OMG - it runs!!!!!!!

[JPSmit]

So, we have friends over and were having a beverage before dinner. Took him out to show him the car, was demonstrating that she just turns over - but that's it. Sprayed some brake fluid deep in, leaned over as I turned it over and shifted the distributer and she started!!!!

runs beautifully, about 800 RPM - 60lb (I think) oil pressure at 2000 RPM nice and cool. Even shut her down and she started again.

Last wednesday I took the carb into a mechanic (there's an LBC shop in toen - who knew?!) he checked over my rebuild, tweaked a few things, recommended a new diaphram for something, I reinstalled and, Bob's your uncle.

I am so excited I can barely contain myself - first time she has run in at least 15 years. Of course now I just want to work on the car but off to dinner to celebrate.

thanks all for sharing this wonderful journey!

 

[Dadandson]

Congratulations. Well done. Enjoy your "Success" diner

 

[BugEyeBear]

EXCELLENT!! :thumbsup:

All too often the story is reversed! (i.e. "it should run, why doesn't it?")
So it is good to hear a POSITIVE surprise for a change!!

"Cheers!"
-Bear-

 

[aeronca65t]

So, we have friends over and were having a beverage before dinner....

See, *that's* the secret!

Anyway congrats!
You've had a long journey with this project...hope you are able to get some miles (or kilometers) on it soon! :thumbsup:

 

[Morris]

PTL JP!

 

[terriphill]

Woo-Hoo! There is nothing in the world like the first time the engine turns over after all the hard work, skinned knuckles and sweat! What a great and joyful experience! Congratualtions.......now....drive her!

 

[58Custom]

Sprayed some brake fluid deep in

??

 

[aeronca65t]

I'm guessing <span style="font-style: italic">Brake Kleen </span>,which is pretty flammable.

I've used it as starter fluid in a pinch.

 

[jlaird]

Well done JP.

 

[abarth69]

Way to go JP


Glad to hear its up and running now the push will be on.

Cheers

Mark

 

[JPSmit]

Sprayed some brake fluid deep in

??

as Nial said in the next post - it works like starter fluid - the deep in is because it will eat rubber so I reached as far as I could into the manifold

 

[JPSmit]

EXCELLENT!! :thumbsup:

All too often the story is reversed! (i.e. "it should run, why doesn't it?")
So it is good to hear a POSITIVE surprise for a change!!

"Cheers!"
-Bear-

well, and that's exactly what it has been for 2 weeks. 5 hours of people helping solved nothing - taking the carb into the shop and getting it setup right was the breakthrough there. That being said, I was sufficiently pessimistic that this afternoon I actually was talking about having the car towed to the same shop to have them do it.

I'm amazed not only that it starts but that it actually runs very smoothly

 

[58Custom]

OK and well done. It's always a thrill bringing a fresh build to life.

 

[DrEntropy]

It just had to sit awhile and get used to being reassembled!

...had a friend who drove around in a pick-up truck for a day or two with his newly sandblasted and painted Lotus Elan frame in the bed. Said he was getting it used to th' road in STAGES. :smirk:

 

[Baz]

Nice one JP! No-one deserves it more.
Shame it couldn't have done that for the Ozarks, but you got the result.

 

[GB1]

Way to go, a new journey has begun.

 

[bthompson]

Hoorah, JP! Nothing quite like that first unassisted idle.

 

[JPSmit]

Hoorah, JP! Nothing quite like that first unassisted idle.

I presume you mean the car - I've been doing unassisted idle for years :thumbsup: