jjbunn
Jedi Knight
Offline
Progress on the '71 TR6 "La Belge Bloketastic"
Today saw some success in diagnosing the rough idle on my '71 TR6. One of Randall's suggestions was to replace the capacitor (I already replaced the points), and when I did that it immediately made a huge improvement!
So now the engine idles with the choke in. It's still a little rough, even after I balanced the carbs using my carb balancer tool.
However, the temp gauge still pegs up in the red after a relatively short time. The radiator is getting hot, so I assume the (new) thermostat is working. Could I have a faulty water pump?
I'm not happy with the PO's vacuum connection to the tappet/head cover. There's a hole in the side of the cover, and the hose just sits in it: no real seal at all. Just how airtight does it need to be?
I'm also not happy with the sound of the engine: it sounds a bit rattley. Perhaps it's the tappets? I shall adjust them tomorrow to see.
Continuing my unhappiness, the PO's fuel pump is very poorly positioned, and the fuel hoses to it are bent so that they are almost kinking. Even worse, it's mounted on a rubber strip, which is fine, but the earth lead is secured to what is a bolt that goes through the rubber and makes an intermittent ground!
Once I've used up all the gas in the tank, I'll reposition the pump, electrics and replace the hoses.
Other progress today included replacing the PO's weird extended shift stick with a used one of standard length. Now the new one doesn't foul the steering wheel!
I removed both the seats. These are no-headrest types, and although they look OK from the top side, the undersides tell a different story: the baseboards are broken and in pieces.
With the seats removed and the rails detached, I cleaned out the floorpans of 35 years of grime and dirt.
The electrics continue to give me major head-scratching moments. For example:
1) the indicator switch on the steering column does nothing. It's connected under the dash, and I can measure voltage there, but the lights don't flash. Nor does the Trafficator indicator on the dash. However, the Hazard switch works fine: flashing the lights as required. It must be something simple but I'm darned if I can see the problem. I'm sure it was working when the car first arrived, too!
2) The wires from the light on the right hand front fender have nowhere to plug in to! According to the circuit diagram, and like the left hand side, there should be sockets for the bullet connectors, near the rear of the front turn light, but I can't see them!
3) There are two wires that emerge into the engine compartment, just below the hood latch, from under the dash somewhere. I can't seem to find them on the diagram.
4) There are a couple of other dangling, unconnected wires under the dash.
Rambling on a bit here, I'm afraid.
Today saw some success in diagnosing the rough idle on my '71 TR6. One of Randall's suggestions was to replace the capacitor (I already replaced the points), and when I did that it immediately made a huge improvement!
So now the engine idles with the choke in. It's still a little rough, even after I balanced the carbs using my carb balancer tool.
However, the temp gauge still pegs up in the red after a relatively short time. The radiator is getting hot, so I assume the (new) thermostat is working. Could I have a faulty water pump?
I'm not happy with the PO's vacuum connection to the tappet/head cover. There's a hole in the side of the cover, and the hose just sits in it: no real seal at all. Just how airtight does it need to be?
I'm also not happy with the sound of the engine: it sounds a bit rattley. Perhaps it's the tappets? I shall adjust them tomorrow to see.
Continuing my unhappiness, the PO's fuel pump is very poorly positioned, and the fuel hoses to it are bent so that they are almost kinking. Even worse, it's mounted on a rubber strip, which is fine, but the earth lead is secured to what is a bolt that goes through the rubber and makes an intermittent ground!
Once I've used up all the gas in the tank, I'll reposition the pump, electrics and replace the hoses.
Other progress today included replacing the PO's weird extended shift stick with a used one of standard length. Now the new one doesn't foul the steering wheel!
I removed both the seats. These are no-headrest types, and although they look OK from the top side, the undersides tell a different story: the baseboards are broken and in pieces.
With the seats removed and the rails detached, I cleaned out the floorpans of 35 years of grime and dirt.
The electrics continue to give me major head-scratching moments. For example:
1) the indicator switch on the steering column does nothing. It's connected under the dash, and I can measure voltage there, but the lights don't flash. Nor does the Trafficator indicator on the dash. However, the Hazard switch works fine: flashing the lights as required. It must be something simple but I'm darned if I can see the problem. I'm sure it was working when the car first arrived, too!
2) The wires from the light on the right hand front fender have nowhere to plug in to! According to the circuit diagram, and like the left hand side, there should be sockets for the bullet connectors, near the rear of the front turn light, but I can't see them!
3) There are two wires that emerge into the engine compartment, just below the hood latch, from under the dash somewhere. I can't seem to find them on the diagram.
4) There are a couple of other dangling, unconnected wires under the dash.
Rambling on a bit here, I'm afraid.
Hey Guest!
smilie in place of the real @
Pretty Please - add it to our Events forum(s) and add to the calendar! >> 