Re: Larry's 1951 Club Sedan Project

Posted by Larry51 On 2014/11/11 7:53:11

Another very busy couple of days as I sort out a few problems since getting the '51 'mobile'.

Regarding the timing: I checked the advance again, this time lowering the idle speed a bit more by placing the car in 'H' range and chocking the wheels. Then I hooked the Lucas strobe light up to 12volts instead of the 6volts I used last time.

I was thinking the 12V strobe might not trigger correctly on 6V and therefore I'd possibly see the chalk mark in the wrong position on the harmonic balancer.

I now see #1 firing much closer to 6degrees BTDC. Looks like around 8 degrees . . .So this seems 'acceptable' because if I rotate the dizzie any further, the engine starts to run rough and would likely stall.

On reconnecting the vacuum advance I see the timing advancing a hell of a lot (- maybe 20 degrees?) when the engine is revved. (All this is made a bit more complicated by not having a device that measures RPM. I'm going to buy a laser Tachometer soon).

Car is running / starting / idling ok and some driving around today in warm weather didn't cause any overheating . . . my 'hidden' temp gauge read around 160 to 180 degrees maximum.

Wheel alignment was done today, and the alignment shop said it was very close to OK before they did anything. Tracking was 15mm (about 3/4inch) out so my rough set-up was reasonably close it seems.

It will take quite some time to get used to driving the '51!
It feels VERY different to the family car, but that's going to be part of the enjoyment I think.

Next to be done is getting one of my two voltage regulators adjusted right. Both have problems, and seems I might have to buy a new or reconditioned one. Not so easy to get hereabouts! Probably will order one off Max Merritt if one doesn't come up on ebay.