Stickers

Many posts ago, I said that the original chassis plate was in very poor condition, with all the original black ink missing, and was just a plain alu plate with the chassis number stamped on it.

So I thought it would be nice to fit a new plate. All of you know that I always try to re-use as much of the original equipment and restore it rather than using new modern repros. But in this case, restoring the plate was not possible, and a new one would look much better that the original one.

So after searching a place to buy, I found a UK company specialized on reproduction chassis plates, and all kind of period stickers. So I thought it would be great to take the opportunity and get some stickers for my car:
-positive earth: not sure of my car originally had this sticker, but nowadays is very important to have it so no one gets confused
-coopers filters: a nice finishing touch for my restored air filter casings
-heater info: also a good finishing touch
-Lucas battery: new batteries are so ugly…. I will remove all the stickers from the battery and fit the Lucas one which will look great

Post was received last week, but there was a mistake with some stickers, but the seller took immediate action and send me the correct ones, not having to send back the faulty one. Superb service!!!!
If any one is interested the company name is Classic Reproductions and it´s web site is http://www.classicrepro.co.uk/ Prices are also very correct, being the cheapest ones I could find after some search.

Engine is running again!

Finally the Sprite is running again….. The engine cranks easily and has good oil pressure at idle (50 to 60). The mechanic told me he has already made a small run over the zone to run-in all the brakes as the rear ones tent to be too tight.

Little work is left to take the car to the MOT, mostly electrical issues:
-the horn
-left hand side warning light not working
-start up switch is not working and engine has to be cranked form the solenoid switch
-rpm counter not working... must be a broken cable or bad connection
-dash board light not working, again a bad connection or broken cable
-small fuel leak from the banjo or plastic connectors of the fuel pump. As I have received new ones, it should be straight forward

I have discovered something funny….. MK3 sprites, should have the head light  controlled by a dip switch mounted on the floor, at the left hand side of the clutch pedal. Previous owner, fitted a more modern direction indication switch with the main bean light action. I am wondering what I should do…. Leave it that way in the more modern way, or stick to originality and re use the floor dip witch for the main beam lights….. Please, leave your comments on the “comments box”. I have never operated a car with a floor installed switch and I have some respect for it…..

The engine runs very smoothly after sitting down for nearly  18 years and with out touching the carbureters or distributor. Only work done was to adjust rocker valves and fitting 4 new spark plugs (Champion NY-9). All the rest, is exactly as it was found. Quite amazing it runs so nice.
Once the car has passed the MOT and is home, I will make some work related to the engine:
-new  spark plug cables (old ones must have dozens of years and although working, it´s best to fit new ones)
-carbureters: I will fully strip them, clean them and fit a new rebuild kit. After they will need to be correctly balanced
-distributor: I will possibly send it to a specialist who will fully strip it and recalibrate (most important)
-charging box: I’ve read it’s so difficult to adjust that because mine is in such a terrible condition (although incredibly is working), I will just get a new one which are cheap enough
-Dynamo: strip it, clean it, verify bearings and bushes, and paint it
-after 100-200km, remove the new oil that should have clean all the inside and put some new fresh and clean oil specifically made for classics

With all this work, the engine should be in perfect condition all its elements revised so nothing should go wrong in a long time.

SO FAR, SO GOOD!

SU fuel pump rebuild kit

Last Friday I received a box from Burlen SU company, which is the sole provider of SU original carbs and fuel pumps and their parts. I wanted to restore a spare AUF 214 fuel pump I had, and also needed 2 banjos for the pump actually fitted on the car as it has cracks and is loosing some fuel. So I made an internet order for a full rebuild kit, 4 banjos (for both pumps) and the banjo rubber gaskets.

Buying from Burlen is the best choice as they only stock new original parts, which should ensure a trouble free rebuild.

But after inspecting the parts I received, and the instructions provided, I soon realized I had made an error. To rebuild a pump you need 2 banjos, and not 2 rubber seals but 3 (one side will need 2 seals because there is a filter). But when making the order, the web site said nothing about how many rubber seals are required, so I just ordered 2 rubber seals….. 2 banjos=2 rubber seals, no??? well… no

Furthermore, I noticed that I was missing a nut, that I supposed was included on the kit, but it was not…. My fault.

No problem, yesterday I call them, and spoke with a sales person and asked if they could send me in a flat envelope both the seal and the nut (about 80p) by normal mail, and he said he was very sorry, but he would charge me 7 pounds because its their standard for small boxes. So I asked him how can it be possible that I order less than one pound, and he wont send it in a normal envelope which should cost 1.5-2 pounds and he said he could not help…..

I then remembered some years ago, when I made an order at AutoSparks for a complete wiring harness for a land lover, and forgot to order 2 grommets. When I call them, the nice lady said: “don’t worry Sir, today I will send you those 2 grommets in an envelope at no cost”. That is a very customer service orientated company, sadly, I cant say the same for Burlen.   

Furthermore…. Before making the order, I found on the internet a post mentioning that all new SU rebuild kits come along with some sort of diode necessary to minimize sparks at the contact points, so gave Burlen a call to confirm, and they said it was true and that all their kits some with the diode. My kit had no diode, so I also asked for it and he said he had no idea about that, but if I wanted it, I had to pay 5 pounds for it…… Just an other good example of customer satisfaction service.

Lastly, and other word of warning, nearly 3 weeks ago, I sent two email (hey, phone calls to UK are expensive!) to the company asking for some technical details, and never got an answer….

So, if you need parts or rebuild kits for your SU carbs or pumps, Burlen is the place to go, but be warned about the customer service and do think twice all the parts you really need, because they wont help much….

Interesting book just arrived

While I was walking around the Madrid Retromobile show last February, I found a copy of a spridget book I had never had the chance to check: Restoring Sprites and Midgets....

Within a few seconds I could realize this book was different to all books I have previously read, it had plenty of interesting diagrams and schematics that I had never seen, and the text was full of nice tips and history. All written with a great sense of humor.

But the book was expensive so decided to calm down and take a look on internet to see if I could find it with a better price. As it was a modern book, I was not in a hurry that I could loose the opportunity. Finally I could find on amazon.co.uk a new example from an online shop for a great price, and fortunately I had a friend in London to whom I could send it for a very little shipping cost (sending directly to Madrid would have been much more expensive). Yesterday he came to Madrid and have it to me (thanks Pedro!!!)

I think I can truly say this book is the best one I have so far. The original workshop manual is a must, why?' because it´s the official book, and although it will always refer to the official tool number XXXX, it´s mandatory to have it, specially if like me you can find an original vintage example. The Haynes are important to have, why?? no idea... maybe because it´s so common to have them... They are very similar to the original workshop manual, but with some details not covered on the original manual. Well worth, if you can find it cheap on ebay. Not worth to buy it new from the shop.