1057 replies to this topic

[kmol468]

I know I'm such a tease.....

[tractor]

Does this mean you got it running?

[kmol468]

Okay, so admittedly later than I planned, pleased find the next installment of the engine starting saga....
 
Firstly the water injection system was completely fitted, injector tapped into the top of the intercooler, pump fitted, the pressure sensor mounted and wired and the flow sensor mounted.
Also cleaned the air filter and inside of the re-used samcos.
Also finished the wiring and engine and gearbox earth straps. Also wired up the gearbox for the reverse lights.
Slightly bent the passenger seat mount so that the seat could be mounted solid.
Mounted the battery in the rear compartment (along with the fuel pumps!)
Routed the HT leads and connected a bracket to retain them and connected them up to the coil correctly.
 
So alot of fiddily jobs ticked off the list to get hear ready to start......
 
So filled her full of oil, filled her full of water and filled her full of super unleaded.......
 
So the first video is just a basic check making sure things are ready to go 

 

 

 
So the second video is of the system being primed with no attempted to turn her over - just to make sure everything is good

 

 

 

Little did we know, but the reconditioned Holley lift pump was weeping fuel, at an alarming rate, out of the bottom of the pump. After further examination the seal was knackered. So out come the spares and an identical lift pump was fitted curing the problem.
 
 
 
 
The third video is with the fuel system fixed and ready to fire

 

 

 
 
 
The fourth video is of the first start without the coil leads connected.

 

 

 
Alas it didnt start due to all the pratting about turning it on and off again and with a suspected starter motor drain,  the battery had drained. However it did turn over ever so slightly.
So we thought, right just get the jump leads out and try to turn her over.
 
 
 
The fifth video is of the second start with jump leads connected

 

 

 
Again, no such luck. The battery failed to have enough juice so with the evening dragging on and with batteries requiring charging, we packed up for the evening.
 
 
 
So Saturday morning I wake and my friend pops round with keen enthusiasm to get the beast started. However its bloody raining! However we get the waterproofs on and try it with a newly charged battery.

 

 

 
The engine turns over freely and spins with no water or oil leaks. However a few issues become apparent:
- no oil pressure on the stack system
- another slight fuel leak is discovered on the entry to the high pressure pump
- and the starter motor seems to be draining the system. As the newly charged battery has been drained and doesnt have the power to turn her over again! Its either that or theres something seriously wrong with the wiring.
 
So the plan tomorrow is to pull the starter off and see if she is at fault as there is no drain on the battery until the cranking stage...
Also the stack sensors probably need the connectors on the sensors flipped so that it displays readings correctly.
Then shes ready to fire up.

Edited by kmol468, 25 May 2014 - 11:28 AM.

[JackF]

So close now! I'm so excited and I'm only reading on a forum - you must be wetting yourself with anticipation now!

 

This has been a fantastically written build thread, backed up with decent photos and videos showing the good and the bad. Absolutely loving it.

 

I hope all goes well with trying to chase that drain on the battery so you can eventually get to the firing stage. Hopefully hearing the engine roar will make it all worth while

[rally515]

Oooo this is great, alomst ready to do a test session, with video i hope

 

Can't wait myself, so you must be really chuffed to be at this stage, keep up the good work,

Cliff

[kmol468]

Yeah its been abit of a slog with the project..... 5 years ago the thread started, but the fact that its 'nearly' there is great.
I think the starting of it will be epic and so satisfying. Also it will be the push to get on with it and finish it that ive needed.
 
Grrr I cant embed videos, bloody photobucket. But my friend has put some videos on you tube, links to be provided shortly

Edited by kmol468, 25 May 2014 - 11:51 AM.

[kmol468]

Slight update, I got the starter motor off and have confirmed that it's faulty, it was shorting in many places.
So I've got a new one on order. Hopefully when it arrives, bolt it in and it should be ready to fire. In the meantime I'll sort the stack sensors and the remaining buttons.

Oh and how come, when you want to work on your project/car it's always raining and when you don't feel like working on it it's always sunny!

[rally515]

Oh the joys we have in the uk with the weather Hahaha.

 

good to see it wasn't any big underlining problem then, easy enough to sort i guess

[tractor]

Good effort buddy, nearly there now

I'm afraid to say the weathers not looking much better for this coming week.

Trac

[Mini Gav]

I have just spent the past four hours reading this thread from the beginning and drooling over the pictures only to find that there's no video of it running (I'm sure you can understand how upset I am lol)

So I registered on here to make sure I see it finished and running!.. And also learn about minis before buying my first

Brilliant build and I love every bit of it, especially the choice of donor, think I'll have to do the same conversion to a mk1 fiesta some day

[kmol468]

Well Gav, just be patient. The car would have been started tomorrow however the supplier sent me the wrong starter motor. I'm going to phone up my local motor factors and get one!
There's nothing quite like learning on minis first hand. Yeah the fiesta / cosworth conversion sounds good.

[Mini Gav]

getting sent the wrong parts is a major pain in the ass, especially when you buy them before you actually need them and they only turn out to be incorrect when you need them.

i really want to build a 1275gt up from a rotter with parts missing so guess ill have to buy a few complete minis to fix up to get my head around them before i go building one from essentially just a shell. but im reading away on the forum for what to look out for when buying such a car (other than rotten everything!)

Edited by Mini Gav, 29 May 2014 - 03:22 PM.

[kmol468]

The wiring is done, thanks to maplins for the PC connector that I'm using for a multi plug to aid connection to all my switches and secs monitor.


Fitted:


Although I now face more wiring problems, the fuel pumps aren't priming and one no longer works. Swapped it over to the spare one again, using the good seal, only for it to leak petrol.
Need to seal it so if people know any sealant which resists petrol then that would be good as I can only source a gasket from America!
Then I need to sort out this wiring problem... Then in theory it will start.
However I am rather busy for the next couple of weeks so will be fitting it in amongst spare time and weather.

[kmol468]

Right, im so close to it firing I didnt want to pack away

 

Fuel pumps back together and working 

ECU relay figured out and wiring changed just to get the damn thing giving a feed to the pumps.

However the earth to the body on the strut tops wasnt even working!!!!!

Anyhow all that aside take a look at it almost starting

 

 

 

I have a video of it popping as my friend was just trying to apply a little throttle.... ill dig it out in a mo and upload it.

 

 

 

However with all the starting the battery was taking a beating, so its on charge and tomorrow should hopefully see it running

Edited by kmol468, 03 June 2014 - 10:55 PM.

[jpw1275]

Ooooo so very close!!!!!