Abarth Stradale getting ready for 3MA14

[idahobrava]

Simon,  Better yet... If I win the lotto I'll ship all your cars here.  The idea sounds so fun, better go get a ticket, they draw tonight.  Mike Stinson

[131akafa]

Good luck Simon!
Just in case: You could add one day before and after 3ma14 and we can put a 2000TC engine in (to keep up) and out (to keep it original) your 'S' in my or better Gerald's Garage 
Although I'm optimistic that this won't be neccessary: Lampredis might be easy to break but for sure they're hard to kill - I'll keep my fingers crossed anyway.

Like the idea of US-3ma. But I think changing the T-shirts  from "3ma-european-tour" to "3ma-world-tour" is far easier than winning the lottery

[simon131]

Thanks for your 'kind offer' Rene  but hopefully a 2000TC being dropped into my 'S' won't be necessary now. Just look at what the Post Lady delivered at 13.30hrs today........

Thanks to Tony Castle-Miller at Middle Barton Garage for saving the day!! 

Things are looking up.........let's hope it fits 

[sid131]

Well does it fit???

[simon131]

Won't know until Sunday Sid, when my Technical Adviser and I will attempt the repair. 

[simon131]

Having spent six and a half hours on Sunday doing a 30 minute seal replacement  I am pleased to report that the oil leak from the dizzy has now been fixed.

The reason for the extended time is that the taper pin removal wasn't exactly easy  Lots of bashing, filing, more bashing, WD40, bashing, etc., etc.,  Suffice it to say that refitting took seconds 

So, this morning I drove it 75 miles to my office in Kent and am happy to report that aside from two small issues she ran sweetly - although fuel economiy is an issue. Almost half atank for 75 miles 

The two small issues are  - a small water leak from the radiator cap and a loose battery earth clamp (stripped bolt). Will have these sorted before the weekend.

[kev131]

Great news Si....except for the fuel economy...or lack of it. 

Can you imagine your mood if you were trying to keep with the convoy on the interesting bits...... in the Special?!!

Now, the tables are turned and we'll all be enviously admiring the handling from your IRS!!

[sid131]

Good news Simon
Question does the stradale have limited slip differential?

[simon131]

I am pleased that the Abarth managed it's morning M3, M25, M26, M20 commute today without too much incident, but I'll feel much happier if it gets me back home too! 

I blame Theo for the poor fuel economy  as he turned almost every screw on my carb on Sunday. We'll have to find which ones he turned in which direction and then turn them back.

I have no idea whether the car has an LSD Sid, I've just always assumed that the engine was never powerful enough to spin the wheels. 

[Thotos]

I blame Theo for the poor fuel economy 

 

I'm sure the M3, M25, M26 and M20 traffic had a lot more to do with it than my screw-twiddling....

[simon131]

Ordinarily Theo I might agree with you about the English motorway network being instrumental on poor fuel economy, especially the M25, but as I left home at 0545hrs this morning and maintained a very steady speed I think it had little to do with it today.

[Thotos]

OK, in that case I'll blame the poor fuel economy on someone's insistence to retard the ignition 

"The one who smiles when something goes wrong is the one who thought of someone to blame it on!"   

[simon131]

Nice try Theo 

When (if?) I get home I'll dig out the carb exploded diagram I have and find out which one of the screws is for the mixture.

The timing is in the right place - no pinking and plenty of power under all conditions 

[jasonh131]

Simon , the mixture only adjust the mixture at idle hense the name ' idle mixture screw '
 it must be the timing 

[simon131]

Er, yes Jason, thanks for that