Search found 61 matches

by Castanley
Tue Aug 10, 2021 1:13 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Hats off to the 803!!
Replies: 29
Views: 3692

Re: Hats off to the 803!!

I have to agree that most people would replace a tired 803 with a bigger engine but I fully intend to have mine stripped and rebuilt as soon as funds allow. And of course if anyone has any good recommendations for a company that would do this in the Merseyside area then I'd be very grateful! :D
by Castanley
Mon Aug 09, 2021 5:25 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Hats off to the 803!!
Replies: 29
Views: 3692

Re: Hats off to the 803!!

I also have a 1954 'splitty' with an 803 engine, which although isn't a daily driver I do use it quite regularly. Mine is well past it's first flush of youth, the engine is a little tired and has over 108k on the odo, low compression and a clattery top-end. Yes, the gearing is ridiculously short. So...
by Castanley
Fri Oct 16, 2020 1:13 pm
Forum: Mechanical
Topic: Ignition Timing *again!*
Replies: 12
Views: 1981

Re: Ignition Timing *again!*

Ooo yes, a cabin mounted advance control would be a great idea wouldn't it!

So in summary am I correct in my thinking that rotating the dizzy clockwise as viewed from above will advance and anti-clockwise will retard? And I want to advance it as much as possible without it pinking?

Chris.
by Castanley
Fri Oct 16, 2020 9:26 am
Forum: Mechanical
Topic: Ignition Timing *again!*
Replies: 12
Views: 1981

Re: Ignition Timing *again!*

Lovely jubly, thanks guys.
So ignore the timing marks and workshop manual then! :lol:
Would the same have been true when these engines were much younger or is this just a quirk of the A series?

I have a handy steep hill down the road I can use for a 'pinking test'!

Chris.
by Castanley
Thu Oct 15, 2020 11:24 pm
Forum: Mechanical
Topic: Ignition Timing *again!*
Replies: 12
Views: 1981

Ignition Timing *again!*

I say *again* because I know this subject has been discussed to the n'th degree in this forum but I'm still having an odd experience with mine that I can't quite find the solution to. Background- my moggie is a 1954 Series 2 with an 803cc engine. Mechanically in pretty great condition except the who...
by Castanley
Mon Sep 21, 2020 9:14 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Vacuum advance
Replies: 3
Views: 490

Re: Vacuum advance

Thanks very much for the reply, that actually does make perfect sense. I was probably looking at things too simplistically by just revving the engine with no load. Unlike IKEA furniture, the pieces are starting to fit together! :D Looking forward to getting my vacuum 'trumpet' back so I can hit the ...
by Castanley
Mon Sep 21, 2020 7:59 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Fancy something a bit different?
Replies: 29
Views: 3913

Re: Fancy something a bit different?

I'd just like to offer the perspective of someone who has driven many EVs over the years, from a lowly Mitsubishi iMiev to a very capable Tesla Model S. I even owned an early model Nissan Leaf for 3 years. I've heard a lot of arguments against EVs, some of them are completely unfounded and based on ...
by Castanley
Mon Sep 21, 2020 5:29 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Vacuum advance
Replies: 3
Views: 490

Vacuum advance

Hi all, I hope everyone is well and coping ok with all matters viral! I was hoping for a little advice regarding the vacuum advance system on my old 1952 Series 2. I've known for a while that it hasn't been working correctly, the diaphragm wasn't holding a vacuum and therefore the advance wasn't... ...
by Castanley
Sat Feb 22, 2020 9:02 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Wheel sizes
Replies: 5
Views: 786

Re: Wheel sizes

I replaced all the old crossplys on my Series 2 for Bridgestone B 381 Ecopia 145/80 R14. These were pretty much the closest match in size I could find to the originals and I think they look great on the car. Pneus Online sell them for around £55 each which I thought was good. My Speedo is also wildl...
by Castanley
Sat Feb 22, 2020 8:53 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: My daily driver - 1954 Split screen 803cc
Replies: 12
Views: 1830

Re: My daily driver - 1954 Split screen 803cc

Thanks Des,
I thought it would be a good way to keep a record of all the work I've done on my car. 👍

Chris
by Castanley
Fri Feb 21, 2020 10:27 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: My daily driver - 1954 Split screen 803cc
Replies: 12
Views: 1830

Re: My daily driver - 1954 Split screen 803cc

Welcome to the forum, Andy. Love the car, I've also got a black 1954 split-screen, 803cc Minor, although mine is a 2 door. Brilliant cars to work on, I've owned mine for about 6 months now and done lots of work to get her roadworthy again. Planning to come along to a few MMOC events this year so jus...
by Castanley
Thu Feb 13, 2020 2:57 pm
Forum: Electrical
Topic: Positive earth - adding accessories?
Replies: 8
Views: 2401

Re: Positive earth - adding accessories?

Excellent, thanks very much for the clear advice. It sounds like I wasn't too wide of the mark with my assumptions. 🙂 Yes I was planning to keep the car as positive earth, partly for the sake of originality and partly because, well, everything works fine as it is. This little USB adapter is my only ...
by Castanley
Thu Feb 13, 2020 6:07 am
Forum: Electrical
Topic: Positive earth - adding accessories?
Replies: 8
Views: 2401

Positive earth - adding accessories?

Hi guys, I was wondering if anyone would be able to point me in the right direction on this one? I'd like to add a little 12v to 5v USB adapter box to my car. It basically has a positive and negative lead that need to be wired into the car's electrics. These wires go into the converter box which has...
by Castanley
Tue Feb 11, 2020 4:49 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Seven leaf or five leaf springs?
Replies: 18
Views: 3126

Re: Seven leaf or five leaf springs?

Well so far the modern springs are performing a lot better than the original ones but admittedly that's because the originals were knackered. 😄 I'm not disposing of the original springs though, I've stored them in the corner of my garage and one day I'll take them to a local specialist for refurbish...
by Castanley
Mon Feb 10, 2020 10:55 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Seven leaf or five leaf springs?
Replies: 18
Views: 3126

Re: Seven leaf or five leaf springs?

Sorry to revive this old thread but I just wanted to post a quick update. I finally finished the job and installed my new leaf springs, and while I was at it I cleaned the rear shock absorbers and filled them with fresh oil. I did consider this job to be a bit outside my comfort zone but I took it s...
by Castanley
Wed Jan 29, 2020 11:59 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Seven leaf or five leaf springs?
Replies: 18
Views: 3126

Re: Seven leaf or five leaf springs?

Nice to see some springs with a wrap. I believe leather wraps were/are also used to hold grease or thick oil in the springs, preventing corrosion and providing lubricant for a softer spring action. Spring wraps can still be bought last time I checked a search engine. Strips of teflon between the sp...
by Castanley
Wed Jan 29, 2020 6:43 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: heater dial
Replies: 15
Views: 1923

Re: heater dial

Ha ha, 'fug-stirrer' is a colloquial expression used for many years now to describe the old heaters that had no fresh air intake! I don't think BMC ever used it in their advertising blurb! :wink: :lol: Yep on cold days you have to turn on the heater but also open the window a crack to keep a flow o...
by Castanley
Wed Jan 29, 2020 6:36 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Seven leaf or five leaf springs?
Replies: 18
Views: 3126

Re: Seven leaf or five leaf springs?

Thanks for the feedback, it's certainly given me something to think about. As I already have a new set on order from ESM, I'll fit those and I'll keep hold of my old springs for retempering sometime in the future. That way, if the new springs prove unfit for purpose then the old'uns can go back on. ...
by Castanley
Wed Jan 29, 2020 4:13 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Seven leaf or five leaf springs?
Replies: 18
Views: 3126

Re: Seven leaf or five leaf springs?

Out of interest has anyone here ever had leaf springs restored/retempered? Sounds like it may be more expensive than simply replacing them with new ones?

Chris
by Castanley
Tue Jan 28, 2020 9:43 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: heater dial
Replies: 15
Views: 1923

Re: heater dial

Haha, it's easily done! It should be anti-clockwise for fast and clockwise for slow. Here's a photo from my blog which shows the heater knob on my car. Hope it helps... Chris https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e715ef_b1d4375de9324dcc9d74bd13fd6677ca~mv2_d_3456_3456_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_740,h_740,al_c...