12-05-2019, 07:55 PM
Mick, my instinct here is to go back as far as possible to a known condition.
I think you've done the right thing returning to L86C plugs - unless there is something exotic you are not telling us about these should be fine. Personally I would gap them to 0.020". Thereafter leave them alone.
Make sure your points are clean, again personally I would set them 0.012 - 0.014". Then leave them alone. After re-setting timing for points just starting to open at TDC that is.
Fresh fuel - good. And bags of compression, also good.
The bit I'm wondering about is the queue getting out of Wollaton. It's hardly the most extreme set of circumstances - are you sure overheating was caused by the state of engine tune and not another reason? e.g. blockage in water passages / rad somewhere? A newly re-built engine is likely to run hot anyway if still in the 1st 500 miles.
Have you checked your tappet clearances?
Which leaves carburation. As Alan said, is the piston rising and falling freely? And is it damped? Check you have some thin oil in the dashpot (3 in 1). I would take steps to convince myself there are no air leaks between carb and manifold / manifold and block (or windscreen wipers) before mucking about with needles or jets. An air leak here is hard to spot and will throw you right off.
As for needles, go back to what was last running OK. After all that work on your engine it may need some adjustment, but the old condition should still run. Start again from scratch with the jet setting, as Reckless says start with 2 turns out and refine from there.
I think you've done the right thing returning to L86C plugs - unless there is something exotic you are not telling us about these should be fine. Personally I would gap them to 0.020". Thereafter leave them alone.
Make sure your points are clean, again personally I would set them 0.012 - 0.014". Then leave them alone. After re-setting timing for points just starting to open at TDC that is.
Fresh fuel - good. And bags of compression, also good.
The bit I'm wondering about is the queue getting out of Wollaton. It's hardly the most extreme set of circumstances - are you sure overheating was caused by the state of engine tune and not another reason? e.g. blockage in water passages / rad somewhere? A newly re-built engine is likely to run hot anyway if still in the 1st 500 miles.
Have you checked your tappet clearances?
Which leaves carburation. As Alan said, is the piston rising and falling freely? And is it damped? Check you have some thin oil in the dashpot (3 in 1). I would take steps to convince myself there are no air leaks between carb and manifold / manifold and block (or windscreen wipers) before mucking about with needles or jets. An air leak here is hard to spot and will throw you right off.
As for needles, go back to what was last running OK. After all that work on your engine it may need some adjustment, but the old condition should still run. Start again from scratch with the jet setting, as Reckless says start with 2 turns out and refine from there.