Engine cut out and backfire

[bmcecosse]

[kennatt]

Roy I wish you would take that engine and hand cart off,Every time I'm on the site ,if my grandson is watching(5years),I just can't move on to another topic,he just wants to watch it over and over again,keeps saying ,play it again,play it again,and if I 'm not on he keeps pestering me to "put Thomas the Tank on again Grandad" ,I'm running out of excuses,dosen't believe me now when I say "Oh its crashed" .
Compliments of the season to you and all.

[bmcecosse]

I sit and watch it for hours too......

[James k]

I've now been driving the car a fair amount for the past few days and it's not played up once. I assume that means the condenser was the culprit. I've been looking at the electronic 45d distributors and I am very tempted. I suspect that my car doesn't have as much power as it should. It struggles quite a bit up hills and doesn't feel like it's pulling quite as it should. I haven't played with the timing yet as I've been worried about messing it up so I think I'll wait until I've got the new distributor.

I've got a job in Germany for a month starting at the end of next week. I'm planning to replace the distributor when I get back and also to clean out/service the fuel pump and carburettor. Is there anything else you'd recommend doing to increase the performance and reliability?

Thanks

[bmcecosse]

Run a compression check to tell you/us the general condition of the engine.

[James k]

I did a compression check a few weeks ago when it wasn't pulling at all. It was horrendously low (about 40). After adjusting the valve clearances it was fine on all cylinders. I can't remember the exact figures but I remember them being close to what they should be.

[bmcecosse]

Re-adjust the valve gaps - exhausts to 15 thou and inlets to 12. Then do the test again on hot engine/all plugs out/battery fully charged.... And let's see the result.

[James k]

Okay, I'll get hold of a compression tester and do it when I get back to England. Strangely, since I replaced the condenser, the car has stopped smelling of petrol when I drive it. Is this possible or is it just a coincidence?

[James k]

All I can think of is that the faulty condenser could lead to fuel not being burnt properly hence the petrol smell. I think the mixture is correct as I've checked the plugs and they are all the right colour.

[James k]

Plus, as I think I mentioned. I'm pretty sure the vacuum advance doesn't work.

[bmcecosse]

Well - treat it to a new Simonbbc or Accuspark 45D dizzy - the electronic one if you can afford... It will be 'lifeless' if the vac advance isn't working....

[James k]

That's what I'm going to do (In about six weeks when I'm back). Fit new electronic 45d distributor, clean carburettor and fuel pump and check compression. Hopefully then it will run better. Also, one of the manifold studs is missing (the one closest to the cab). It sheared off when I replaced the head gasket. ESM said that they'd replaced it but it seems that they haven't so I'd better replace that too. Luckily there's about a quarter of an inch left sticking out so I should be able to remove it with molegrips.

[bmcecosse]

How were ESM going to renew it...did they have your car ????

[James k]

They did, yes. I took it to them to check over and they did quite a lot of work to it.

[bmcecosse]

Like what ??? Doesn't seem to be going very well after their 'administrations' ........

[James k]

They did the following:
New rear shackle bushes and pins
New diff pinion seal
New flexi brake pipes
New eye bolt bushes
New clutch relay shaft bush and linkage
New tie bar rubbers
New top trunnions (both sides)
New o/s bump stop
New rear n/s brake cylinder
New brake shoes (all round)
New brake drums (all round)
New o/s front brake cylinders
Adjust steering tracking
Retorque cylinder head and adjust tappets
Repair windscreen washer

There was also more stuff that they said needed doing (rear shock absorbers, road springs, one new sill, new exhaust) that I couldn't afford.

[bmcecosse]

Oh dear - that was all easy stuff you could have done yourself... Anyway - none of it was aimed at making it GO any better - so I guess they can't be blamed for that !

[James k]

I thought about doing it myself but I wanted to get it done quickly and properly (as I don't fully trust myself to do it properly) so I got them to do it. I only asked them to do the safety stuff as I'm happy working on the engine.

[bmcecosse]

It's best NOT to retorque a head gasket.... except after the first heat cycle when fitted new..

[kennatt]

I would suspect that the reason they didn't do the broken stud,is because they know how difficult it can be. Good luck with the mole grips you will need plenty of that. Easy if you have a mig to weld a nut onto the stud,if not, well been there many times. There's also a possibility that this is the cause of your trouble,could be an air leak from the manifold not sealing