J400 GED Chimaera Chassis refurb
Discussion
Cokes said:
Awesome work mate 
The sense of achievement in what you've done must be great. The first turn of the key and hearing the engine roar into life.
I think I'm about 6 weeks away from having mine complete. Mostly due to the interior and roof being done at the end of July.
Thanks mate.The sense of achievement in what you've done must be great. The first turn of the key and hearing the engine roar into life.
I think I'm about 6 weeks away from having mine complete. Mostly due to the interior and roof being done at the end of July.
Took it to Snetterton today, to see the racing and for a shakedown.
I started to hear a clunk when going on and off the throttle - spoke to John (Engineer 1949) and tomorrow I will order new front diff bolts and replace what I have but will also make sure that they are done up F tight!
I noticed that the lower radiator hose was weeping between the cores, so, that along with a temporary repair to a weep at the bleed point boss, means I have decided to replace the radiator hoses and get the rad repaired. I don't think I'll bother with re-coring as the cooling system actually works really well, even if there are a couple of minor leaks.
Lastly, whilst on the parade lap, I got a judder from the front under braking. All the bushes and ball joints are new so it shouldn't be these, so I will replace the front discs and pads. (before anyone asks, I am sticking with standard brakes and pads)
ClassiChimi said:
I used locktite on my calipers and the correct torque setting but had one come loose Ged,,
Mate,, I'm sorry I didn't get over to see your car,,,,
We had to get home but now I'm thinking 10 mins wouldn't have mattered,,
I really want to do a lift,, anyway much respect to your effort your car looked great.
Thanks for the compliments Alun. Mate,, I'm sorry I didn't get over to see your car,,,,
We had to get home but now I'm thinking 10 mins wouldn't have mattered,,
I really want to do a lift,, anyway much respect to your effort your car looked great.
I'll double check that everything is secure before ripping things apart - sods law states that if I don't then that's definitely what it will be.
Quite a successful morning so far.
New Coolant Sensor fitted and cold start seems to be sorted... tomorrow morning's cold start will be the proof for this.
Front Brake Caliper to Upright mounting bolts - got a "tweek" on 3 out of the four - there is still a very minor vibration but certainly not a judder. I will re-assess this once I have had the new front tyres and the geometry set. Thanks for the pointer Alun.
Coolant - checked the level this morning and it hasn't lost any coolant, so I will monitor this for now
Just the rear end clonk to sort now!
New Coolant Sensor fitted and cold start seems to be sorted... tomorrow morning's cold start will be the proof for this.
Front Brake Caliper to Upright mounting bolts - got a "tweek" on 3 out of the four - there is still a very minor vibration but certainly not a judder. I will re-assess this once I have had the new front tyres and the geometry set. Thanks for the pointer Alun.
Coolant - checked the level this morning and it hasn't lost any coolant, so I will monitor this for now
Just the rear end clonk to sort now!
Tightened 3 out of 4 of the diff front mounting bolts. All are now F tight!
The clonk has gone.
I can hear some drivetrain backlash if I'm aggressiive in and out of the throttle but nothing else.
Cold start was much improved this morning - so the new coolant sensor seems to have helped. I also re-set the base idle after the coolant sensor had been replaced.
Could someone tell me - in simple concise steps - how to check/set-up the throttle pot please?
The clonk has gone.
I can hear some drivetrain backlash if I'm aggressiive in and out of the throttle but nothing else.
Cold start was much improved this morning - so the new coolant sensor seems to have helped. I also re-set the base idle after the coolant sensor had been replaced.
Could someone tell me - in simple concise steps - how to check/set-up the throttle pot please?
J400GED said:
Tightened 3 out of 4 of the diff front mounting bolts. All are now F tight!
The clonk has gone.
I can hear some drivetrain backlash if I'm aggressiive in and out of the throttle but nothing else.
Cold start was much improved this morning - so the new coolant sensor seems to have helped. I also re-set the base idle after the coolant sensor had been replaced.
Could someone tell me - in simple concise steps - how to check/set-up the throttle pot please?
I've found the info I require.The clonk has gone.
I can hear some drivetrain backlash if I'm aggressiive in and out of the throttle but nothing else.
Cold start was much improved this morning - so the new coolant sensor seems to have helped. I also re-set the base idle after the coolant sensor had been replaced.
Could someone tell me - in simple concise steps - how to check/set-up the throttle pot please?
I checked the throttle pot, afm and base idle and these are all now correct.
It still struggles to hold idle on a cold start, so next on the list is cleaning the stepper motor and if that doesn't help, I will have exhausted all the £0 cost things I can think of, so next will be the spark plug shrouds - the plugs, leads, dizzy cap, rotor arm and vacuum capsule are all new - so all the igition system downstream of the coil will be new barring the dizzy itself.
It's been fun doing the shakedowns having had this week off and glorious weather to boot.
It still struggles to hold idle on a cold start, so next on the list is cleaning the stepper motor and if that doesn't help, I will have exhausted all the £0 cost things I can think of, so next will be the spark plug shrouds - the plugs, leads, dizzy cap, rotor arm and vacuum capsule are all new - so all the igition system downstream of the coil will be new barring the dizzy itself.
It's been fun doing the shakedowns having had this week off and glorious weather to boot.
Finally got round to checking the ignition timing today
I had already accurately determined TDC (when I had the engine out) and marked the pulley wheel accordingly.
It was reading 4deg BTDC @ idle and 20deg BTDC @ 3500.
So I adjusted it to 10deg BTDC @ idle.
Will do a cold start in the morning and see how it copes, then take it for a run to see how it drives as well.
I also plugged in my rover gauge for the first time...... now to analyse the results 
I had already accurately determined TDC (when I had the engine out) and marked the pulley wheel accordingly.
It was reading 4deg BTDC @ idle and 20deg BTDC @ 3500.
So I adjusted it to 10deg BTDC @ idle.
Will do a cold start in the morning and see how it copes, then take it for a run to see how it drives as well.
I also plugged in my rover gauge for the first time......
now to analyse the results 
Nosh said:
Not sure someone goes through this (seemingly) very satisfying journey to make their car worth more....
.....you love it and it deserves it, right??
Nosh
(PS - I even found myself mumbling to my car today, with soothing words - sheesh!)
.....you love it and it deserves it, right??
Nosh
(PS - I even found myself mumbling to my car today, with soothing words - sheesh!)
I think Cokes' point is to make sure he has high enough insurance cover rather than wanting to sell and make some money.
As I have just had the suspension geometry set up this morning, this will hopefully be the last post from me on this topic.
Thanks to all for reading this topic, I hope you've enjoyed it.
Thanks to those with encouragement and advice.
At present, the next phase of refurbishment on the Chimaera is a full respray, which is planned for Spring 2016.
That will then leave the roof and interior.
Thanks to all for reading this topic, I hope you've enjoyed it.
Thanks to those with encouragement and advice.
At present, the next phase of refurbishment on the Chimaera is a full respray, which is planned for Spring 2016.
That will then leave the roof and interior.
Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff