following the trials without the exhaust - I have ordered a straight through back box - every little bit of efficiency gain will help. I have gone oldskool and gone to the tried and trusted Cherry bomb.
I was also looking at the thermostart device - apparantly - according to lucas/cav it is supposed to have a fuel line attached (it hasnt on the dog) so that when you operate it a dribble of diesel drips onto the hot coil and causes a hot belch of nastiness to get the engine started. I will have to replace is it as I think I burnt it out trying it dry. If I do - then I will need to connect a fueld supply from the spare connection on the fuel filter manifold. Does anyone have an idea what the fitting sizes (thread size and type) is on the perkins fuel system. I think they are the same as the injector fittings
... and another thing. If I do bite the bullet and go for a petrol engine some time in the future - what sort of lump will fit in place of the perky that can power this wheeled shed.
I was looking at the log book and for some reason it says it has a 2.2 litre diesel, but the perkins is 1.8 Did they originally have a 2.2 variant and what was it?
I have another mod planned. At the rear engine bulkhead in the corner where the perkins gets hottest (in this corner there is dead air where the exhaust manifold sits with not great air flow) I am going to cut a 1" hole through which I am going to connect a 90 pipe bend. looking in the back of the van this pipe will enter at foot level and point down through a second 1" hole in the floor.
The aim is to establish a route for an air flow from this engine bay hot spot to improve the overall engine bay cooling dynamics - photos to follow (after the MOT)
You could fit a small fan in the area like a computer cooling fan, I think they run off 12v - or maybe even one of car as long as it fits in the space.
If you stick with Rootes engines then a Rapier lump is the way to go, Colin Hart fitted one to his Tourstar and it goes very well - I know I was behind him on the run out last Saturday
did have an advisory though - slight play nearside & offside front (king pin) front suspension
so for an extra £5 he greased all my grease nipples using one of those pneumatic greasers
I did have a moment on the way there - the engine got hot and squirted about 1/2 pint through the overflow pipe - after that it was fine ( I think I had overfilled the rad and the expansion forced it out)
only downside - alternator failed during the test so he had to jump start me to get me away
and he had to pump my tyres as they are commercials (55psi) which my piddly little compressor couldnt manage.
managed 40mph on the way home!
now to fault find the alternator, I think it might be wiring as it runs across the top of the block
i think i have found the fault on the alternator - the neutral was open circuit, stripped back all the tape to find a broken attempt to solder two lengths of wire together. I have now completely rewired the alternator. It did go to the starter motor where it piggy backed the leads from the battery - i have decided to re-route straight to the battery, taking a slightly longer route to avoid the engine block