More Tinkering - Less progress ?

Started on the Alpine again. Checked the fuel filters (fine) and re-routed the fuel pipe.

Then tried to do the tappets.

Nice to work on the oily bits - but I made it worse at first as I could not get the engine to turn over to open the gaps.

Eventually I re-did them and probably just put them back to where we stated again.

Felt a bit better at times ?

Anyway rounded off the day with Caterham run in the sunshine for fuel - for the boat.

Blue flashing lights

Run to a wedding in Aston as a favour. Sun had gone in so quite a dull day.

A few quick acceleration runs on the slip roads that might have taken me over the speed limit - but no long high speed runs (due to traffic and average speed cameras).

Still my heart fell as the siren sounded and blue lights came up behind me ... and passed by as I pulled over.

Well the wedding party liked the car so that was OK.

 Late Aero run for fuel etc.

It started OK

Run in the MK7 to pick up the Aero.

Then Golf to pub for walk.

The James took the Mk2 out. Started fine as suspected.

We took three ...

We took three reasonably priced small hatchbacks and .... parked them on the drive.

 

 

I struggled to find the flag they represented though.

Big Swede Action

G2R then short sail in the Hallberg Rassy.

Rain Thunder and a bit of lightening too. Then hot sun again.

Then back through wind.

Late evening Aero to chelmo - parked up over night.

Then final legs by foot.

New diagnosis

Run in the bright sunshine in the E-type to look for the Jaguar World magazine.

Found a copy - and kind comment by passer by in the car park.

Alpine out later to test fuel theory. Fail.

Filled the tank and it was just as bad when it 'warmed up'. My next thought is that the fuel is getting too hot - or the fuel pump can't cope.

Neither would really make me think I'm right though.

Oh and Oli too the Caterham out.

Alpine Clues

Next steps in the diagnostics. Attacking the Webers.

Tightened the bolts holding the carbs on - as a couple were only finger tight. I fact I tightened them all.

Then test drive seemed better again. Put 10 litres of fuel in (without additive) and continued. Seemed OK or at least a bit better as before.

Then looked at using my vacuum gauge - it does not fit Webers only SUs - Dho.

I just sprayed the carb cleaner in them and revved a bit. Tightened up the bolts a bit more, tinkered with the tick-over and went for another drive.

Again seemed better.

Then I stopped and added my Redex and octane booster - and it seemed to go back to the problem.

PM went to Landgard Fort for a recce. Nice comments from chaps there about the car.

They even too a photo or two.

Next I'll run the tank low and start again with no additive.

Feast of Jaguars

Collected the Caterham from the garage and was treated to a look around the XJS V12 Ed used for a rally car and his other saloon.

Spotless (if complex) engine bay as expected. Ed was a development engineer and test driver for Jaguar in the Brown Lanes era so knows the cars in infinitesimal detail.

Caterham seemed to develop a slight 'knock' as before on the last of the run home... but it was very hot. Will have to monitor.

Afternoon run in the 308 in the sun and the heat. Behaved well but also got hotter than normal. Oil level was a bit low so I topped it up. Hard to see the level as the oil is sooo clean and as a dry sump you need to take it with the engine running.

It took about 2.5 litres though - in only a few hundred miles so a. I may have misread/overfilled it. Or b. it's using oil. A bit of all three I suspect.

C to MOT and sad MG

Nice drive in the Caterham in for the MOT (passed).

Nice XJS in the garage and next door an Alfa hoard.

Lots of time in the MK7 then passed this sad MGB (again). Went back in the Aero for a sneaky picture.

A to E and C

Firstly Aero to the dump.

Then a pm run of the E-type - still looking very clean after the photo shoot preparation.

Shadowed by the modern Golf in the background.

Nice comments from a posh chap with a Disco in the petrol station when filling up. Still rattles though.

Then the Caterham got an airing as the sun kept shining. MOT tomorrow.

Here it is peaking out of the covers cooling down. With another modern in the background.

Audi Time

Detailed the Aston early in the morning.

Looking good in the sunshine - E-type hidden away looked good too.

Took the Aston to a 400 Alliance meeting at Audi for charity.

Nice display of cars, mostly modern but some classics. Liked these two.

Classic Audi in front of the showroom looked good too - but being lowered spoilt it for me.

Dropped it off

Got rid of Oliver's old stuff AM - then pottered around - mostly Aero, and B&Q trip for a rest.

Treated mu self to the 308 n the evening though.

More Aero

Short run - only movement - mostly clearing up.

Dullish runs

Into town in the Aero - back again and packed it with Oliver's remaining crap.

Had two car events at night and did not bother to go to either - so dull was the day.

His and Hers

Took a tour of a new houseboat (Fran's) berthed next to her husband's (Richard).

Nice switch panel to play with.

They were both sitting on the mud - Compare and contrast ?

G2R

Mk7 down to the boat and then boat across to Essex.

Food had stopped (at 7:00 !) so we got a lift in a nice jag into town - and a nondescript minicab back.

TP visit in the rain

Aero to Trinity Park to discuss the Alpine National.

Busy - but nothing worth taking a picture of.

Midlands dash then Cash

First thing run to Coventry - almost back to Uni in fact - to go to the Alpine spares day to encourage traders to attend. Slightly less than 300 miles and the Aero was solid and fast.

A few cars there and this Rover too. A few bits bought.

After a rest back home (I'd just driven 300 miles in 7 hours) and decided that the fleet needed a run out in the late sun.

Ferrari first - felt responsive and friendly. Tried for Red White and Green photo ? But the flag needs yellow.

Then took the E-type out. Pottered for a while to warm up. Still a bit of smoke from the right-hand exhaust but the clean badge compensates. (Can't see the smoke in the pic)

Thought about putting my foot down on the run. Just to see what happens when it goes all the way down.

Whooahhh - not sure I can handle the speed. Not sure I broke the sound barrier - but almost.

Thought about making it a £250k drive by but stopped at the Aston as I was tired.

Aero Commute

Stowmarket to a show and parking on the grass.

I wanted to take a classic - but the weather was poor and the car park was bumpy - so a better choice.

Nope - nothing in the car park worth a pic.

Drip Drip Drip

A very small patch of oil under the Caterham.

It probably looks worse due to the 2 weeks it's sat there without a run so did not burn anything off.

Investigating pointed to a leaky rocker box cover gasket as the oil seems to be coming from the top of the engine. The oil needed topping up - but then it's a few miles since I checked it.

Will monitor.

Good run round the block though - even if the car seemed to heat up quickly - until we sped up.

Busy Boat Back

Ferry was not packed but it had a few nice cars.

Odd old Citroen Ami 6 on the ferry as well as a light blue MGB roadster on a trailer.

Must investigate that option.

SAAB loaded up again and took the run back in its stride.

Needs a good clean inside as a reward.

Orange is the only colour today

Passed a bright orange VX220 in the collage car park in Aucaleuc.

And then bright orange Gallardo driving on the coast.

Sun was shining and made me wonder about what to bring out next.

SAAB ok though.

Aged gracefully ?

Middle aged Porsche in the car park when shooting gargoyles.

I'm not drawing a comparison ... but some of that era cars did seem to loose their way.

Polished to perfection

Nice Traction Avant Decap seen on our walk.

Sure I've seen it before out here.

Miles by foot

Long walk in the woods.

 

Parked the Aero near where we parked the blue SAAB years ago near the Rance lock gates.

 

Nothing of note on the roads though.

French election too today (Macron won).

 

 

Saturday Same

Saw a new Porsche at supermarket - but nothing else of note.

Nextdoor Neighbour

Just shopping and pottering.

Saw an old Peugeot (504 ?) that turned out to be kept next door.

Run down

Drive down to the port loaded up in the SAAB - uneventful.

Saw a nice old Porsche in Portsmouth and  good looking XJS on the back of a trailer bound for France.

On the open car deck on the ferry which surprised us.

Drove off the other end into drizzle. 2+ hours but managed 80 for half of the way as that was the limit. Roads dark and hard to see the white line though.

Aero to Alpines

Another drive up the A14 to meet up for the planning ahead of the Alpine event.

We've getting there.

Burnt out modern Jag on the side of the road slowed me down though. 20 mins full stopped.

Are new cars a dull colour ?

Seems every car is white or a shade of grey at B&Q. Including the Aero of course.

Then I took the (dark grey) Aston to the bottle bank. More saving the planet. Got an odd look.

Finally fitted the new coil to the Alpine - made no real difference. I checked and the distributer was not loose so I'll have to investigate the carbs.

Assume it is going to be the electronic ignition at fault though now.

Nothing doing

Packed up and ready to return after a night of rain.

Golf Refused to start to come home and then behaved. Don't think it was the rain but no obvious reason - could be starter solenoid.

Added to the list...

All added to the 'adventure'.