Technical Questions

[jensen-healey]

Please can someone help with a couple of so simple technical questions on my mark 1, well three actually and one not so simple.

First, I cannot get the airscoop out of the rollover hoop. However I jiggle it there always seems to be too much "lip" below the scoop to lift it out.

Second, similar question with the rear light lens. The lens seems to be welded into the black cluster, so that the screws seem superfluous. I suspect this may just be a lifetime's dirt, but fear any more forcewillbreak the lens cover.

Finally, and I fancy this will not be so easy, can anyone throw a light on this. Last night I noticed that the temp had gone up to 27C just as I was arriveing home. I needed little excuse to add a further mile even at low speed to push some air through the rad to try and cool things down before turning off. On htis extra mile, for some reason I turned the lights off. Temp immediately dropped to 91C, its usual reading. Put the lights on again and temp straigt back up. Doesn't seem to be anythiing to worry about once you know it, but this suggests something else might be lurking.

Andrew

[benyeats]

Hi Andrew,

I have been fixing my MK 1 rear lights this weekend and found that big thunder had glued the lenses in so that could explain it (iirc yours was a big thunder car). You are a step ahead of me in so far as you even have the screws !

Had the same experience as you with the airbox so await the solution with baited breath

Cheers

Ben

[Bruce Fielding]

jensen-healey said:

First, I cannot get the airscoop out of the rollover hoop. However I jiggle it there always seems to be too much "lip" below the scoop to lift it out.

You can't! It was a design flaw resolved on the Mk 2. To remove this, you need to remove the whole black engine cover. It's not difficult, apart from the fuel filler - you need to disconnect that. Undo the worm screw and pull the large rubber hose away from the metal. Then you can remove the panel easily. THis is on a standard Mk1. I'm not sure what mods apart from the oil filler were made to the Big Thinder cars.

jensen-healey said:

Second, similar question with the rear light lens. The lens seems to be welded into the black cluster, so that the screws seem superfluous. I suspect this may just be a lifetime's dirt, but fear any more forcewillbreak the lens cover.

As Een says, they're glued. When replacing with screws, make sure you don't overtighten, as the lens plastic is fragile. The plastic cowl is also very fragile - especially at the point where the bolt goes through. I glue metal washers either side of the hole to add rigidity.

jensen-healey said:

Finally, and I fancy this will not be so easy, can anyone throw a light on this. Last night I noticed that the temp had gone up to 27C just as I was arriveing home. I needed little excuse to add a further mile even at low speed to push some air through the rad to try and cool things down before turning off. On htis extra mile, for some reason I turned the lights off. Temp immediately dropped to 91C, its usual reading. Put the lights on again and temp straigt back up. Doesn't seem to be anythiing to worry about once you know it, but this suggests something else might be lurking.

Bizarre! Sounds like a short on the light circuit. No idea on this one...

[atom120]

Bruce Almighty said:

To remove this, you need to remove the whole black engine cover. It's not difficult, apart from the fuel filler - you need to disconnect that. Undo the worm screw and pull the large rubber hose away from the metal. Then you can remove the panel easily. This is on a standard Mk1. I'm not sure what mods apart from the oil filler were made to the Big Thunder cars.

Its actually possible to remove the intake housing without removing the fuel filler. If you remove the black "upper shelf" completely, and then all the bolts holding the "lower shelf", there's enough give in it to allow you to remove the cowling without having to remove the lower shelf.
Other than the oil filler relocation, I don't think there are any other mods to that bit of the car - apart from the extra supports for the "upper shelf" - which stops it from being quick-release, but does help reduce vibrations at higher speeds.

jensen-healey said:

Second, similar question with the rear light lens. The lens seems to be welded into the black cluster, so that the screws seem superfluous. I suspect this may just be a lifetime's dirt, but fear any more forcewillbreak the lens cover.

I ran a flat-head screwdriver round the edge of the lens between the rubber housing, and eventually the cover loosened up. I didn't realise at the time that they were glued - though it makes sense now! You'll soon get used to it - they blow with frustrating regularily!

Bruce Almightly said:

The plastic cowl is also very fragile - especially at the point where the bolt goes through. I glue metal washers either side of the hole to add rigidity.

This assumes you were lucky enough to get a Bruningthorpe car that still had bolts in the plastic cowl!!

[jensen-healey]

Thanks for the info Guys, much appreciated. I do in fact have both bolts for the rear clusters, although the offside one hangs out like a drunk, but due to the washers never actually disappears.

The glue amy be a tricky one, sounds like a job for a modelling knife.

Andrew