Tommy's A-series Misery - New Car Alert!

[captain_70s]

Nicely done. I've been meaning to do Club Triumph's Round Britain Reliability Run for yonks.

Of course I'd have to do it 1.5x as the start/finish is Lands End...

In a Dolomite obviously, the Acclaim would be cheating.

[sharley17194]

Permali

2 hours ago, Liggle said:

Great work. My next rally is UK based but a 1.2 engine limit for extra misery! Most north, east, south and west points of Britain in 5 days. 

 

You will struggle in 5 days unless you take the boring routes, we did all the exciting routes and LETSJOG took 6 days.  But we took the nicer routes like north devon and NC500. 1.2 is actually fine, my AX was 1.0 litre and a hoot to drive. Id suggest a panda if you are sticking with the 1.2 limit.

[sharley17194]

1 hour ago, captain_70s said:

Nicely done. I've been meaning to do Club Triumph's Round Britain Reliability Run for yonks.

Of course I'd have to do it 1.5x as the start/finish is Lands End...

In a Dolomite obviously, the Acclaim would be cheating.

the main issue isnt the run its self its getting to and from the start/finish points. LETJOG isnt far....till you double it, add in fuel, food and sleeping stops and any detours while looking for less motorway roads.

[Liggle]

2 hours ago, sharley17194 said:

Permali

 

You will struggle in 5 days unless you take the boring routes, we did all the exciting routes and LETSJOG took 6 days.  But we took the nicer routes like north devon and NC500. 1.2 is actually fine, my AX was 1.0 litre and a hoot to drive. Id suggest a panda if you are sticking with the 1.2 limit.

I’ve got a 2003 Clio 1.2, as I know I can fit! I’d struggle in an AX or similar 

Routes are tbc by organisers, if it’s anything like previous rallies it’ll be checkpoints but make your own route in between 

[sharley17194]

TBH i really dont fit in the AX but we are keeping it for now. Plan to o some shows next year i think,

On 11/17/2021 at 12:23 PM, Liggle said:

I’ve got a 2003 Clio 1.2, as I know I can fit! I’d struggle in an AX or similar 

Routes are tbc by organisers, if it’s anything like previous rallies it’ll be checkpoints but make your own route in between 

 

[Tommyboy12]

Back to 'normal' duties. Still sporting all the filth of its 4,000 mile epic.

[Tommyboy12]

Finally got the turbo Mini out and had a look at oil temperature on a long run. I think it's safe to say I now know the problem.

It already has an oil cooler so I'm going to have to look at moving it and putting a fan on it

[Tommyboy12]

A momentous occasion has occurred!

[Tommyboy12]

While the Montego continues to be a reliable steed (ignoring the suspension knock it's gained and the blowing exhaust) I continue to press on with the Mini engine rebuild.

Parts have started arriving. A high lift cam and a series of engine tuning bits. New exhaust, alloy inlet, k&n filter, fully adjustable cam chain kit, +20 bore pistons.

To go with it I have a previously modified cylinder head (a 202 Alexander Engineering modified head incase there's any boffins out there) and a replacement engine block to replace the cracked one. I drowned the block in machine wax before storing it about 6-7 years ago so it's in good nick despite looking grim covered in all that wax. The head, crank and block were dropped off at the machine shop today. Should be ready in a couple of weeks.

[Minimad5]

Are all the quick bits going in the Montego ?

[Tommyboy12]

1 hour ago, Minimad5 said:

Are all the quick bits going in the Montego ?

You can't improve on perfection no matter how slow it is 😂

[anonymous user]

1 hour ago, Minimad5 said:

Are all the quick bits going in the Montego ?

I would expect the worn out bits from the mini to replace the even more worn out bits on the Montego 

[Tommyboy12]

Old for old seems to be a good mantra for the Montego!

[Noel Tidybeard]

what fun to adapt an RC40 to fit Monty should have a nice rasp

[sharley17194]

I still think he should turbo it, Montenogo needs to be montyallgonoshow

 

[Sham]

What no one has addressed is the real question...

Why is the engine block wearing a black t shirt?

[Tommyboy12]

13 hours ago, Sham said:

What no one has addressed is the real question...

Why is the engine block wearing a black t shirt?

Because nobody deserves to lay bare on cold tiles at this time of year 😅

It saved my floor getting greasy and me forgetting then falling on my arse going to the fridge for cheese 😂

[Cord Fourteener]

On 11/19/2021 at 4:26 PM, Tommyboy12 said:

Back to 'normal' duties. Still sporting all the filth of its 4,000 mile epic.

This looks perfect.

[Tommyboy12]

The Montego continues to be surprisingly reliable and has become somewhat of a staple workhorse. The battery isn't appreciating the cold weather but it still starts up every time.

However, my downpipe replacement has been blowing for some time and I decided in my infinite wisdom that doing it in the drizzling rain this afternoon was definitely the best time to try and resolve it by resorting to a couple of extra exhaust clamps around the slices where the join are.

I also discovered that there's a lot of oil underneath instead of inside 😅

[somewhatfoolish]

That's the A series anti-corrosion system in operation.

[2flags]

16 hours ago, somewhatfoolish said:

That's the A series anti-corrosion system in operation.

It saves changing the oil, just keep topping it up and knowing that at least some part of the car won't rust. 😄

[bezzabsa]

still kicking myself for getting rid of a Big valve cooper head many moons ago.....and I reckon the Montego would be a hoot with a turbo

[Tommyboy12]

8 hours ago, bezzabsa said:

still kicking myself for getting rid of a Big valve cooper head many moons ago.....and I reckon the Montego would be a hoot with a turbo

Somebody did offer me some cheap metro turbo manifolds which I am still umming and arring about...

[Jenson Velcro]

33 minutes ago, Tommyboy12 said:

Somebody did offer me some cheap metro turbo manifolds which I am picking up tomorrow...

Edited 

[sharley17194]

Finally found time to edit the LETJOG footage....in normal youtube world it would be 3000eps but i'll try and keep it to a couple of vids.

[Tommyboy12]

Did some more Mini turbo stuff. After fitting an oil temp gauge I confirmed my oil is getting too hot. Running temp according to valvoline is 120C. Mine was hitting 135C which doesn't sound like much but it's enough to ruin the oil quickly. I also had a fuel return pressure issue, the exhaust is leaking at the turbo elbow, and also my carb has been missing the heat shield for some time. So I got busy fixing all this over the new year.

Turns out I'm an idiot and fitted the fuel filter to the return line which is why it was seeing high pressure and messing with my regulator. I have now rectified this by removing the filter and putting it on the correct line...

Next on the list was better oil cooling. Basically most of my cooler was blocked the bonnet and heat is getting trapped when it rises in the engine bay so I lifted the rear bonnet pins like any good modified car and used a hole saw to ruin my bonnet. I'm also getting a PC fan to aid air draw through. Temps are a more reasonable 115C now.

Next up I whipped the carb off for its heat shield. Those who know the Metro Turbo know the carb sits above the turbo on the A series and basically boils the fuel out the carb float bowl leading to delayed starting when hot. You can see the heat shield fitted underneath the carb now. Should hopefully help with restarts (along with the raised bonnet).

As the carb was off its the best time to tighten the clamp on the turbo elbow. Thus no more exhaust leak. It's buried down here. I can just about manage it with everything in the engine bay but it is a bit of a pain.

And half way back together.

Meanwhile I have bought a 1.3 A series from a Maestro with a 4 speed box...

[Fumbler]

38 minutes ago, Tommyboy12 said:

Meanwhile I have bought a 1.3 A series from a Maestro with a 4 speed box...

Ooh- what's that for I wonder?

Also, that turbo Mini looks absolutely ludicrous under the bonnet. Chaotic perfection.

[Tommyboy12]

Well it couldn't possibly be for anything other than more abject misery while driving the Montego by removing a gear from the bag 😂

It was cheap and it'll be a good source of spares for my fleet of A-series cars

[yes oui si]

Raising the trailing edge of the bonnet makes air go in there, not out. It will stall airflow through the cooling pack and work against you. 

[Tommyboy12]

2 hours ago, yes oui si said:

Raising the trailing edge of the bonnet makes air go in there, not out. It will stall airflow through the cooling pack and work against you. 

Im missing the inner wings and I have no grille so airflow is probably a mess in the engine bay anyway. That being said air passing over the top of the bonnet at high speed/high pressure should draw air out the gap not suck air into it. Same principle as an aeroplane wing creating lift.