John-Paul Bland wrote:
>The engine, however, isn't very free revving and
>the tacho seems to be reading falsely
>(4,500rpm @ 50mph in 4 th gear, no overdrive fitted).
The older tachometers were mechanical and should read correctly, are
the *speedometer* and *differential* original? 50 mph should only
require about 3100 RPM with the final drive ratio differential provided
with the Mk III. There are at least two varients of speedometer with
different ratios... did it *feel* like 50 mph when the speedo read 50...
of course 4500 RPM *should* have produced in excess of 70 mph.
>My friend who drove it, ( a Mk III owner) said this could
>indicate a serious problem or just the need for a good tune.
The tachometer/speedometer discrepancy should have nothing to do
with engine tune, but everything to do with the components mentioned.
>The car is for sale at stlg2,500 with a new canvas soft top, good hard
>top, good new car cover, + Kenwood stereo.
With a body in *excellent* condition and *good* to *very good*
mechanicals and hard top the price would seem just a little high
relative to US standards, (I can convert the stlg to $ but I do not know
how to adjust for UK market on LBCs) but not too bad if you can afford
it. Rust free bodies and frames that old are becoming rare.
>I'm unsure as to how bad the engine could potentially be and would
>appreciate any advice.
I would check engine compression look at oil from the dipstick
("clean" or dirty and "sludgy") and crawl underneath before passing
judgement on the engine.
>If the engine is shot, how easy/much would it be to get a replacement
>1.3 engine, or would I have to get a 1.5 and would this drastically
>reduce the value of the car?
1300's are not easy to find in the US, and 1500's are often fitted
into MK IIIs unless you are attempting to maintain totally pristine
condition, the switch to the "stronger" 1500 should not be harmful of
value as a "driving" car.
>I also don't know when I will next find a nice condition (body work ,
>chassis) example for quite a while.
If you are mechanically handy, good body and electricals are ever so
much more "valuable" than drive train. The drive train components are
*very* easily replaced! Of course, "good electricals" and "Lucas" do
not belong in the same sentence together!
Best wishes that you find a fine LBC in the land of LBCs!
regards, John
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