Stalling, Prop-catchers and Stalling

After having organized myself a bit and done some shopping (not all is done, though), went to the car for some work. I have to come out on this: I've been stalling and avoiding it because the idea of disassembling parts of what is working to move on are taking my will away. I just want to take it on a track and having to go some steps backwards is feeling painful. Now that this is off my chest...

First thing I did was placing a rubber block behind the clutch peddle. Every time it was pressed down it was hitting the metal of the floorwell behind and the noise was getting on my nerves. Problem solved!

Spent some time thinking how I should straighten up the electrics inside the engine compartment. Wires are hanging out everywhere and I'm even afraid some may get into contact with moving parts. I still have to rivet the main loom with p-clips into the chassis, but for smaller wires I need another solution. At least now I know where to route them near chassis (or engine cradle) rails.

Some time ago I moved the cooling fan from behind the radiator to the front because it was the way the forced air would go through the radiator. The instructions stated the fan was reversible but I disassembled and turned the fan blades around to no avail. In a moment of "inspiration", I switched the wires around et voilá! Now I have to move the fan back to behind the radiator and then fix it in a more definitive way.

Last task was to see if I could put the "U" shaped prop-catcher in without dropping the prop shaft. After taking out the linkage that connects the gear lever to the gear mechanism, and with some wiggling, I managed to get it in place. So I took it out again and marked the pieces for drilling. They are thick metal and I need to drill them in a bench and use the holes as guides when drilling the chassis. The person that made them drilled but those holes are not where I need them... Below are pictures of the prop catchers before treatment and now that they are painted.

Preparing Prop-Catchers and Small Fixes

Last Wednesday drove the car again, to move it from the borrowed parking space to mine. It required driving down the step slope to descend two floors. I was a b it worried, since the brakes were not properly bleed, but all was fine. After parking I noticed a small puddle forming on the previously clean floor. Turns out the cooling system had a bracer that was not tight at all and fluid was gushing from it.

Today grabbed the driller, a steel scrub tip for the driller and the prop catchers. Scrubbed the rust out of them and then gave them a lick of black paint, to prepare them to go on the car. I need them there for peace of mind and the front one is where I'll be hanging the speed sensor.

Then went to the car and followed all the cooling pipes, tightening the bolts as I passed through them. Topped up the cooling deposit and I think this one is done.

Have been reading the Digidash manual and it states that if I get "NC" as the reading for a sensor it means is not connected or is not properly hearted. And actually the hearth I had on the oil temp/pressure sensors casing was bust. Crimped a new wire and this time connected it to a bolt that goes through a chassis member. There was a slight oil smear on the casing so I also tightened the sensors and the connection pipe. Also gave a bit of love to the earth on the water temperature sensor, but I think I'll have to revisit this one soon.

Inserted the key on the dash, 1st click for the Digidash to fire up and... No more NCs. With the engine turned off, the oil temperature was 23º, the oil pressure was 0 (probably... no oil being pumped and the remote sensor is positioned high) and the cooling temperature was 0º. Since it's summer, probably the cooling temp was a bit hotter, reassuring me that I'll have to revisit that sensor.

I need to make a catcher deposit for the pipes leaving the carbs and the fuel pump. The one from the fuel pump dribbles and the stains on the floor are getting on my nerves.

I wanted to drive again but had no excuse to do it, so I didn't and now I'm mad at myself for not having done it without an excuse. I need to get it on a track or a long straight!