New owner, burnt wiring and coolant problems?

[rogc1]

Hi,
We have just bought a 1976 Mk2 fitted with the original engine with low miles. I have noticed some problems;
1, The wiring coming out the main loom to the coil appears to have been overheating at some point to the point that the plastic insulation has melted off one of the wires.
The car is fitted with no ballast resistor and the wiring connects directly to the coil. It is fitted with lumention.

2/ The car still has the original expansion bottle fitted low down in the nearside front wing. I have topped the cooling system up with fresh anti freeze using the brass plug in the top of the radiator twice now. I still appear to be losing coolant. What is the correct/best way of topping the coolant up?

Thanks,
Roger

[Goldstar]

Hi Roger, welcome. Dont forget you will need to join SOC if you want to keep using the wealth of knowledge that is inthis forum (I've been a member for 18 months and found the forum invaluable).

The MK2 will have a 'built in' ballast in the form of a wire (pink/white, I think) in the loom which I guess (I have MK1s) should be attached to the coil? Sounds like you might have some work to do replacing the melted wires.

A search in the forum on coolant filling or similar will find the answer to your 2nd question

Paul