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Engine has never been right..


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Hello all,

I know this is probably a long shot but I have to try something. I'm not going to list everything I've done to the car here but basically after 16 years sitting in the barn, four years ago it was pretty much as it was when it rolled off the production line in 1974. It took 3 years and everything was either reworked to new status or replaced. The engine was professionally reworked, re-bored, new pistons, the works. It just takes ages to start, if it's left for more than a few weeks it almost drains the battery just to get it to fire up (with a brand new hi-torque starter), when it's running, some days it's just 'OK' others it backfires like hell and jumps forward occasionally when given a little throttle... it's not happy and a really bad driving experience.. I'm 37 so I have no idea if this is how cars 'just functioned' in the 70's (I was alive for a total of 6 months of that decade) I highly doubt it though. I've tried to take it to a number of Leeds based classic garages and it's never really been fixed. The ignition timing is on the dot, all injectors are spraying a nice cone, Prestige Injection setup the (brand new) MU for me, all fuel lines and injector pipes are brand new as is the fuel tank and pump. I've done all I can with the butterfly's and inlet manifold air supply... Is there anyone in the north of England near Leeds that could come and have a look for me? There's lots of Tea/Beer and petrol money in it for you!!

Cheers,

Chris

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Hi Chris

How about meeting some of your local group members at their monthly meets, both Wharfedale and White Rose groups are pretty near to Leeds.

There will be more people in their midst local to you than forum readers and contributors, and you cant beat personal experiences.........

 

Wharfedale - http://www.tr-register.co.uk/group/wharfedale

 

Vale of York - http://www.tr-register.co.uk/group/vale-of-york

 

White Rose - http://www.tr-register.co.uk/group/white-rose

 

Good luck (have you checked all the fuel filters - including any in line ones other than the pump filter?)

Cheers

Ian

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As Roger says, the engine should be really smooth (although

a newly rebuilt engine is not that smooth until it's run in).

 

Sounds like something(s) fairly basic is wrong. You'll get lots

of good ideas of things to check from meeting up with local

groups - but that leaves you with the problem of checking

them out yourself.

If you had the engine professionally rebuilt, I'm guessing

you may not have the time/inclination to do that.

 

Not all professional engine rebuilders get it right all the time,

so, depending on the company, that could be suspect.

 

If you would like the name of a reliable TR specialist to

check out your TR, PM me. M1 Junc 29 area.

(No connection, just a well-satisfied customer but I don't

want to be seen to be recommending my own preferred

garage too often!)

 

AlanR

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Sounds to me like ignition.

If the timing was only checked at the points ( static) then there are several possible faults. Disy cap / leads/ rotor arm / condenser/points/ braided earth lead inside disy would be top of my list for replacing with Distributor Doctor parts.

Peter

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try the simple first.

*leads 1,5,6,3,2,4 (i think off the top of my head)

just cos something is new don't assume it is ok.

pull a set of leads off something else and try them.

*coil !!!!! had one recently on a spitfire and just stopped working. couldn't for the life of me find why it wouldn't start, then i swapped the coil.

always try a known good item, a lot of 'new' parts available are of very suspect quality.

sure you will be ok.

when it is right you will know (the smile on your face will tell you)

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Hello all,

I know this is probably a long shot but I have to try something. I'm not going to list everything I've done to the car here but basically after 16 years sitting in the barn, four years ago it was pretty much as it was when it rolled off the production line in 1974. It took 3 years and everything was either reworked to new status or replaced. The engine was professionally reworked, re-bored, new pistons, the works. It just takes ages to start, if it's left for more than a few weeks it almost drains the battery just to get it to fire up (with a brand new hi-torque starter), when it's running, some days it's just 'OK' others it backfires like hell and jumps forward occasionally when given a little throttle... it's not happy and a really bad driving experience.. I'm 37 so I have no idea if this is how cars 'just functioned' in the 70's (I was alive for a total of 6 months of that decade) I highly doubt it though. I've tried to take it to a number of Leeds based classic garages and it's never really been fixed. The ignition timing is on the dot, all injectors are spraying a nice cone, Prestige Injection setup the (brand new) MU for me, all fuel lines and injector pipes are brand new as is the fuel tank and pump. I've done all I can with the butterfly's and inlet manifold air supply... Is there anyone in the north of England near Leeds that could come and have a look for me? There's lots of Tea/Beer and petrol money in it for you!!

Cheers,

Chris

Chris

My Daughter lives near Leeds and I will be up there in the next 2/3 weeks,willing to look at the car and try to sort it out for you, can you pm me the spec?

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I would suspect the fuel pressure is very low. It needs to be 105 PSI at the Metering Unit end. You might need to adjust the PRV or replace the PRV (pressure relief valve) with a Diaphragm type.

Tis why I ask for full spec Mark saves time as you know.

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Hi All,

Moved my girlfriend into her new flat over the weekend so no internet. OK i've read through all the responses, thanks a lot for all the advice!

  • Ian - Fuel Filters - I did misfuel 'slightly' last year, it never ran right before that so I didn't look to that as a symptom, what's the best way to clean out the Bosch inline filter, or is it a case of just replacing it? I'll definitely get in touch with the local group, it's just I don't trust the TR for more than a quick drive around the block as it is! 
  • Roger - Good to know, I always assumed it would be better but never smooth (I have got a 74 CR spec car with the CP inlet manifolds/ butterflys/ cam etc.) so I've read it'll never run really smooth?
  • Alan - I'm more than happy to get my hands dirty :) as I say i'm just not confident in getting more than a mile in it without problems! Theres no way i'd take it on the motorway in its current state, thanks for the offer though!
  • Rog - Cam Timing - this was checked when the MU was replaced so should be ok. Oh and the sparks are brand new (i've replaced them 4 times in 2 years.. definitely shouldn't be having to do that I know!
  • Peter - It's a reconditioned dissy, old cap though if I remember correctly.. new rotor arm, new coil/ leads/ points/ condenser, i've contemplated going to electronic ignition but after reading horror stories on this forum I decided against.. 
  • Hot Growler - I've tried that lot unfortunately, used completely separate set of leads, new coil.. it has its days when it runs very well that's the frustrating thing.. it's just really unpredictable.
  • Neil - Thanks for the offer I will PM you the spec, i'd really appreciate it if you could take a look if you have the time!
  • Marko - Turned out the PRV was the last sticking point (literally) to get the engine running after it sat for 16 years in the barn.. cleaned it out and got a good (106psi) I think at the MU. I haven't checked that for a while so I'll give that a go but i'm getting a good spray at the injectors so it looks ok, no harm in checking to be sure though!
  • poolboy - Thanks i'll remember that! :)

Thanks again for all the advice, i'll get it working properly some day with a bit of luck!

Cheers,
Chris

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