Le Mans 780 Mile round trip in three days

[Staggard]

How would that have prevented this saga?

It wouldn't and it didn't judging by the piccies Peter coz its got one Having looked at the pictures again the size of the hose from the HT ( I am not saying the word) to the pump and the return from the top hose I would make a good job of short circuiting the rad. Graham

[richardthestag]

I also wondered that the rad might be bypassed but need to fix the obvious faults first.

Without the HT and the float switch wired to the dash I would have worried permanently of dropping coolant level in the rad.

Also in defence of HT when I did have HG failure a couple of years back and the cooling system was over pressuring, I was able to drive 300miles safe in the knowledge of when the water level got too low I had a nice warning light right in front of me. Stop, let it cool while I had a cup of coffee, top it up and then motor on for another 40 miles. It was a long journey but free from RAC. Cars pride was at stake here

[richardthestag]

Update time chaps

First got around to fixing the blowing exhaust. Started cheap with downpipe gasket, bloody brass nuts all loose and stripped, gasket toast

1.jpg

Still blowing! Used tissue paper test and found middle #3, #5 exhaust - head blowing, so loosened manifold and found this

3.jpg

just about to reassemble and noticed this

4.jpg

and it goes 3/4 round as well!!!

5.jpg

Anyway, another manifold fitted and am exhaust tight again

Next job was to check the state of vacuum advance. set it all up again and found ignition timing was 8btdc!!! It was definately 14btdc when I checked it twice over last two weeks. That is not going to have helped! And yes I have the vacuum advance disconnected when I set it up.

Todays job is to back flush cooling system and refit the thermostat, then I will check voltage stabiliser as I think that is over reading also

Having fun though in the drizzle

[Rubce]

Blimey, I am tired just reading this saga! Loved the comment about the Q7 depreciation

Keep going and I am confident you will sort it.

Regards

Bruce

[richardthestag]

Saga continues

new dizzy fitted, ignition is now on the nail and engine runs beautifully, in fact it runs better than I think it has ever run. But still runs warmer or appears to run warmer than it did. second voltage stabiliser fitted and earthed, result is exactly the same.

Next question, viscous fan, spinning mine it does almost 3/4 of a revolution, there is no play in the bearings but does that seem a little too loose?

Ta

[StokeyStag]

Saga continues

new dizzy fitted, ignition is now on the nail and engine runs beautifully, in fact it runs better than I think it has ever run. But still runs warmer or appears to run warmer than it did. second voltage stabiliser fitted and earthed, result is exactly the same.

Next question, viscous fan, spinning mine it does almost 3/4 of a revolution, there is no play in the bearings but does that seem a little too loose?

Ta

Hi Richard,

Common opinion indicates that the fan should only turn by a blade's width or so when pushed by hand. I recently fitted a new viscous coupling supplied by Bob Heritage and this is how mine now behaves.

Mark

[wilf]

Mine turns by 1/4 turn or so, still works fine. 3/4 seems too loose to me, doubt the fan is spinning fast enough.

[milothedog]

Saga continues

new dizzy fitted, ignition is now on the nail and engine runs beautifully, in fact it runs better than I think it has ever run. But still runs warmer or appears to run warmer than it did. second voltage stabiliser fitted and earthed, result is exactly the same.

Next question, viscous fan, spinning mine it does almost 3/4 of a revolution, there is no play in the bearings but does that seem a little too loose?

Ta

Mine will spin 2 blades max Richard

[richardthestag]

right so viscous fan is probably using air rather than oil as a control. hmmm

so would you..

a: replace viscous fan unit
b: remove viscous fan unit and fit electric fan
c: leave faulty viscous fan in place and fit electric fan

what is the prefered electric fan these days? 21 years ago it was kenlowe as nowt else was available

Ta

[Jeff]

Loads of info on here if you do a search but to summarise what I did after engine re build.

1. Removed vc and had Kenlowe only, worked well but temp gauge was a bit erratic either side of normal, then.....
2. Replaced vc and kept Kenlowe as a back up. Temp gauge on a steady normal.

n.b. Kenlowe has never come on since re fitting vc but in all honesty haven't driven it, just stationary.

So I did what your c. asks.

Kenlowe great company just up the road from me, no connection bla bla bla.

Jeff.

[milothedog]

I don't like the way the temperature goes up & down on stag's with electric fan only and it don't seem right, I know of no modern car that runs with just an electric fan where this happens, they reach running temperature and stays there.


I have the factory set up and a 14" 2 speed Kenlowe for piece of mind. Like Jeff I have never had the kenlowe come on apart from once when the thermostatic switch failed. I spoke to Kenlowe about it and they sent me another FOC , great service.

Ian