70 S, RHD, Signal Orange, UK->Australia->UK

[911hillclimber]

Bob Watson told me never to labour a new engine, give it 2/3 red line and check the head nuts after 500 miles when you do the oil/filter change.
On my hillclimb DIY 3.2 total re-build, gave it death on the first run and have done for 6 years.

On ordinary cars such as my Skoda Superb oil-burner, just read the handbook and did what it said. (bought it new)

[BILLY BEAN]

I have been told a few times now that a new engine does need to be given the beans (once warm) to bed the rings in and that constant driving at low revs isnt that good for it.

There is something of an art to running in. Constant engine speed or continual load particularly in a high gear are to be avoided. It is about variety of driving and gradually building up maximum revs over say 1000 miles and not about pootling along. Bear in mind a 2.2 S engine ( the engine being run in) was built to close tolerances and does not come "on cam" until around 5250 RPM and has a maximum of 7250 RPM: "given the beans" to this level, I am convinced, would not enhance the long term health of the engine. Compare these rev limits to many modern engines. I have been driving for 55 years and covered well over a million miles in that period in a range of vehicles many of which were new
(and required a running in period).Never had a significant mechanical issue or break down except in an Audi A4 turbo which had an oil pump failure at speed. A number of my cars have done in excess of 100,000 miles and my last BMW over 200,000. I suppose I could claim some empirical experience?

[inaglasshouse]

Yep, will pull down the heads (and do valve clearances) at 500 miles. That will actually be the third oil change, I think... unless I have another leak, in which case it might be the fourth or fifth.
... and that's enough running in chat. Suffice to say we all think we know what we're doing, and some of us might even be right!

[210bhp]

I’ve said it before and been shot down but I still hold it to be true, it’s not just the engine you are running it (although that’s obviously the most important and valuable) but easing in of all new moving mechanical components, especially where some form of lubrication is involved, is also important for longevity of use.
Where have all the ‘running in-please pass’ rear window stickers gone?

Regards
Mike

[inaglasshouse]

Mike,
Whether or not gentle initial use is required for mechanical longevity, I found it comes pretty naturally. Given that nearly all the bolts on mine were done up by an idiot (me), it didn't really cross my mind that full beans initially would be a good plan!

[210bhp]

I think you are doing a great job Richard and it’s not everybody who would lay the bones out, good and bad, in a resto thread. It’s a learning curve for you and for us reading the backward steps as well as the leaps forward. It’s like being in an online moving mechanical engineering workshop class.
The car looks great.

Regards
Mike

[AndrewSlater]

Given that nearly all the bolts on mine were done up by an idiot (me), it didn't really cross my mind that full beans initially would be a good plan!

Made me laugh.

I must admit when I happily tested mine at 100+mph ( on a closed circuit obviously ), I had the same thought jump into my mind and couldn't help but slow to a less life threatening speed.

I have to say the car looks good ( but then doesn't Signal Orange stand out well ) - it will certainly attract a lot of attention. Have you found that within 2 minutes of parking up on a sunny day it is covered in living flies, bees, and other insects attracted to the hue? I always thought it would be easy to find an orange car in a car park - turns out you need to look out for a black / brown one.

Keep up the good work!
Andrew

[inaglasshouse]

Mike - there is at least one person who favours the warts and all account, and he's just posted after you! Andrew - yours was a proper rollercoaster.

Hi Andrew
I am keeping the speeds down to those unlikely to actually kill me (or anyone else) until a professional has had a look at mine. With that said it's easy to forget...
Yes, surprising amounts of attention. Lots of thumbs up etc, people filming. The insects do indeed love it!

In other news the new exhaust back box has arrived and I fitted it yesterday. It makes a rather excellent noise.

[inaglasshouse]

Amateur Hour is over. Time for some fettling by a non-idiot.

Looks like a nice early morning drive in the pic below? It wasn't! About 1.5 hours, which felt like a long way in a car that is quite far from sorted. Crap geo and spongey brakes are minor amusements when you aren't trying to keep up with modern traffic, but much less funny when it's busy.
Anyway I got there without breaking down, and the car is in good hands. I'm looking forward to getting it back in a more finished state. It will also be reassuring to have had expert eyes on the bits that can fail and kill you, catch fire, etc.

Also really nice to meet up with some DDK-ers afterwards: Andrew, Jonny, thanks for your hospitality. Good to chat.

[Dougieboy1]

excellent photo. Another calendar entry by the looks of it.

Great to catch up and good to put a face to the avatar, i shall have to toddle off to 'the expert' and see the completed car in the flesh having last seen it in skeletal form at Dr Carter's surgery .....

[AndrewSlater]

Mike - there is at least one person who favours the warts and all account, and he's just posted after you! Andrew - yours was a proper rollercoaster.

I think you have to be honest in your threads as it gives others a taste of what problems they may encounter ( or hopefully avoid ), but also that all these problems are surmountable with a little time and effort.

Have to say you quickly forget the problems you have encountered along the way.

That's an epic photo - calendar winner already!

[BILLY BEAN]

Amateur Hour is over. Time for some fettling by a non-idiot.

Looks like a nice early morning drive in the pic below? It wasn't! About 1.5 hours, which felt like a long way in a car that is quite far from sorted. Crap geo and spongey brakes are minor amusements when you aren't trying to keep up with modern traffic, but much less funny when it's busy.
Anyway I got there without breaking down, and the car is in good hands. I'm looking forward to getting it back in a more finished state. It will also be reassuring to have had expert eyes on the bits that can fail and kill you, catch fire, etc.

Also really nice to meet up with some DDK-ers afterwards: Andrew, Jonny, thanks for your hospitality. Good to chat.

Fabulous picture.

I see dark storm clouds ahead. I hope this is not a forecast related to the "expert".

[inaglasshouse]

I think you have to be honest in your threads as it gives others a taste of what problems they may encounter ( or hopefully avoid ), but also that all these problems are surmountable with a little time and effort.

Agree. I know that I found it useful to get a measure of the task involved before I started.
A little time and effort, you say? You seem to have omitted to mention the very large pile of cash...
Perhaps you've blanked that part from your rose tinted memory of the experience!?

[inaglasshouse]

I see dark storm clouds ahead. I hope this is not a forecast related to the "expert".

So far nothing major...fingers crossed.

[AndrewSlater]

You seem to have omitted to mention the very large pile of cash...
Perhaps you've blanked that part from your rose tinted memory of the experience!?

It is true that you do need deep pockets at times, because whenever the proverbial hits the fan, the 'expert' you are working with generally expects to be paid again to rectify the mistakes.

If you were to dwell on the money part you wouldn't ever dream to start - and that would be a shame.
If I was to ever do another car I think I would try to take on the challenge of the welding ( as with Gary71 ), and maybe even the paint ( as per PeterK).
The more people you are reliant on to complete the project the more disappointment and double costs you should expect.

But back to the photo still an epic car, hope you can finally enjoy it.