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Distributor Question

Ok 20-50, I wasn't sure if it would be a non detergent straight 30 or 40.

Those straight weights sound more like what some people put in the tranny/OD. Once again, answers will vary for that too.
 
Forget the Champion plugs and get a current Bosch or Japanese replacement. Bosh Platinum's are my choice. Agreed use a resistor type plug "R"
 
Forget the Champion plugs and get a current Bosch or Japanese replacement. Bosh Platinum's are my choice. Agreed use a resistor type plug "R"

Not sure how true but read the resistor plugs don't produce as much spark.
 
Not sure how true but read the resistor plugs don't produce as much spark.
Not true. The resistance in the plug makes up for the lack of resistance in copper wire. Carbon wire has a significant amount of resistance to suppress noise in the radio (which I can't hear over my exhaust anyway). The resistance of the spark gap is way more than the plug resistor.

Oil: Castrol GTX 20W-50. I just checked the latest MSDS (Oct 2014) and zinc alkyl dithiophosphate (ZDTP, AKA ZDDP) is no longer listed as an ingredient, so my previous recommendations to not add ZDDP to it need rethinking.
 
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Oil: Castrol GTX 20W-50. I just checked the latest MSDS (Oct 2014) and zinc alkyl dithiophosphate (ZDTP, AKA ZDDP) is no longer listed as an ingredient, so my previous recommendations to not add ZDDP to it need rethinking.

You are correct . even Castrol GTX now needs ZDDP . I have been using a product called Hyperlube available in Canada at Canadian tire . it specifically states on the bottle that its for ZDDP replacement as needed in older engines like ours .
https://www.hyperlube.com/c3/Zinc-Replacement-Additive-c7.html
 
Valvoline VR1 still has ZDDP last I checked if anybody is looking for an "off the shelf" oil suitable for our cars.
 
Not sure how true but read the resistor plugs don't produce as much spark.

I read this:

"When combustion deposits have bridged the gap between electrodes so that the voltage is drained away without creating a spark, the plug misfires. A bridged plug usually can be cleaned. A resistor spark plug fights off such misfiring longer than a standard plug. If misfire plagues you, switch to resistors. Each contains a 10,000-ohm resistance inside the plug, which allows firing voltage to be built up before ignition “oomph” has been sapped.

https://www.autocorner.ca/pages/sparkplugs.html
 
Valvoline VR1 still has ZDDP last I checked if anybody is looking for an "off the shelf" oil suitable for our cars.

Yes this is true all racing oils contain ZDDP and have not been affected by the new car requirements for oil.
 
Good news after installing all the new ignition parts and cleaning the carb the healey started on the first crank and has never ran as smooth or started so easily.
Now the bad news, after about a 15 mile celebration test ride grinning ear to ear the car suddenly died. Luckily I was only a half mile from the house and had a neighbor pull me in.
I believe it's the fuel pump, it runs for a few seconds when I use starting fluid, it definitely is staving for fuel. I hear the fuel pump intermittently, shouldn't it be running all the time?
 

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I believe it's the fuel pump, it runs for a few seconds when I use starting fluid, it definitely is staving for fuel. I hear the fuel pump intermittently, shouldn't it be running all the time?
The fuel pump stops when the carb bowls are full. Usually, when the engine is running, the pump should run just enough to keep the bowls full. I can't describe the sound because I can't hear mine when the engine is running. When the engine is off, it will run to fill the bowls, then stop.
 
The fuel pump stops when the carb bowls are full. Usually, when the engine is running, the pump should run just enough to keep the bowls full. I can't describe the sound because I can't hear mine when the engine is running. When the engine is off, it will run to fill the bowls, then stop.

Yes I've learned a lot about how these fuel pumps work and it turns out mine was bad. And during my troubleshooting I discovered I have an auxiliary fuel pump. It sure would have saved me a lot of walking had I known what that switch on the dash was for lol.
New fuel pump and lines installed today and she is back to running great.
 
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