Beta problems in France

[frankxhv773t]

That all makes sense. Good luck.

[mangocrazy]

Resurrection of old thread alert... but for a good reason...

If you've read this far (and various other threads) you'll know that I've been laboriously putting together a hybrid 2000 i.e./carb engine to replace the one that was wrecked by an incompetent mechanic in France. The original engine was removed from the car in April 2016 and brought back to the UK for repair/renovation. On the same trip I took down a 2000 i.e. engine converted to run with carburettor, and the process of swapping them over started. We visited the house (and the car...) again in July 2016 and by the time we left I'd managed to get the replacement engine bolted into the chassis, but with all the refitting of drive shafts, exhaust, cooling system etc. still to do.

I went back down again in Oct/Nov 2016 (observing the 1st anniversary of the calamity) and by the time I left had the engine fully plumbed in with the exception of some minor exhaust work. I just simply ran out of time (a common refrain).

I'm back down at the house again now, and am pleased to report that the exhaust is fully fitted, and the engine is definitely a runner!

I'd gone through all the usual pre-checks (spinning the engine over without plugs, refitting plugs & leads and priming the pump with the rubber fuel bulb) and was ready to try it out on the starter. However I had somehow omitted to notice that the throttle linkage was still tucked away in the scuttle instead of connected to the cambox and carb. Oh how we laughed...

With that resolved I gave it another turn of the key, more in hope than expectation I have to say, and blow me if it didn't start with the first turn of the key! I nearly crapped myself with surprise... I really wasn't expecting that, as I'd only set the ignition timing 'by eye' and was fully expecting to have to do battle with that before it would run.

So only about 18 months after the engine locked up at the hands of the French garage owner, it's now a runner again. I've still got plenty of things to check out and fix, but at least I was able to take it for a short bimble around the village.

Onwards and upwards...

[smithymc]

Good news. It really does make you jump when an engine starts like that- happened to me, exactly like you with distributor thrown on and not really set.

Hope the good luck continues.

Mark

[WestonE]

Great news well done!

[peteracs]

That is great news, fingers crossed it does not have any significant setbacks.

I am looking forward to the day when I can give mine a go at starting.....

Peter

[mangocrazy]

Yes, it was all the better because it was so unexpected...! I was thinking of a million and one things that could stop it starting, but thankfully none of them materialised. Ironically, after struggling with inadequate garage lighting while re-fitting the engine, today I fitted a new LED light fitting which bathes the area in bright light. Ho hum.

Next step is to get the engine fully warmed up and change the oil and filter. Hopefully I can do this before returning to the UK next weekend.

[mangocrazy]

And over a year before another update... At long last I've been able to get the car warmed up properly and on a set of ramps so I can get at the sump and oil filter with (comparative) ease. Before I ran the motor I added some Comma engine flush, as I knew the oil in the sump was pretty manky . I was pleasantly surprised when it came to undoing the original sump plug - it didn't require any special degree of violence to remove, just a short length of pipe over a sliding bar.

But the oil that came out was absolutely disgusting - filthy black, thick and smelly. Heaven knows what state the engine is in, but it only needs to get the car back to the UK once the original engine is complete and ready to put back in. I didn't hear any rattles previously, but that may be due to the thickness of the oil. It's had 5 litres of  fresh15w40 semi-synthetic, so will be interesting when it comes to starting it up.

The reason I didn't start it up is because it needs to stay on the ramp. Just after I'd got the car reversed back into the garage and was ready to drive it up the ramps. the gear lever went all light and imprecise and gear selection became impossible. Thankfully it was in first gear, otherwise I'd never have got it up the ramps. What part of the gear linkage is likely to have broken or come loose? I'm sure all will become apparent when I get underneath, but it's certainly something I could have done without. At least it didn't happen when I was driving around the French countryside warming the motor up...

[peteracs]

Hi

Sounds like it may be the short connecting rods on the linkage if you still have the original ones. The plastic on the ball joints tend to break up, the standard fix is to replace with a kit from the US or Mark has them. They are located next to the bulkhead on the engine side where the gear lever comes through the bulkhead.

Peter

[mangocrazy]

Hi Peter,

Thanks for that - it does sound like the culprit, I agree. I'm pretty sure I have the revised linkage parts stashed away somewhere (in the UK, doubtless) so will need to dig them out and take them with me next time I visit. At least the car is up on ramps so I should have enough room to do the job...