I wonder if the ol coors Beer can that leaks fuel so badly is having
intermitent fuel delivery problems? It doesn't really sound like it, but
let me relate this in case. On the Healey I have an electric fuel pump.
It seemed to me that my carbs were having float problems until oneday I
didn't get any ticking when I turned the key. Then my daughter got in the
car and it started !? Well, she was thrilled ,but I was puzzled. It
turned out that the power line to the pump was wrapped around the rear
axle to keep it high and safe. What happened was that the poor wire was
flexing and stretching with the suspension. It finally gave way INSIDE
the wire. Until I did a resistence and continuity check it looked OK.
With Megan in the car the whole car lowwered enough to make feeble
contact. On every bump it lost it. Odd.
Now on the TR3A the pump is mechanical. This little beast played another
trick that nearly caused disaster for one club member. The lever or
tongue which goes into the block to operate the pump is hinged on a pin.
The pin gave way over time and the lever was working on and off with
nothing really holding it there. When the chap pulled the pump to check
it the tongue stayed put and then nearly dropped into the engine!
Just a few thoughts in the matter.
Now, as for the ballaster resistor issue, of course a lot of our cars
have none. Neither of the above cars for example. It might be a little
harder on the points but it's one less thing to crap out, as anyone with
a slant six can tell you. It was ALWAYS the dan B.R. when they wolud not
start. I believe that the Lucas Sports Coil is ONLY for use in non
resisted ignition actually. Remember, however ,that many cars have a
resistive WIRE (usually pink) in the line from the ignition, bypassed at
starting. It does have to be a block of something to be resistive.
Chris Ball
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