Jeff - I would check the timing. Timing can cause overheating and other
problems.
-----Original Message-----
From: Richard B Gosling [mailto:Gosling_Richard_B@perkins.com]
Sent: Tuesday, January 02, 2001 11:01 AM
To: JeffreyLos; spitfires
Subject: Re: Strange happenings
Jeff,
Can't be sure here, but I suspect two different problems here.
I think it is very likely your temp gauge is mis-reading, particularly as it
is
way up high even with the thermostat removed. It is possible that the
sender,
or the gauge, is screwy, but my first instinct would be to check the 3rd
item
in that circuit - the voltage regulator. This device (if you have not met
it
before) takes the rather variable voltage from the battery, and reduces it
to
a nice, fixed 10V. This is important for accurate gauge readings. It can
decide to die, in which case it will put out the full battery voltage. As
a
result, your temp gauge (and, for that matter, your fuel gauge) will read
high. If you are getting high fuel gauge readings then this is undoubtably
your problem - even if your fuel gauge isn't too far out it is worth
checking.
Simply put a voltmeter on the two terminals of the regulator in turn - one
should read 12.5V or so with the engine not running but the ignition on
(full
battery voltage), the other should read 10V. It will need to be earthed
properly to work (in fact your problem could be as simple as the regulator
not
being properly earthed). You should find the regulator trapped under one
of
the screws that hold your tachometer onto the back of the dashboard.
If it doesn't work, buy a new one - they are cheap (and non-fixable, unless
you
are a real electronic guru, and even if you are there probably isn't much
point).
If it is not the regulator, then it is probably the sender or the gauge -
but
lets deal with that issue if we come to it!
The white smoke in your exhaust - could just have been the weather. Could
have
been water in your engine/exhaust/fuel that built up while the car was
sitting. Might be coolant, either via a dodgy cylinder head gasket or
(worse), a cracked cylinder head or block - let's hope not! The best way
to
tell is to drive the car for a while and see how fast you are losing
coolant.
Mis-firing - I am no expert here, but my instinct is that it is not related
to
the white smoke. I would, however, deal with the mis-fire first and then
see
if the smoke sorts itself out. Basic rule with a poor-performing engine is
assume electrical maladies first, then move on to fuel maladies. It sounds
like you have checked the electrics comprehensively, so I would look at the
carb next. Except that I know little about carbs, and nothing about carbs
that aren't SUs, so I can't really help you from here! All I'd say is
that,
given the symptoms, I would suspect the carb not the fuel supply (poor fuel
supply is most noticeable under acceleration, not idle).
Hope I've helped,
Richard and Daffy (who seems to have forgiven me for leaving her buried
under
3" of snow, unused, for 10 days over Christmas by starting up right away
this
morning!)
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