Project PFJ (French Blue Sprint)

[Mad Mart]

Been very busy on PFJ over the weekend, so much so that I haven't had chance to publish any pics.

I've had a few problems...first was the oil pump. I was rotating the pump with a drill & usually, after a few seconds, the pressure becomes too much for it. However, this time it just kept going. Something not right there, me thinks. So I took one of the oil cooler hoses off & tried again, but nothing happened. So I quickly replaced the pump with another "known good" pump and everything was fine. The pump I replaced had been stripped & tolerances checked, by me, so I will have to check it over again at some point.

Then we started to bleed the clutch, but nothing happening there. I undid the hose at the slave end but no fluid was coming out. MC me thinks! So I removed & stripped the MC but couldn't see any problems with that. After refitting, still nothing happening. Only thing it can be is a blocked hose! After removing the hose I put the air line on it & it was definitely blocked. So I bent the hose along it's length & then used the air line on it again. All of a sudden, whoosh! and it was clear.

Then, after fitting the catches on the rear doors, I closed the nearside & now can't open it. Looks like I will have to try to get the panel off with the door closed. I think it's the lock mechanism, not unlocking.

Then finally, yesterday evening, I was all ready to start the motor up (for the first time in nearly 20 years). Unfortunately there is no spark at the moment. I'll have to investigate as there are quite a few things not working.

None of the lights, except the headlights, but only on the flasher & the clock's not working. The blower works, as do the wipers. There is 12V at both sides of the fuse box & also at the coil.

[xvivalve]

I thought I'd had a frustrating day Mart!

Oil pump scenario sounds familiar; did you check the free length of the spring against minimum data? Mine was a couple of mm too short and this was enough to allow the PRV to stay open (thanks TC for the steer). Fitted a new pump yesterday which is not so easy in situ, especially when you have to take off a load of non standard stuff in order to raise the engine!

[tonybsa]

mart,regarding your light probs.check the switch first.ive just been sorting my electrics out,and i had no sidelights,i isolated it to the switch,so i removed the steel can on the switch,and all of a sudden it works fine!the only thing i can think of is its had no electricity through it for 15yrs.maybe your light problem could be the same,certianly worth i quick check.

[Mad Mart]

Spent all evening sorting the electrics, haven't very long come in.

It was the light switch Tony. I tried rotating it on & off quickly and suddenly the headlights started working, but no side lights on the first click. So I took the switch apart & cleaned up the contacts and it now works fine.

Then I turned to the indicators. I had a live wire going to the stalk but the indicators wouldn't work. So I bridged the connections with a piece of wire & that seemed to fire them up, on one side. The other side just needed the rear holder replacing as it wasn't earthing.

So I now have:-

indicators
side lights front & rear
dipped & main beams
panel lights
interior light
reversing lights

Haven't checked the brake lights yet.

[Mad Mart]

Got the engine started this evening. Only for a few seconds, as it was only running on the fuel in the float chambers. I didn't have a spark initially because the points had closed up. It was one of those moments. After regapping the points you could hear the engine fire occasionally, then a tweak of the dizzy and it started firing a bit more regularly. Then a squirt of the old "engine start" in each of the carbs and VROOOM!! very satisfying.

Got the brake lights working as well. The switch on the brake pedal wasn't working so I took it apart & cleaned up the contacts (sounds familiar).

[tinweevil]

Well done Mart, a big milestone that.

[DoloWIGHTY]

Great news.

How wide was your smile Mart when that engine fired?

(Measurement in feet and inches please)

[SCMike]

Great progress! Sounds a bit like Dr. Frankenstein on his initial attempts to get the Monster up off the platform bed. Onwards, onwards.....

[Mad Mart]

I think my smile was about 2 feet 3 & 3/16 inches wide (approx.). But it was even wider than that tonight (no Alun, I'm still talking about PFJ )

I went & got a couple of gallons of go juice to put in the tank. Started it up, but after a few seconds it started missing & then stopped. Had a look & the dizzy had worked itself loose. The thread had gone in the base plate (only one screw holding it at the time). So I found another base plate, checked & ran a tap down the threads, cleaned & sprayed it. Refitted it and the dizzy. It started first time & stayed revving at about 1800 rpm. I left it like that for a minute & then turned the idle screws down 'til it was idling at about 900 rpm. Had to switch it off after that as I haven't plumbed the cooling in yet.

Tappets were quiet David.

[Sprint36]

Tappets were quiet David.

Thank goodness for that! I've been waiting ages for that, tempted to tell you to hurry up, but not really wanting to let on how much I needed to know it would run OK.

Need to find the time to do some more heads now.

David

[Lee Flintoft]

Currently on holiday in Cyprus Mart, can feel your grin over here! Good stuff On the road soon then eh?

Haven't seen any dollies over here yet!!

[Mad Mart]

Lee, I'm sure there's better things to do on holiday than browse the internet.

I managed to unlock the rear passenger door today. I had to unscrew the handle & remove the window winder, then I pulled the panel out from behind the wood capping. The door lock mechanism was stuck but after a squirt of WD40 & a bit of wriggling, it opened.

Mary has almost finished redoing the rear quarter panels. I'm in the middle of fitting the electric fan.

[Lee Flintoft]

I can only take so much sun Mart!!

Frightened I may miss another project the speed you turn them over!!

[NFXdynomite]

Just read this whole thread Mart your a star larker! absolutely awesome car mate well done so far.

Question though when you did your vinyl roof did you push it right into the gutters and hold it in with the trim?
gonna strip mine off and renew soon just wondering

[Mad Mart]

Just read this whole thread Mart your a star larker! absolutely awesome car mate well done so far.

Question though when you did your vinyl roof did you push it right into the gutters and hold it in with the trim?
gonna strip mine off and renew soon just wondering

The vinyl was pushed into the gutters, along the bottom & up the side and glued. The trim isn't holding it on.