns drops the supply voltage to the coil on a hot start up. This weekend i intend on doing a few checks with a muti meter on the ignition system.

One thing i have just found out today is the coil has a primary circuit reading of 1.0 omhs, i was always under the assumption a 12v coil with no ballast resistor had a primary winding resistance of 3.0 omhs and a 6v coil with ballast fitted had a primary resistance of 1.5 omhs so i am slightly concerned as to the 1.0 omhs reading. Have emailed the supplier to see what they say.

Food for thought and if any body can add to this then please do so.

[swifty]

Had the car out today at a local classic car show, alas i did not put it on show as i was too late to register so parked up with every body else and had a walk around, car's from my past on display but none of the Italian exotic cars which was a disappointment had hoped to see maybe a Lancia Spider or Fiat 124 spider, me thinks one of these could be the next project, just need to find a suitable one which at the minute is like looking for hens teeth.


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Cars from the late fifties through to the sixty's have similarities in body shape, this i was led to believe was a genuine AC and not a kit. What i found surprising was the huge size of the wheels and tyres compared to whats on the navigator but they certainly did not look out of place.


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The XK150 is one of my favorite old jags, this one was in great shape both internal and external. Triumph TR3, great example.



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Mint american classic.



Left the best till last. Car shot with what is becoming the obligatory castle in back ground.

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Even though it was parked in amongest every day cars it still drew attention, when i arrived back at the car there was a father and son debating as to what it was, the son was taken pictures to check the reg out to see what information he could find on the web, so i decided to put them out of their misery and tell them what it is, which surprised both of them. They said they had seen the car passing through the show area and decided to walk through the parking fields to find it.

Even on the way home i was stopped by a guy in an MGB who wanted to find out what it was, may be it was because i over took him so wanted to know what it had under the bonnet, plus he commented on the popping exhaust noise, music to the ears i never get tired of lifting off and hearing the pops and crackles.


Well that's it for now see you all soon.

[Mister Towed]

That's the Sammio experience defined - positive interest from everyone who comes across it and crackles and pops on the overrun. You can't beat it.