New engine "Shakedown Run"
Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2010 8:59 pm
That was great fun!
The weather has been, at last, good enough for the "Shakedown Run" for the new Alta OHV engine in my 1952 MM! A trip to the machine shop to get the resurfaced flywheel to my spare engine and Off I went. My first stop was to my brother's home in Topsfield MA. His 1977 Austin Mini has a bit of a problem and he asked if I would drop by to have a "look see". It was running fine but he'll be bringing it by our shop next week. May be time for a new ignition coil. We took a picture of the Mini and MM together for the first time. I'll post that pic when he sends it. I was surprised at how much smaller the Mini is! We had a glass of cognac and sat on his deck to discuss our kids and laugh at them. All our kids are out of college, except our two youngest, and they are amazed at how expensive the "Real World" is! No kidding!
The '77 Austin Mini, my brother Joe, the MM and I:
As I left Topsfield I was going to go to the boatyard and work on getting the "yacht" ready for launch. Decided to go for a ride instead. As I left street where the Mini lives the MM died on accelerating!!! The coil wire had fallen out! I had forgotten to secure it when I soldered a new brass washer in place. OOPS! Off I went. It was a few miles to the "highway". There were two to choose from, "Old" route 1 or Route 95 south. The latter, being an 8 lane highway, is what I chose. As I took the on-ramp the MM accelerated with ease! I was impressed! I stayed in the right lane (RHD wrong lane) to be safe. There was a Mercedez Benz approaching but it never had to slow as the MM just kept on going! I actually left the MB behind. I couldn't see, but assume he was an older gentleman like I?
I did notice that the speedometer needle was bouncing wildly so I have no accurate speed readings. The speed limit is 55 MPH on 95 so I assume I was doing 55. Massachusetts drivers NEVER drive below 70 on 95. You need to go above 82 MPH to get a speeding ticket! I did notice a loud rattle from the exhaust hitting the cross-member. I had "tweaked" the exhaust pipe from the manifold to the muffler when installing the engine. I thought I had enough clearance but ...... That's an easy fix.
The car ran great at speed otherwise. I accelerated up and the engine responded nicely. Not too fast as the engine is still new. The oil pressure stayed high and the temperature stayed at a steady 90C. Installing the water pump was a good idea! I always worried when driving at speed with the old engine! It always ran at 100C.
I was very well pleased with the cars performance. It had a good hard run and did very well. On arriving home, after a few local errands, I checked under the hood (bonnet) and other than a small bit of oil seeping from the rear rocker cover, all is well. The car is now back home after a long time in the garage! I may take it to my grandson's first birthday party tomorrow!
After the Run. Notice the new Lucas L488s? Larger lenses to be better seen and directionals to be added soon:
A nice "patina" on the exhaust manifold:
Just a bit of oil seeping:
The weather has been, at last, good enough for the "Shakedown Run" for the new Alta OHV engine in my 1952 MM! A trip to the machine shop to get the resurfaced flywheel to my spare engine and Off I went. My first stop was to my brother's home in Topsfield MA. His 1977 Austin Mini has a bit of a problem and he asked if I would drop by to have a "look see". It was running fine but he'll be bringing it by our shop next week. May be time for a new ignition coil. We took a picture of the Mini and MM together for the first time. I'll post that pic when he sends it. I was surprised at how much smaller the Mini is! We had a glass of cognac and sat on his deck to discuss our kids and laugh at them. All our kids are out of college, except our two youngest, and they are amazed at how expensive the "Real World" is! No kidding!
The '77 Austin Mini, my brother Joe, the MM and I:
As I left Topsfield I was going to go to the boatyard and work on getting the "yacht" ready for launch. Decided to go for a ride instead. As I left street where the Mini lives the MM died on accelerating!!! The coil wire had fallen out! I had forgotten to secure it when I soldered a new brass washer in place. OOPS! Off I went. It was a few miles to the "highway". There were two to choose from, "Old" route 1 or Route 95 south. The latter, being an 8 lane highway, is what I chose. As I took the on-ramp the MM accelerated with ease! I was impressed! I stayed in the right lane (RHD wrong lane) to be safe. There was a Mercedez Benz approaching but it never had to slow as the MM just kept on going! I actually left the MB behind. I couldn't see, but assume he was an older gentleman like I?
I did notice that the speedometer needle was bouncing wildly so I have no accurate speed readings. The speed limit is 55 MPH on 95 so I assume I was doing 55. Massachusetts drivers NEVER drive below 70 on 95. You need to go above 82 MPH to get a speeding ticket! I did notice a loud rattle from the exhaust hitting the cross-member. I had "tweaked" the exhaust pipe from the manifold to the muffler when installing the engine. I thought I had enough clearance but ...... That's an easy fix.
The car ran great at speed otherwise. I accelerated up and the engine responded nicely. Not too fast as the engine is still new. The oil pressure stayed high and the temperature stayed at a steady 90C. Installing the water pump was a good idea! I always worried when driving at speed with the old engine! It always ran at 100C.
I was very well pleased with the cars performance. It had a good hard run and did very well. On arriving home, after a few local errands, I checked under the hood (bonnet) and other than a small bit of oil seeping from the rear rocker cover, all is well. The car is now back home after a long time in the garage! I may take it to my grandson's first birthday party tomorrow!
After the Run. Notice the new Lucas L488s? Larger lenses to be better seen and directionals to be added soon:
A nice "patina" on the exhaust manifold:
Just a bit of oil seeping: