A van for the 80s

Talk about your cars etc here. Keep it sort of sensible and on topic please.
DodgeRover
Posts: 13610
Joined: Sun Apr 14, 2019 11:24 pm
Has thanked: 1813 times
Been thanked: 2668 times

A van for the 80s

Post by DodgeRover »

As some of you may know my work vehicle is a lwb transit from 1985 - one of the last mk2s, powered by the mighty* 2.0 pinto engine when fully laden it boasted an impressive* power to weight ratio about 20 bhp/ ton.

Today was checking the valve clearances and plugs to try and find the source of an annoying cold misfire and random poor running when hot at idle.
Here is a before picture I've just removed the has feed to the BLOS LPG carb and the vacuum line to the servo
IMG_20191208_122231_0.jpg
IMG_20191208_122231_0.jpg (4.8 MiB) Viewed 5082 times
Unusually the clearances were all ok but have gone for Kent cams setting of 0.3mm exhaust rather than the standard 0.25 - it's got a Piper hitorque cam but that didn't come with any valve clearance settings.
Doesn't sound any different to how it did before.
Checked, cleaned and re gapped the plugs, obviously burning oil on 1&2 number 3 looked normal, 4 looked a bit weak checked the only manifold did and nipped one slightly near number 4 so hopefully that's fixed..

Finally got around to fitting the new top hose and joiner I bought when I fitted the big new rad, replacing the cut up Di one I salvaged and the bit of 32mm waste pipe as a joiner...
2019_12_08_053323.png
2019_12_08_053323.png (267.55 KiB) Viewed 5069 times
DodgeRover
Posts: 13610
Joined: Sun Apr 14, 2019 11:24 pm
Has thanked: 1813 times
Been thanked: 2668 times

Re: A van for the 80s

Post by DodgeRover »

I'll just keep updating this as and when I do things then I should be able to remember at least what had been done!

And yes I know that hose is very red but it was all I could get delivered next day as I thought the old one wouldn't hold...
User avatar
AlabamaShrimp
Posts: 1276
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 11:30 pm
Location: Yorkshire
Has thanked: 164 times
Been thanked: 88 times

Re: A van for the 80s

Post by AlabamaShrimp »

Do you have any pictures of the rest of it?
These are some words.
DodgeRover
Posts: 13610
Joined: Sun Apr 14, 2019 11:24 pm
Has thanked: 1813 times
Been thanked: 2668 times

Re: A van for the 80s

Post by DodgeRover »

I shall snap away tomorrow, I had assumed most folks had seen it in the other place.
User avatar
cros
The Elastrator
Posts: 5704
Joined: Sat Apr 13, 2019 9:58 am
Has thanked: 1897 times
Been thanked: 2113 times

Re: A van for the 80s

Post by cros »

I'm not suggesting this is your problem cos obviously it has been running OK, but I found the blos wasn't happy with a K&N straight on it and had to stick a length of pipe between the two on my MGB otherwise the mixture was erotic at low speeds. K&Ns are a problem for normal mixers but in theory shouldn't be for a blos. Not much help am I?
User avatar
Hooli
Self Appointed Internet God
Posts: 33180
Joined: Mon Apr 08, 2019 9:25 pm
Has thanked: 14100 times
Been thanked: 10987 times

Re: A van for the 80s

Post by Hooli »

That could make sense a short intake like that means the air is still turbulent when it reaches the mixer, along with the cold air currently maybe cooling the LPG too much as it hits the airflow?
Private signature, do not read
DodgeRover
Posts: 13610
Joined: Sun Apr 14, 2019 11:24 pm
Has thanked: 1813 times
Been thanked: 2668 times

Re: A van for the 80s

Post by DodgeRover »

No idea really, it's only got a k&n as BLOS recommended it, I could try extending the tube but don't want to encourage a ram air effect either getting it in the airflow at speed.
Mixture at idle does seem very hit and miss though no matter what settings you try, there no reason it should be as it gets a bloody good vacuum when cracking and the bypass screw in the vaporiser is fully closed, to be absolutely honest I really wish I had bought an IMPCO set up instead of the BLOS
User avatar
Asimo
Posts: 624
Joined: Thu May 23, 2019 7:46 pm
Location: In the wind
Has thanked: 787 times
Been thanked: 1129 times

Re: A van for the 80s

Post by Asimo »

Likely an ignition weakness: distributor cap and/or rotor arm. Plug caps / leads etc.
Just possibly a burned or sticky valve. Try a compression test.............
Eliminate all of these and then think about the fuel-side.
DodgeRover
Posts: 13610
Joined: Sun Apr 14, 2019 11:24 pm
Has thanked: 1813 times
Been thanked: 2668 times

Re: A van for the 80s

Post by DodgeRover »

Asimo wrote: Tue Dec 10, 2019 9:11 am Likely an ignition weakness: distributor cap and/or rotor arm. Plug caps / leads etc.
Just possibly a burned or sticky valve. Try a compression test.............
Eliminate all of these and then think about the fuel-side.
Welcome to the dark side!

They've all been done multiple times, new valves and unleaded seats fitted 20 or 30k ago. The Isle on this engine had always been a bit crap/ uneven on has our petrol even before it was refreshed.
Have got a megajolt to try and improve sparks and run a better ignition curve for the gas but I need to find time....
Last edited by DodgeRover on Tue Dec 10, 2019 9:49 am, edited 1 time in total.
CLINT
Woke as fuck
Posts: 2131
Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2019 10:40 am
Has thanked: 1090 times
Been thanked: 565 times

Re: A van for the 80s

Post by CLINT »

DodgeRover wrote: Sun Dec 08, 2019 11:32 pm I really wish I had bought an IMPCO set up instead of the BLOS
Er, what?
OMG U OK HUN?
Post Reply