Thanks - I’m just doing the one side for now. I reckon someone should have the answer amongst this knowledgeable bunch

Hi Team - I’ve set about changing over the swivels on my SIII - first major job I’ve undertaken on my car. Following various YouTube guides, I tapped out the half shaft bearing from the swivel using a punch - the only part accessible is the copper coloured inner cage (see photo) which suffered...

Hi All, I’m rebuilding each axle hub, swivel, brakes on the front of my series 3. Axle seal went so lots of smiley oil/grease mix in the bearings and components. Any tips on how to clean up the parts - particularly, how do you clean the oil out of the hub bearings so they can be greased...

Thanks guys - id lovely dearly not to rebuild. Can’t afford. Just wanted to know whether, if I rebuild the car around THIS engine, it’s not a waste of time if these reading suggest the engine is at the end of its life? From what you’re saying, those readings aren’t too bad which is brilliant...

Hi All - there is a lot of noise out there about compressions but wanted some straight up advice on my engine health. I have a 2.25 (2.3) petrol from early ninety 8:1 non gas flowed. I’m about to undertake a rebuild but before I open the money taps, want some advice on the engine condition...

Hi Col - have been doing timing at idle (c 600rpm). I have a tacho so I can organise that if you think a good idea? Would the timing still be at TDC at 1500rpm (per the book)? It’s not a converted head - I occasionally add additive but am a bit lazy with that. How would that affect it? Am a...

Hi - thinking of doing an electronic conversion on a ducellier dizzy - dame set up as you. Which kit did you use in the end and does the vac work or not? cheers tom

Hi - that’s useful to know. Presume I’m right setting the timing at idle using a strobe WITHOUT the vacuum connected? I set it at TDC at c. 600rpm - does that sound roughly right to you? I swapped the whole distributor when I went electric so I agree that might be the next thing to change out...

Hi Everyone - new battery. Problem still there. However, I have discovered that the carb (Weber 34 ICH brand new) is producing a decent amount of vacuum at idle - enough to up ideal revs from c. 600rpm to 750rpm. Could be as much as 8-10 degrees. If I set timing to TDC as per the book (with...

So - the new module arrived from powerspark and there was no improvement. Having browsed a ton of forums searching for starter kickback and electronic ignition, I found a bit of a theme. It appears that electronic ignitions need a really solid voltage to work otherwise they start playing up. If...

Thanks - I’ll give that a try. Powerspark have offered to send me a new electronic module for the dizzy - given they insisted on doing it for free (well out of warranty), I have a suspicion they may think it’s at fault. Will report back on developments.

I can’t remember when this first started but I’d changed a load of components around the time so he’s to pinpoint culprit. I’ve played around with timing and that has never fully cured it, wherever it’s set. If it’s not pre-ignition of the wrong cylinder, it’s that one cylinder is firing just...

I think we’re safe in assuming that one of the cylinders plugs is firing out of turn. From all the evidence, that pre-ignition could be caused by (1) dodgy distributor (whilst new, I may just have a dud), (2) a head gasket cross igniting or (3) some kind of arc-ing in the distributor. Option 2...

Thanks ExMil109 - from all the above, I am leaning firmly on your suggestion that one of the plugs is firing at the wrong time (makes a lot of sense) - question is why and why only on starting. I don’t believe the timing is out so I feel there must be a fault in the dizzy sending a spark down...

I wonder if this could be relevant. Might be signs of arcing across dizzy cap - cylinders 3 and 4. If only on starting, might explain why faint. Any help, much appreciated. Tom

Well now this is getting VERY INTERESTING. I filmed the engine on a GoPro and the results are that.... when it grinds, the engine is turning the wrong direction (!!) before violently correcting itself. The piston must be being forced down the wrong way on startup. Take a look!! The question...

Did you get a resolution to this?

Hi All - UPDATE. I tried retarding timing and there’s no improvement in the violent grinding on starting. I retarded all the way to a carb blowback so reckon that is ruled out. One thing I did notice is that if you try hand cranking, it gets very stiff at certain places (I assume top of the...

Did you get to the bottom of this? I have EXACT same and it’s driving me insane. Tom

How hard is it to amend the body work if it doesn’t fit?