A week or two ago, in a post (cant remember who), Harvey made mention that unbalanced carbs can, in some instances contribute to vibration within the car.
I have mentioned before an annoying vibration that creeps into the car at @ 2500-2800 rpm, and that I felt its origin was the transmission.
In a separate post, Ron noted how NGK plugs went black in his motor, whereas Champion did not.
I have NGK in mine, and had noted how black they were.
Upon changing them to Champions, I noticed the NGK were black on one side, but of a healthy colour on the other.
To me, this was evidence of carb imbalance.
Taking on board what Harvey said, I figured I would explore said path.
A part of me thought it may be largely futile, as I had spent the better part of $400 taking the car to a well regarded expert to sort carb/timing/kickdown cable stuff @ six months prior.
This time, I decided to take it to my old (70yrs and 55yrs as a mechanic) Italian Alfa mechanic who I have been going to for the past 15 yrs.
Just said to him..."'balance carbs, lift idle to 750 now that A/C is operational, adjust timing if needed(which I figured may not be so good as I had to adjust it by guess turning the dizzy to take the awful pinging it had a while back)...adjust kickdown cable if needed, report on dizzy condition"
Upon picking up the car his prognosis was...
Carbies were out, but are now sorted
Timing not too bad...out a little. (Christ...my guess turn was close to the mark!) :shock:
Kickdown cable needed a slight adjustment
Lucas dizzy in pretty good shape, a little rotational movement but not fore aft.
I have not yet driven the car at speed, but already there is a night and day difference.
Motor is utterly smooth!
Before there was always a sense of imbalance or roughness which I just thought of as "normal" I guess.
Now, barely know the motor is going.
In accelerating, car is so much smoother and quieter.
Havent got it to "the speed" where the "thrumming" thing really starts to happen, but fingers are crossed and breath is gently held.
And so, in the good news the "bad news' was revealed...a total waste of $400 initially to get things basically set up wrong.
Grrr!! :x
Which brings me to why the car has not been driven at speed and the latest "GRR".
Had to be flatbedded to the auto elec yesterday as the (rebuilt) starter motor shit itself.
Whats that saying about good help being hard to find...?
I have mentioned before an annoying vibration that creeps into the car at @ 2500-2800 rpm, and that I felt its origin was the transmission.
In a separate post, Ron noted how NGK plugs went black in his motor, whereas Champion did not.
I have NGK in mine, and had noted how black they were.
Upon changing them to Champions, I noticed the NGK were black on one side, but of a healthy colour on the other.
To me, this was evidence of carb imbalance.
Taking on board what Harvey said, I figured I would explore said path.
A part of me thought it may be largely futile, as I had spent the better part of $400 taking the car to a well regarded expert to sort carb/timing/kickdown cable stuff @ six months prior.
This time, I decided to take it to my old (70yrs and 55yrs as a mechanic) Italian Alfa mechanic who I have been going to for the past 15 yrs.
Just said to him..."'balance carbs, lift idle to 750 now that A/C is operational, adjust timing if needed(which I figured may not be so good as I had to adjust it by guess turning the dizzy to take the awful pinging it had a while back)...adjust kickdown cable if needed, report on dizzy condition"
Upon picking up the car his prognosis was...
Carbies were out, but are now sorted
Timing not too bad...out a little. (Christ...my guess turn was close to the mark!) :shock:
Kickdown cable needed a slight adjustment
Lucas dizzy in pretty good shape, a little rotational movement but not fore aft.
I have not yet driven the car at speed, but already there is a night and day difference.
Motor is utterly smooth!
Before there was always a sense of imbalance or roughness which I just thought of as "normal" I guess.
Now, barely know the motor is going.
In accelerating, car is so much smoother and quieter.
Havent got it to "the speed" where the "thrumming" thing really starts to happen, but fingers are crossed and breath is gently held.
And so, in the good news the "bad news' was revealed...a total waste of $400 initially to get things basically set up wrong.
Grrr!! :x
Which brings me to why the car has not been driven at speed and the latest "GRR".
Had to be flatbedded to the auto elec yesterday as the (rebuilt) starter motor shit itself.
Whats that saying about good help being hard to find...?
