Zelandeth Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 That's the one I think...Didn't realise it was meant to have a lid! First plan for mine is to stick in in the dishwasher, it seems to do a fantastic job of cleaning brass up like new. I've nothing against the fuses to be honest - it's just the fact that it's becoming increasingly difficult to find them in physical stores that puts them out of contention for me. The only ones I seem to be able to get within 10 miles of here at suppliers I know are boxes of 2x 20A ones...other ratings, nope! Have to resort to web based suppliers. I know, carry spares and all that - but you could be good money on the one day that you accidentally short something out showing someone something and pop the one that isolates the entire starter and ignition system would be the day that the spares weren't in the car or you've just given them to someone at a show to sort their own car out with...Murphy's Law and all that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiC Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 On my MGB, the fuse box lid holds 2 spare fuses. I guess that one is the same? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honey Badger Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 When you fix the grp on the door it might be a good idea to use a couple of bighead fasteners to spread the load over a bigger area of the grp to stop it cracking again. http://www.veckfasteners.com Scott's composite handbook gives a decent but of info on GRP repair, quite a lot of useless stuff in it as well. http://cn.scottbader.com/uploads/files/3381_crystic-handbook-dec-05.pdf oldcars 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted February 13, 2018 Author Share Posted February 13, 2018 Apply to DVLA for V5 history. Enclose £5ish cheque. Worked with one of my previous projects - basically they dig deep into the vaults, and photocopy all the historical V5s they have retained for your vehicle.I’m amazed the service still exists to be honest - do it while you can. Doubt it'll work. These were never registered to the driver as far as I can work out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zelandeth Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 Just a thought, DW. Have you done a compression test on the engine yet? Mate was by here today and mentioned that the "sneezing" that both of ours is currently doing (which nearly lost me my eyebrows today at one point) is a classic symptom of a slightly leaky inlet valve. Planning to check that on mine shortly (aka: as soon as the compression tester surfaces), but might just be worth checking. Quite likely that these engines have spent a lot of their lives doing low speed stop-start work and the heads could well benefit from a decoke. You've got a fancy endoscope camera haven't you? Might be worth seeing if you can see anything meaningful through the plug hole or down the inlet manifold. If it didn't mean disturbing 43 year old exhaust manifold studs I'd have already had the head off to have a look... DeeJay 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted February 13, 2018 Author Share Posted February 13, 2018 When you fix the grp on the door it might be a good idea to use a couple of bighead fasteners to spread the load over a bigger area of the grp to stop it cracking again. http://www.veckfasteners.com Scott's composite handbook gives a decent but of info on GRP repair, quite a lot of useless stuff in it as well. http://cn.scottbader.com/uploads/files/3381_crystic-handbook-dec-05.pdf Not sure there'll be room for them. The handle holes go pretty much into a curve. Awful design. Will hopefully get the doors off so I can show this better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted February 13, 2018 Author Share Posted February 13, 2018 Just a thought, DW. Have you done a compression test on the engine yet? Mate was by here today and mentioned that the "sneezing" that both of ours is currently doing (which nearly lost me my eyebrows today at one point) is a classic symptom of a slightly leaky inlet valve. Planning to check that on mine shortly (aka: as soon as the compression tester surfaces), but might just be worth checking. Quite likely that these engines have spent a lot of their lives doing low speed stop-start work and the heads could well benefit from a decoke. You've got a fancy endoscope camera haven't you? Might be worth seeing if you can see anything meaningful through the plug hole or down the inlet manifold. If it didn't mean disturbing 43 year old exhaust manifold studs I'd have already had the head off to have a look... No, haven't done a compression test. It drives. If it can cruise at 50, I'll be happy. I'm still blaming the carburettor, as that's easier. DeeJay 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zelandeth Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 Likewise! My personal suspicion is that these will both run a million times better once they've spent an hour or so actually under load. My carb is probably coming to bits for a clean tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted February 13, 2018 Author Share Posted February 13, 2018 Let me know how you get on. Interested to know how stripped they can become. As for electrics, like you, I just want easy-to-get fuses and more reliable connections. Sod originality on out-of-sight stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honey Badger Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 Not sure there'll be room for them. The handle holes go pretty much into a curve. Awful design. Will hopefully get the doors off so I can show this better. Maybe a bit of ally plate bent to the curve bonded on with a MMA adhesive would help spread the load, it would also give you something to laminate against, it's going to be fun finding the right shade of ladyboy blue gelcoat as well. Top work with this wee motor, the videos are top notch as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted February 13, 2018 Author Share Posted February 13, 2018 Maybe a bit of ally plate bent to the curve bonded on with a MMA adhesive would help spread the load, it would also give you something to laminate against, it's going to be fun finding the right shade of ladyboy blue gelcoat as well. Top work with this wee motor, the videos are top notch as well. Thanks. That's more my thinking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie Honda Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 No, haven't done a compression test. It drives. If it can cruise at 50, I'll be shitting myself. I'm still blaming the carburettor, as that's easier.FTFY Felly Magic, dollywobbler and DeeJay 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuvvum Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 That's the one I think...Didn't realise it was meant to have a lid! First plan for mine is to stick in in the dishwasher, it seems to do a fantastic job of cleaning brass up like new. I've nothing against the fuses to be honest - it's just the fact that it's becoming increasingly difficult to find them in physical stores that puts them out of contention for me. The only ones I seem to be able to get within 10 miles of here at suppliers I know are boxes of 2x 20A ones...other ratings, nope! Have to resort to web based suppliers. I know, carry spares and all that - but you could be good money on the one day that you accidentally short something out showing someone something and pop the one that isolates the entire starter and ignition system would be the day that the spares weren't in the car or you've just given them to someone at a show to sort their own car out with...Murphy's Law and all that...The advantage of the glass fuses is that in an emergency you can replace them with a Philips screwdriver bit from a Poundland socket set. paulplom and Lacquer Peel 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted February 13, 2018 Author Share Posted February 13, 2018 The advantage of the glass fuses is that in an emergency you can replace them with a Philips screwdriver bit from a Poundland screwdriver set. That's what I did yesterday pretty much... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Longbridge Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 Doubt it'll work. These were never registered to the driver as far as I can work out.Ah, that'll be a problem. Who did actually own them? I assume records are long gone... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Felly Magic Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 Rough guess the DHSS owned them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
st185cs Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 Just a thought, DW. Have you done a compression test on the engine yet?Mate was by here today and mentioned that the "sneezing" that both of ours is currently doing (which nearly lost me my eyebrows today at one point) is a classic symptom of a slightly leaky inlet valve.Yep, I’ve heard that too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted February 14, 2018 Author Share Posted February 14, 2018 New oil filter and rocker cover gaskets arrived today, so they got fitted and I refreshed the oil again. All seems to be staying inside so far, though my poor neighbours have had to put up with a shouty flat twin once more. Aircooled cars are LOUD! Oil recommendation is straight 30 grade, though 20 in the summer. I was warned away from synthetic as it can apparently cause problems with the oil seals. However, I ran out of 30, so she's got a mix of that and semi-synth 10w40. Started absolutely instantly (after an ignition-off crank to build up oil pressure), but she's definitely chugging a bit on tickover. I left her idling for a bit, and the nearside rocker cover was much warmer than the offside, so that iffy valve theory may be true after all. Open the throttle and she chugs briefly before clearly firing on two. Can't say I much fancy pulling a head off, so wondering if some Redex abuse may help. Also received new (well, used) lower plates for the engine. They're not great, so I really am going to have to strip those and paint them I suspect. Vince70, RayMK, richardthestag and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil_lihp Posted February 14, 2018 Share Posted February 14, 2018 Excellent progress, I don't think I quite 'get' the Invacar thing but that doesn't stop the videos being entertaining viewing. The first test drive was a good distraction whilst peeling vegetables, looked absolutely terrifying. I wasn't expecting it to be that lively but as has been said, they don't weigh much I guess. My only memory of these is being in the car with my parents as a kid and us being held up by an elderly lady driving one through Westward Ho! very slowly with much uncertainty of direction. madrat and dollywobbler 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Felly Magic Posted February 14, 2018 Share Posted February 14, 2018 You will sort this Ian, you may gain more grey hairs in the process mind, plus perhaps a singed beard when the carb farts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnthonyG Posted February 14, 2018 Share Posted February 14, 2018 There is an old boy in Cheltenham who drives his mobility scooter on the road, this is a pavement model with no plates or lights or anything, I like to think he is dreaming of a drop top Invacar but the scooter is the closest he can get. I do remember these in Herefordshire in the early 1990s but they had all gone by about 1996. Anyway well done for persevering and look forward to seeing this beast in it’s plastic blue flesh in July. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scruffy Bodger Posted February 14, 2018 Share Posted February 14, 2018 I remember one of these being driven regularly on the Clee Hill to Ludlow road in South Shropshire in the early to mid Nineties on a regular basis. Very glad to see this one brought back to life. It'll give many people a WTF was that moment as it trundles by hopefully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Felly Magic Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 I think this will be a real attention grabber at the festival, because they virtually vanished overnight, at one point you saw em everywhere, then as Ian would put it, 'ptssssssssh', gone. You deserve much kudos for doing this Ian, this really is a long lost bit of motoring history you are bringing back to life,and being disabled myself it brings a real smile to my face to see this project developing. Team Wobbler are doing a sterling job, well done to you & Rachel mat_the_cat, tooSavvy and st185cs 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted February 15, 2018 Author Share Posted February 15, 2018 Thanks folks. Comments like that do help with motivation. Still a lot to do! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcars Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 Have you gone for the non existent foot brake yet? Must we weird to drive, would love a drive in one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted February 15, 2018 Author Share Posted February 15, 2018 Oh yes! If you watch the first video, it cuts to my right foot trying desperately to operate a brake. They are scary to drive, with a lot of potential for disaster. No wonder they got such a reputation... Anyway, here's another video, containing another drive. johngarty, CGSB, Exiled_Tat_Gatherer and 16 others 19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
They_all_do_that_sir Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 Oh yes! If you watch the first video, it cuts to my right foot trying desperately to operate a brake. They are scary to drive, with a lot of potential for disaster. No wonder they got such a reputation... Anyway, here's another video, containing another drive. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqrM_6ks4xw&feature=youtu.beJust as an aside seems a nice place you have there, quirky layout to the house Sent from my F3211 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilA Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 Charging yes but it shouldn't go out by going dim. Does look like it cuts off the no-charge warning though and cuts back in too soon. It should be a sharp on/off so it looks like the regulator just needs a bit of adjustment. Those Lucas ones are good once they are set up but it said in my book it all needed to be adjusted up when it was up to temperature. What's "up to temperature" in Wales? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noel Tidybeard Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 Thanks folks. Comments like that do help with motivation. Still a lot to do! get your finger out you slacker! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: madrat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zelandeth Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 Regulator on these is a Bosch unit, and I've heard from a few people in totally different places now that they can be a swine of a thing to adjust properly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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