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Posted By : Steve Charles, 15-May-2006,
03:54pm
Hi, Just put a Spitfire MkIV back on the road after a 15 yr lay up. Posted a topic regarding Low oil pressure last week, which I've taken some advice
on.
Fitted new oil warning sensor, an uprated oil relief valve spring, and a "molyslip" additive to the oil, which apparently can help a tired engine limp on
for a bit longer!
Went to Battlesbridge car show yesterday, drove down there and all was fine, still occasional oil light flicker at idle, but nothing else. However on
leaving, only 12 mins into the journey, the car started spluttering, backfired and lost power, had to pull over, stop the engine and restart, the engine
would pick back up and off we go again, but the same thing kept hapenning. We amazingly managed to get home (25 miles) by timing the bad moments!, we hit
two hills (yep, there are one or two lumps in the Essex landscape) and powered up them on what felt like 2cylinders. Any idea's, ? I feel this was a
seperate issue to the low oil pressure, there was no oily exhaust plumes, and the engine happily restarted each time, all be it running very rough. I did
notice when back home, the rear SU's damper had worked completely loose! I can't think it would be something as simple as this, but I will try to pluck up
some courage and take her for another run this evening. Once again any advice or help, will be warmly received, just go easy on the "get a new car", or
"sack the person who's been working on it" comments.
Thanks in advance.
Steve (starting to despair, with my new toy) Charles.
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Posted By : Steve Cureton, 15-May-2006,
06:57pm
It's most likely fuel starvation or dodgy points etc. No quick way to find out without stripping the various bits but start with the easiest - check
the points are opening and the gap is right, check the rotor arm is in good nick, check the dizzy cap for cracks, burning etc, check the HT leads are
tight in the dizzy cap and on the plugs, check the connections on the coil, and finally check fuel is getting through to the carb.
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Posted By : Steve Charles, 15-May-2006,
07:51pm
Thanks Steve,
This is whats bugging me, when I bought the car early this year, I replaced the points, for electronic ignition, I also replaced Cap, coil, ballast
resistor, HT leads, plugs, etc And fitted new fuel pump, and new fuel lines from pump to carbs.
Just drove the car again tonight, live in a village so did 3 laps 'round the outskirts, Yes, people think I'm mad!, but when the cars warming up
it's fine, and it drove for a good 20mins, perfect. But again, power took a diveafter about 25mins, the only thing I keep thinking is, the low oil
pressure issue, is the real issue, but I didn't think that would effect the power, but I notice that the big end's start rattling once the engine's
hot, and once the engine's hot, the power, or rather lack of it kicks in!
It does look like the engine is on it's way out , for a rebuild, just hope that, once thats done, this issue ends as well!!
Thanks, for your thoughts on this subject.
Regards,
Steve.
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Posted By : Steve Parsons, 15-May-2006,
08:54pm
It is worth checking there are no air leaks on the inlet/exhaust manifold gasket.