New Car - Electrical Problem

<whispers>

I love the 'new' one. V8s are getting stupidly cheap these days, too.

 

I really like the new version too.

 

*nice*. love those.

 

Why? It's really quite simple. It has some odd quirks (power steering
runs off the back of the dynamo, the heater controls are vacuum operated)
and the engine bay is a bit cramped but it's basic heavy engineering with
no electronics to go tits up.

Nearly two gallons of oil per change every 3000 miles is a bit pricey
mind.

 

That would be difficult as the mounting bolts go through the body and
space is a real problem.

Well, yes.

 

http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/5822.html

I think it'd look a bit wanky in amongst the walnut and costs nearly as
much as the car.

I was looking at this:
http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=13428

 

That's the plan. I think the fuel pumps I've seen in the replacement
parts catalogue may have caused me some confusion as they're not old
school SU so will be polarity sensitive whereas as mine are still
original.

I'll check that my pumps don't have diodes, turn the battery round and
flash the dynamo over as usual.

I'll probably have a look at the clock too, it may have a switch.

 

Pah! There are old Bonnies and Beezas that use more ;-)

Monograde oil? Or can you use multigrade in it?

 

Sounds like you got a bit of a bargain - it looks really nice - I had a
quick google and they seem to go for silly money.

Surprising they don't make that +ve -ve earth switchable, how hard can
that be? But the 24V inverter seems a good idea too.

 

20/50 - The XK engine even though it was of 1948 vintage was pretty
advanced.

I can get good quality 20/50 mineral oil at trade price (~?10 per
gallon). Certainly better quality than anything that was knocking about
when it was new.

The 3.8 is deceptively fast - it wasn't even breaking sweat at 110.

 

I paid £3900 - it's well specced with a full length webasto sun roof (no
leaks either), power steering, 3.8 with manual overdrive gearbox. If it
was a Mk2 it'd be around £12-15K

Chassis is solid with nothing more than the odd patch, interior is good
and clean - just 45 years of wear, veneer is a bit dull on top of the
dash. The engine was rebuilt early 90s, everything else is clean and
quiet.

The fact it's still positive earth shows it hasn't been fucked about with.

 

yet.....

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 145 2.0 Cloverleaf 156 V6 2.5 S2
Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see.
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

Well, yes - there is that.

 

If you get one, check the oil regularly. A mate bought a V8 last year,
just squeezing it into his budget (around £7-8k IIRC). Anyway, bowling
down the M1 one day, not long after he'd got it, the oil light came on
shortly followed by some nasty mechanical noises, so he pulled over.

Apparently, once the oil light comes on, it's already too late.

Recon engine cost him just shy of £5k I think.

 

If the oil light comes on suddenly when you're at speed, then yes.
But if it starts by flickering at idle when hot, you have a chance to try a
simple fix such as changing the oil pump or using thicker oil and selling it.
Which is why I need to add an oil pressure gauge to my SODucati.
Anyone want to buy a red Italian classic?

 

Sorry, couldn't resist.

I'm not sure if there's really a whole load of point, though?

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 145 2.0 Cloverleaf 156 V6 2.5 S2
Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see.
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

Sweeney bank job material.

Very nice

 

It isn't the engine that bothers me. It is maintaining the bodywork,
drive and suspension components and Transmission if it gives trouble.
I love the vehicle, don't pick me up wrong, there just always seems to
be *something* going on with SOC.

 

Those are rather neat and seem like a really decent price.

 

Same with SOBs, really. It's not so much a matter of service
intervals: more a process of continuous maintenance. That said, the
400 Four is pretty much plug-and-play in between the 2000-mile oil
changes, apart from fairly frequent chain adjustment. Silly knicker-
elastic chains on so many Honda Fours of that era....

And, impressively, that old 250 Super Dream of Jamie's seems to plod
on and on and on. Hardly uses any oil, chain's quite beefy so doesn't
need much adjustment, and that's about it. Serviced it fully the other
day: tappets, camchain adjustment and replaced a bulb (dip beam blown)
and a dicky connection that had blacked out the tacho illumination,
but that was it.

But otherwise, you're always doing *something* with SOBs. Drum brakes
need adjusting, oil needs frequent changing, ignition timing needs
setting, camchain adjustment is fully manual, and even tubed tyres
seem to lose pressure faster these days.