51 replies to this topic

[stevelane]

Timing was checked with a strobe light at 1500 rpm as the haynes manual suggests with the vacuum advance off.

The air filter is the type that surrounds the dash pot and I have opened this up and looks pretty clean but I am pretty new to all this so I could be wrong

[Ethel]

If you have a strobe it may be worth also checking the advance up through the whole rev range. Setting it a la Haynes is great: provided the dizzy gives the intended advance curve. It could be sticking or the wrong one for your engine.

[tiger99]

All the above advice is good, i.e. ensure that it is tuned properly. 60 is disappointingly low, my City E would cruise at 80 all day, with a 2.95 FDR. However, when the transmission blew up spectacularly, and I went to an outfit run by an insurance company, a long time ago (near Tolpits Lane, Watford, I don't know if they are still there) to get a complete power unit, the car ended up accelerating like a rocket, and topping out at 60. The problem was that the FDR was completely wrong. I put my City E carb, manifold and distributor on it, so it should have been identical to what I had replaced, but it wasn't. It came with a twin port exhaust manifold, so it was from a Metro, and although it turned out to be a very good engine, I had to change the FDR and speedo drive gears (all done in situ, somewhat of a struggle) to restore the proper top speed, and, of course, economy.

 

So I think you need to check your FDR as first priority. Have you a tacho, and what does it read when doing 60 in 4th gear?

[stevelane]

Ok, may be time to bring in a mechanic as this us out of my area of knowledge

[Ethel]

You really don't need a mechanic, just a friend with a reliable car you can compare speed & mileage readings with along a stretch of road. Hooking up a rev counter, even temporarily, will be a bonus.

[stevelane]

I'm pretty sure my speed is accurate, it's knowing what I need to do to get more speed or even just to say what I am getting is normal is the bit I need the mechanic for

[Ethel]

I really don't think it's something where a mechanic can contribute a lot, it's likely to just need time to go through some relatively simple checks.

 

Confirm the final drive ratio

Look for mechanical drag: brakes, tyres....

Look at induction basics: blocked filter & air leaks

Check the ignition:  being able to swap out some parts would be handy.

Look at the fuelling.

[stevelane]

Ok, so here's the problem, you lost me at 'confirm the final drive ratio'. I wouldn't even know how lol

[Carlos W]

Ok, so here's the problem, you lost me at 'confirm the final drive ratio'. I wouldn't even know how lol

 

Do you have a rev counter?

[stevelane]

Ok, so here's the problem, you lost me at 'confirm the final drive ratio'. I wouldn't even know how lol

 
Do you have a rev counter?

Yes I do

[Carlos W]

 

 

Ok, so here's the problem, you lost me at 'confirm the final drive ratio'. I wouldn't even know how lol

 
Do you have a rev counter?

Yes I do

 

 

Excellent.

 

If you've got a sat nav go out, and see how many revs the engine is doing at 60mph on the sat nav.

 

Then come back and post it and we'll work it out.

 

Also, what speed the speedo is reading when the sat nav says 60mph

[stevelane]

 

 

Ok, so here's the problem, you lost me at 'confirm the final drive ratio'. I wouldn't even know how lol

 
Do you have a rev counter?

Yes I do
 

 
Excellent.
 
If you've got a sat nav go out, and see how many revs the engine is doing at 60mph on the sat nav.
 
Then come back and post it and we'll work it out.
 
Also, what speed the speedo is reading when the sat nav says 60mph

Ok great, thanks

Won't be until later, need to adjust valve clearances and can't do that whilst I have an 18 month old clinging to my leg ;)

[Carlos W]

 

 

 

 

Ok, so here's the problem, you lost me at 'confirm the final drive ratio'. I wouldn't even know how lol

 
Do you have a rev counter?

Yes I do
 

 
Excellent.
 
If you've got a sat nav go out, and see how many revs the engine is doing at 60mph on the sat nav.
 
Then come back and post it and we'll work it out.
 
Also, what speed the speedo is reading when the sat nav says 60mph

Ok great, thanks

Won't be until later, need to adjust valve clearances and can't do that whilst I have an 18 month old clinging to my leg ;)

 

 

Don't worry mate, those small hands will be great for when you drop something into an inaccessible area of the car, probably a spanner, or a bolt

[stevelane]

 

 

 

 

Ok, so here's the problem, you lost me at 'confirm the final drive ratio'. I wouldn't even know how lol

 
Do you have a rev counter?

Yes I do
 

 
Excellent.
 
If you've got a sat nav go out, and see how many revs the engine is doing at 60mph on the sat nav.
 
Then come back and post it and we'll work it out.
 
Also, what speed the speedo is reading when the sat nav says 60mph

Ok great, thanks

Won't be until later, need to adjust valve clearances and can't do that whilst I have an 18 month old clinging to my leg ;)
 

 
Don't worry mate, those small hands will be great for when you drop something into an inaccessible area of the car, probably a spanner, or a bolt

is it wrong to suggest that that is the reason we had him? ;)

[cal844]

Ok, so here's the problem, you lost me at 'confirm the final drive ratio'. I wouldn't even know how lol

 
Do you have a rev counter?

Yes I do

 
Excellent.
 
If you've got a sat nav go out, and see how many revs the engine is doing at 60mph on the sat nav.
 
Then come back and post it and we'll work it out.
 
Also, what speed the speedo is reading when the sat nav says 60mph

Ok great, thanks
Won't be until later, need to adjust valve clearances and can't do that whilst I have an 18 month old clinging to my leg ;)

 
Don't worry mate, those small hands will be great for when you drop something into an inaccessible area of the car, probably a spanner, or a bolt

is it wrong to suggest that that is the reason we had him? ;)

No!!