Last few restoration niggles..

[ruarirhodes]

Hi all,

I've not been around for some time now, but finally have a Tasmin worth talking of. My dad and I have been restoring a 1981 280 for four and a half years(!) now, and it's finally on the road and running regularly having made its first public appearance at a friend's wedding yesterday. I'm proud to say it didn't even break down on the way there.

Now that I've been driving it for a while I've got a small shopping list of things to do, and I'm hoping that someone can shed a little light on a few questions, as follows:

• The fuel injection system definitely needs some fettling. The cold start injector isn't spraying - are these easy to find / what other cars were they fitted to? Is it standard on all K-jetronic systems or am I specifically looking for Ford parts? Also, the I've tested the aux air valve and its movement seems to be very limited - about 3/4 open at freezer temperatures and 3/4 closed at boiling point. Should it be running through the full range, and if so is it serviceable / obtainable?

• The engine seems unwilling to rev past about 4,000 rpm. I've not really pushed it as it's still bedding in, but is there anything that's likely to be limiting this?

• Any wise words or advice regarding aligning doors and windows? Seems like an impossible task!

• We had the gearbox rebuilt, but there's a little buzz that can be deadened by holding the gear lever when running through high revs, especially when the engine is warmed up. Any thoughts?

• All of the gauges are sticky from lack of use. Has anyone tried dismantling and cleaning the gauges before, and if so are there any pitfalls to look out for?

• The rubber seal we're using around the front edge of the folding roof is too thick to let the windows run against it. Does anyone know the correct size to use for this?

Thanks for any help you can give!
Ruari

[Wedg1e]

I think some 1980s BMW/ Audi/ Porsche used that system, amongst others.

[mrzigazaga]

Hi mate...The cold start injector was fitted in the 2.8i Capri..Granada..Sierra...Even the Rover V8...They shouldn't be that hard to find...I might have one somewhere i will have a look, Failing that i will pick you one up from the Ford garage..It will be secondhand.

The AAD should be fully open when cold..You should see a half moon shape if you were to hold it up and look through it...When warm/Hot it should not be possible to look through it...Sometime they get gummed up and you can clean them by spraying a small amount of either carb cleaner or brake & clutch cleaner and then cover each end with finger and thumb and gently shake it and empty it out..Repeat a few time and allow to dry thoroughly...Test the opening and closing again.

If it is totally shot then talk to Steve at : http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&...
He can sort most components out on the cologne...

Not sure what the restriction is as to the 4,000rpm...I can ask when i call the garage...Bit of a strange one!

The Rubber seal should be the same as the one that is used that goes all the way around the door openings and front windscreen pillar...If its different then you can match it from either..

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&...

Or

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&...

The window glass has a push bike cable tensioner that stops the glass lifting too high from the door..The doors themselves have adjustment at the hinge but if its hanging then the bush has probably become oval..Someone was going to machine some i seem to remember???...

The vibration in the gear lever might just be that...And nothing to worry about...If it has been rebuilt and all the bushes renewed, Although one was like rocking horse poo.


Cant wait to see some finished pics...Cheers...Ziga

[ruarirhodes]

Excellent answers, cheers guys - we'll have the rest finished in no time! I suspect the unwillingness to rev is just a product of a poor injection setup; possibly too much air when running warm if the bypass valve is sticking.

A few bits left to neaten up anyway, but I took her along to a friend's wedding this weekend where she did her best to upstage the bride...




..but luckily it went down well..




Finally, for undisclosed reasons I was able to procure an outrageous false moustache and really play the part of 70's Miami drugs baron / pornstar:




Suffice to say, I'm very happy to have the old girl back on the road

[Wedg1e]

ruarirhodes said:

..but luckily it went down well..

Really? She doesn't look that sort of girl...

[ruarirhodes]

...that moment when you realise that your previous post was a bad idea :P

[AceOfHearts]

Door alignment wise I had to modify an offset spanner from Halfords when I did mine.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[mrzigazaga]

ruarirhodes said:

Finally, for undisclosed reasons I was able to procure an outrageous false moustache and really play the part of 70's Miami drugs baron / pornstar:

If the Wedge was red i would of been tempted to call you "Magnum"....
Great pics...Great looking Wedge...A new contender for next years Wedge calendar....Although i should think of the theme soon....Cheers...Enjoy...Ziga

[ruarirhodes]

Thanks for the advice on the spanner, Ace - I'll give that a shot. Couldn't get near the rear bolts with a standard spanner!

Zig, I think I'll go for a name change by deed poll.. reckon I could pull it off :P

One more thing I've noticed is that the throttle is sticky around halfway through its travel - I think I've traced it to the linkage catching on the spring that I've circled in red here:



Is the spring clip in the right place? Seems like it's always going to interfere where it is so I suspect someone has reassembled it slightly wonky at some point!

Cheers!

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Mr selleck...The spring looks right...Have you cleaned out the inside of the throttle body at all as it could be a sticking throttle butterfly..Make sure the cable isn't snagging on anything also..Check the movement whilst turned off...Just push the linkage so that the throttle is full and let it go to see if it catches...I did put a throttle return spring on mine..It might help...Ziga

[ruarirhodes]

Odd.. it's definitely the spring that's catching. I'll just have to see if something else is worn that's affecting the alignment of the linkage I guess.

[mrzigazaga]

There is a little groove in the armature and perhaps its sitting out of it?....I have checked pics of Delilahs and it looks the same..



Ill rummage through all my other oils to see if i have a clearer picture...Ziga