Turbo'd Trav!

Post by **plastic_orange** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 11:19 am

As I said previously, I would get the car MOT'd and run it for a bit to ensure all mechanicals are then ok. You can then decide what of the 2 cars you want to keep, or indeed if you want to exchange engines. If you go this route, you will easily sell the traveller with a standard 1275 in it.

Pete

Post by **jonathon** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 11:55 am

Yes, as mentioned in my pm, the owner who had it during the period we were involved was rather fanatical, hence the wrapped rear springs,expanding foam and the sound deadening. As with most turbos they will run quiet, and this is no exception.
Pete's advice is sound, about getting an mot on the trav, run it for a while and then choose to strip and convert or restore.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 4:21 pm

Dunno about 240 bhp - but I have seen details of a road-going Mini with genuine 200 bhp from turbo 1293 engine. Intercooler and water injection of course!

Post by **heathy12** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 5:22 pm

jonathon wrote: Pete's advice is sound, about getting an mot on the trav, run it for a while and then choose to strip and convert or restore.

This is what im thinking at the moment but im not sure how much the rotten wood would effect an MOT. Might need a helluva lotta woodwork to get a ticket.

The worst bit is the drivers side rear quatre will this effect an MOT pass?!?

The cars ace and really well put together as you'd expect a JLH car to be.

Post by **plastic_orange** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 5:56 pm

Filler and wood grain paint would sort it for an MOT - most likely they wouldn't realise it is structural - I'm sure loads of Ebay Travellers are similar

It is also relatively straightforward to glue replacement wood into damaged areas.
However, if you were to sell the car on, it would be only fair to point this 'bodge' out.

Pete

Post by **tickman** » Tue Dec 26, 2006 9:41 pm

i have a friend who went to get his mot on his trav and the waist level wood was rotten at the point of joining the rear upright, he asked if this was a mot fail and he looked it up in `the book` and said NO not a fail point!! sure enough he got an MOT! car now being stripped and repaired.
he also has some replacement wood two complete sides and he is only needing some parts so the rest will be up for sale in the new year.

john.

Post by **heathy12** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 10:42 am

tickman wrote:i have a friend who went to get his mot on his trav and the waist level wood was rotten at the point of joining the rear upright, he asked if this was a mot fail and he looked it up in `the book` and said NO not a fail point!! sure enough he got an MOT!

Well thats interesting to know. I wonder what the MOT bible states in reference to woodwork on a vehicle. Well judging by the rest of the car then I think it'll fly thru an MOT as its only really the wood that lets it down (But you guys have seen the pictures including the really bad bit of woodwork so please comment if you can add anything to it.)

I dont really think many MOT testers would be too up on wood on a car to be able to fail it TBH! Personally I cant see how structural the wood can be higher of the base of the rear windows as all it supports is an aluminium roof.

Well next week we shall find out when im taknig it into the garage for the once over underneath and a tune up, also to find what the smoking is all about on startup. When it starts from cold it belches out smoke but it soon goes as it heats up. Im thinking sticky valve but could poss be a piston ring or head gasket leak potentially.

Hmmm could be a can of worms!

Post by **heathy12** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 11:11 am

Just got round to scanning this in.

Quite a sight!

Post by **plastic_orange** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 11:19 am

Is that rear wheel HP or at the crank?
It should go pretty good with that - have you got it running properly yet?

Here's my bike one as a comparison - 1137 cc - power at rear wheel:

Post by **alex_holden** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 11:25 am

Is the upper plot torque and the lower one power? Can anyone post the graph of an unmodified 1098 for comparison?

Post by **heathy12** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 11:57 am

That print outs is HP at the wheels.

Havent turned the key in it yet:oops:, just came across that printout whilst going thru the paperwork over christmas. Im in Scotland and the cars down south, but next week when im back i'll charge the battery and get the old girl running and down to the garage to see if its MOT'able.

I think a quick polish'll be in order too, the paintworks rough around the edges but overall not too bad. If it is MOTable i'll re-varnish the woodwork and see how it comes up. My other Travellers woodwork was in a similar state but after I'd dried it out, sanded it back, treated it and varnished it it came up like new.....i'll have some filling to do on this trav tho!

A RR print out for a standard Minor would be interesting as a comparison tho!

Post by **jonathon** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 12:07 pm

Just rang the engine builders and can confirm that the power shown was at the wheels

Post by **heathy12** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 12:57 pm

jonathon wrote:Just rang the engine builders and can confirm that the power shown was at the wheels

Well thats good then!

The Beast runs! Filled her with fresh fuel, cleaned the points checked everything all over and stuck a new battery in and she fired up......in clouds of smoke!

Been holding off phoning JLH, got a few questions I'd quite like to find out like how the adjustable boost works (in for more out for less...guage not workin!)

So the plan now is to get an MOT and a few miles under my belt...and have some fun!

Just sorting out insurance with a combined policy with my other traveller which'll make things a bit cheaper.

I'll drive her down to the garage thisafternoon hopefully after a quick wash and polish and we'll see if it'll get an MOT straight out. The only thing I can see failing is the smoke on startup and running cold, not the worst ive seen, but if I get it nice and warm before hand I think it might be ok. Fingers crossed.
When I turned the ignition off there is a fair bit of smoke coming off of the turbo unit and manifold areas, im hoping this is just residual oil thats just burning off, if its worth MOTing i'll strip the manifold and turbo off and see whats what.....at the moment im thinking maybe an oils seal gone in the turbo, seapage from the head or rocker cover?!?!? We'll see!

Oh, and was fully expecting the car to have a seized clutch making it undriveable but it drives back and forth fine in all gears! BONUS!!

Gotta be my eBay bargain of the year!

Pics to follow im thinking!

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 1:26 pm

The power falls off a cliff just abeyond 5250 rpm - is there a rev limiter fitted - or is it just the boost being limited in which case I would have expected it to flat-line rather than fall so sharply.

Post by **heathy12** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 2:51 pm

bmcecosse wrote:The power falls off a cliff just abeyond 5250 rpm - is there a rev limiter fitted - or is it just the boost being limited in which case I would have expected it to flat-line rather than fall so sharply.

Im not too sure tbh. Im still cleaning it and exploring, had a wheel bearing go on my FTO and in the middle of fish tank changes as well as a being out lots with the kite buggy and surfing past week so havent spent too much time.

I recon the Boost would've been cranked down for the RR printout, dont think theres a limiter on it. Its still not bad though, 115BHP with the boost turned down possibly!

Found a bit of rot (the first major bit other than superficial stuff) and its on the passengers side inner wheel arch where the ing attaches. A couple of bits of sheet steel welded in should suffice for an MOT standard tho I think.

Taken a video too of a quick walk round and it running...sounds really good!

Just been called back by the insurance company as I typed and im now insured

so im off down to the garage for the once over by my mate! Fingers crossed for no nasty suprises!

Post by **chrisd87** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 3:59 pm

Just one thing from those photos... looks like the battery isn't secured. Although not part of the MOT (I think), it'd probably be a good idea to sort something out. Apart from that, looks great!

Post by **heathy12** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 4:22 pm

chrisd87 wrote:Just one thing from those photos... looks like the battery isn't secured. Although not part of the MOT (I think), it'd probably be a good idea to sort something out. Apart from that, looks great!

Well spotted!

I had to buy a new battery thismorning and the one I came away with was fatter leaning the tie bar couldnt be reattached to this one, on the scout out for one with longer arms at the mo but its amazing what zip ties'll do!

Post by **GAS** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 4:37 pm

If it's the rat look you were going for it would be finished.....
I hope it passes for you then you can ruffel a few feathers at the lights.

Post by **heathy12** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 4:45 pm

Okay, who found themselves craning their heads to the left watching that then!

Bit of a silly video but thought i'd give it a go on my camera!

Just been down to the garage. The car was smoking like a chimeny when running but after about an hour of having it run and rev it burnt all the old oil away. Aparently the turbo has been modified to drain the overflow turbo oil overboard out of a drain tube.

This tube was clogged up with congeiled oil and crap so when new oil came in it was just burnt off on the turbo producing HUGE amounts of smoke!

After an hour of running its was running nice and clean, the test'll be tommorrow when I start it from cold, fingers crossed its sorted!

Booked in for an MOT next week. Couple of thins to do other than cleaning and tidying. Spot of rust on the passengers side inner arch, drivers side washer jet blocked, replace the rear brake shoes (corroded & I think the linings have rusted off!) and get the horn working again! So not a great deal!

Im over the moon, car cost 670 quid and its alright, I was expecting an absolute heap!

(Not the Jonothan type either!) But looks like i'll be up and running next week!

Turbo sounds great, cant wait to wind her up and let her go!

Im really sold on the rat look cars, think they look ace and this little thing'll be a real street sleeper in rat guise I recon, any ideas with what i can dress the bodywork up with then guys?!?

Post by **alex_holden** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 4:56 pm

I noticed the camera skipped pretty quickly over that rotten back corner ;)