our project

[piquet95971]

Another milestone today.

I spoke to Wilson Carburettors about the carby that I have to fit.
Told them all the numbers that were on it. They were impressed that the carby was an original Ford one by virtue of the aluminium tag riveted to the top of the carby.

It would appear that it's from a '60-62 ford truck fitted with a 292V8. So it should be fine for my 272. According to them better to put a kit through it rather than a newer model as they are a better unit.
Came home pulled it apart and cleaned it with some carby cleaner, put it back together and put it on the manifold.

The fortunate thing is that they confirmed that it would be OK to mount it as it was originally mounted with the fuel bowl to the front of the engine which is now towards the back of the boat. That means I don't have to re-route the fuel line but more importantly I don't have to change the hole in the engine hatch and make either a new hatch.

I am taking the distributor up the road to an ignition specialist. Hope they don't just laugh at me!
I'll be guided by them with regard to either staying with the original style of points and condenser or going to Petronix Ignitor type electronic setup.

I have heard some differing reports about the setup. Apparently the coils can be a problem according to some people.

Then it's on to the throttle setup

[Greg]

I am all for getting better performance and efficiency from any of the mechanical stuff I own, but I still enjoy old school immensely. Stuff that still works pretty much the way it always did, providing of course that it does the job satisfactorily.

I look at old Stormy. When restoring it, I thought about the home made inlet manifold and the old Stromberg 97’s sitting on top, the original generator that was hanging off the side, the original regulator and the newish high tech looking electric Jag fuel pump that was in fact as old as everything else there. How would all this go with a freshly reco’d engine?

I thought about banging on a big Holley, an alternator to replace the old genny, the Jag pump was stuffed so a new electronic pump was fitted (earlier). I thought about putting in some trick cam and whatever else could I do to stir up this old dinosaur Y block. There was going to be a few hundred dollars involved, but that really wasn’t an issue.

I mulled over it for a few weeks and thought: this old girl has been doing its thing for over 40 years (at the time) and was still doing it reasonably well. The carby and manifold set up was antiquated but it worked and seemed to work well enough. The electronic fuel pump wouldn’t supply enough fuel, so I went back to a – you guessed it – old style Jag pump. The cam – nah, who cares. The genny. It’s a speed boat. This thing is revving all the time, I’ll see how it goes. I did lash out though and a new coil – nothing special, just an ordinary coil. Also, a new set of points and condenser went in as well as fresh plugs and leads.

For the following 15 years, this set up, like the 40 years before, has rarely missed a beat.

Just thinking about it, I haven’t touched points or plugs for at least 5 years now. Maybe if I did I might get back a couple of the 6 or 7 mph I have lost at the top end over the years.

I like old school. Sometimes we can over complicate things. But maybe I am just a dinosaur as well.

[Darren]

No maybe about it, you are a dinosaur!

[piquet95971]

Greg, You're not a dinosaur at all; just stuck in a time warp. Maybe we should change your name to RH short for Rocky Horror!
The engine that came with our boat had an alternator fitted and the carby is from the period. A 2 barrel .
I have stayed with the original style mechanical fuel pump.

The Petronix thing is unseen and fits inside the original dissy cap. I suppose that it all depends on what my dissy is like when they check it out. I'm hoping that I don't have to get a new one but if that is more economical price wise it may be the best thing.

[piquet95971]

I took the distributor to Performance Ignition to be checked out today. I am going to remain with a points setup.
Their opinion was that I should probably get a better engine!!!!
Sacrilege.

This afternoon I did more on the wiring. Mounted the bilge pump switch, moved the ignition switch. I bolted the carby down and installed the sump drain tube.

So things are moving again.

[piquet95971]

Distributor done. It wasn't as bad as it could have been. So we now have a recoed dissy, kitted carby. Plug leads look OK, I may see if I can easily obtain a new set and also a new distributor cap
Wiring is almost complete ready for someone with auto electrical knowledge to check it out before I power it up.

Sump drain line installed.

Getting closer by the day.

Still have to work out the throttle cable, linkages and pedal.

[piquet95971]

Distributor re installed tonight along with a new dissy cap.
So it should work ok if it's going to work at all!
Soldered the connections to the coil and starter solenoid.

I did do a wiring diagram for everything but now can't find where it is hidden. Of course as soon as I do another one I will find the original.

I've got a mate coming on Sunday who knows these things. Hopefully he won't find too much wrong and then I can concentrate on the fuel tank and accelerator cable system. Saturday will be a day of tracing the wiring and redoing the diagram unless it turns up tomorrow night.

I have also bought an inlet manifold gasket set in case I feel inclined to remove and paint the manifold. The down side of doing this is that it will show up the other paint on the engine.

More news after the weekend.

[hookster]

Yeah bloody oath Greg you are a Dinosaur. Were you possibly posting under the influence Monday night Darren?

[Darren]

POST, MONDAY.... Cant remember either Hooks

Although there is a video on youtube of us singing
around the campfire: Portal - 13 Globes.
Did anyone leave a heath clock at my joint?

[piquet95971]

This update is easy.
No work was done as I managed to hurt my back on Friday at work so spent until this morning in bed barely able to get up and even then walking was a real problem.

The testing of the wiring will have to wait till next weekend.

I can't even do small things. Now I think I knows how Dave P feels!