RV8 first run - repost

[chesterak]

I ran my engine for the first time a couple of weeks ago - only for a few minutes. Since then I've bought a motor bike and have been enjoying the fine weather so no work on the Cob. Anyway, I ran it again tonight to check out rad fans, try to set idle mixture etc, and does the exhausts get HOT!. I mean, glowing RED HOT! The manifolds are home made 4 into 1 stainless 11/2" dairy tube - I know its a little small for a 4.6 but I thought as the overall side pipe system is relatively short, it shouldn't make too much difference. Is it "normal" for thin walled exhausts to glow at tickover speed? Also, the engine smokes like a b*stard (blue smoke, assume oil). It got a liberal oiling during the rebuild, but is this usual? I have little experience with petrol engines. Any advice welcome.

Stan

"It may be life Jim, but we need more ventilation in the garage!!..."

[kev]

Not normal. Sounds either too advanced or too weak or both. It may well glow cherry red under load, but not on tickover It may burn some oil when it's running in as the rings bed in, but it shouldn't smoke like a b*****. Have you run the camshaft in ?

Definitely needs checking over.
Kev

[russell_ram]

More likely to be too retarded than advanced. And no it shouldn't smoke for much more than a minute or so to burn off 'build lube'. Smoking Rover are normally valve stems - what heads have you got? new type with 'hood' stem seal (blue - push fit on stem)? These definately shouldn't smoke. Otherwise piston rings is likely.

More info!

Russ

[chesterak]

I have the hood type stem seal. When I rebuilt the engine the bores, pistons, rings looked ok so I didn't replace them - maybe I should have invested in a set of rings. I ran a glaze buster up the bores and put it all back together. I've checked the ignition with a light and its about 8-10 deg at tickover and advances to about 30 deg with vac advance disconnected - there are two ports on the Weber carb and two connections on the distributor (on each side of the diaphragm) I'm not sure what goes where.
Stan

"It may be life Jim, but not as we know it..."

[russell_ram]

'its about 8-10 deg at tickover and advances to about 30 deg with vac advance disconnected'

Are you sure that's what you mean?

Timing should be 8 deg at idle with vacuum DISCONNECTED - then advance to 25 -ish with vacuum CONNECTED! Most RV8 lucas distributors have two vacuum ports - one for vac advance one for vac retard. Vac retard was used in some markets to reduce emissions at idle. If what you said is right then you have the carb vac port connected to the wrong connection on the distributor vac unit. Connect it to the other one and try again, re-time the engine to 8 deg vac disconnected. It should then ADVANCE to 25 - 30 with the vac unit connected.

Russ

[russell_ram]

Picture of distributor vacuum ports. You should be using the one marked 'advance port'.

Russ

[chesterak]

I set the advance by rotating the distributor to approx 8 deg - where it seemed to tick over evenly - the vac was not connected as I was unsure which port on both dist. and carb - thanks for the pic, that explains the dist. - I assumed the advance I was seeing to about 30 deg was mechanical only ( I havn't had chance to recheck, but it may have been closer to 20 than 30 deg - I'll recheck tomorrow. Thanks for the help.
Stan

"It may be life Jim, but not as we know it..."