alanrichey

Just to be contrary I wound up the front suspension on my Superspec about 1" and that cured the problem. I have no doubt the handling was affected, but as I have only ever driven my Superspec I don't know what the handling is supposed to be like It still goes around corners OK, I have done 4000 miles since and there is no appreciable tyre wear and I have been up to 8o mph and there was no tendency to wander. A damn sight easier than trying to lift the engine as there is zero clearance under the bonnet. See http://the-superspec...ustment_10.html for all the details I did fit a sump guard as well, (made from the original boot cover) and have kissed the ground a couple of times in the last year but nothing major. See http://the-superspec...sump-guard.html for that one. Works for me

Just heard back from the organisers that they are full booked as far as display vehicles go, so if you do go it will just be as an ordinary punter.

http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/leisure/events/steam-on-rutland-water.aspx Just a heads up for next weekend. Late notice but only just found out about it (thanks Pete Lee). Have e-mailed the organisers to see if kit cars are treated as exhibitors (free entrance?) or just as normal. I'm still away but if the weather is good it should be a good show. If anyone does go I would be interested to know if it worth including on the calendar for next year. Al

One card

OK, obviously not a huge rush of enthusiasm for this year I've told the organisers to expect anywhere between 0 and 4 cars. On that basis they won't bother trying to group us together as last year, but are happy for us to be treated as display cars. So for those that do go (and I do recommend it as a day out) just park anywhere on the hills at Castlegate or Heathcote Road with the rest of the classic cars. And enjoy the day. Here is a Google Maps link that shows the entry point for display cars.

Thanks Chris, no problem, I don't need exact numbers, As you remember, you can just pitch up and park on the hill.

Looking at the weather forecast for tomorrow (Saturday) I doubt I will be going to 'Horsepower at the Hall'. Good luck to anyone else who fancies trying And still waiting for replies for the Midsummer Fair at Castle Bytham so I can tell the origanisers. So far only 1 and a half and 1 possible. Is that it ? Al

Have you got the standard Escort instrument cluster ? The one with a Blue and Black multiplugs ? If so this is as far as I have got so far. Might help if your colours are the same.

Well we managed the Rutland Water picnic today so we can tick that one off. What I need to know now is how many will be attending the Castle Bytham Midsummer Fair (http://www.midsummerfair.co.uk/) on Sunday 21st just so I can give the organisers a rough idea of numbers. So far I have Kerry & Sharon Derek & Mo (dropping in on the way back from Cromer) Mark (iceman46) (Possible) Any more ? Al P.S. Don't forget "HorsePower at the Hall" next Saturday (13th)

Cracking day, although Rutland Water was incredibly busy (not surprising really), but we managed to find somewhere to park all the cars together. Good turn out, although I was the only person from Lincolnshire , many thanks to all who came and supported it.

Ever since I became Area Sec I have promised we would have a Sunday lunch picnic at Rutland Water. Having seen the weather forecast for Sunday I think this is the weekend to do it. I know it's short notice but I don't want to waste the opportunity. Basically I intend to take a picnic lunch to the Car Park next to the Tourist Information Centre and anyone who wants to bring one is welcome to join me. No need to say if you are coming, just pitch up. If no-one else comes I shall just have a gentle stroll then an afternoon nap in the sunshine. Will probably get sunburned. The Car Park is in the North-East corner of Rutland Water (Follow this link for Google Maps) and charges £1.50 for an hour, £3 for all day. I intend to be there from about 12:00. There are lots of areas to park, although it might be quite busy so whoever gets there first can bag a pitch. Al

Planning on going but looking at a scenic run east of the A1. See you there.

They woke us up at 04:00 on Sunday morning. If I had been younger I might have walked up there....

Snap

Done, thanks

I am trying to get one of those for the Rover 'T' DOHC engine in my Superspec. So far I have found only one and they wanted £51 for it !! I'm going to try and make one myself from a spare piece of stainless. Unless someone here has a spare............

Good news. Hope you are producing a proper wiring diagram for us

Forgot to add that from diagram ignition switch appears to have 3 wires Pin 1 (Brown) (12V in from battery ?) Pin 4 (White) (12V out switched supply ?) Pin 7 (Brown/Red) From Engine (Starter ?) Still guesswork

According to the 'official' Rover ECU wiring diagram, Pin1 (White/Yellow) should go to the Coil -ve and Pin 25 (White/Black) should go to the Coil +ve. But on my copy of the Superspec wiring diagram Pin 1 is not used and Pin 25 (White/Black) actually goes to the Coil -ve. The Coil +ve appears to be connected to Pin 4 on the ignition (White, and I assume is a switched +12V supply ?), which is also connected to Pin 11 on the ECU (Green/Pink) which is the 'Ignition Sensing' pin. I don't enough about how the ECU works to explain the logic of all that so can't promise anything.

Yes, that makes sense. I guess on a tintop there may be a further panel to go through that doesn't exist on ours.

OK, all done, and Richard was correct. The crucial bit of information I hadn't realised before I asked the question was that the outer cable itself was threaded and that the whole plastic unit moved along the cable. I know Ken and Ian told me to check the adjustors, but in this case I felt it wasn't essential. My problem was that the handbrake did not start to 'bite' until the 4th or 5th click of the ratchet and wasn't full on until I did 7 or 8 clicks. So I just wound the cable in a bit so that it now starts to bite on the 2nd-3rd click and is fully on the 5th click. Feels much more positive and no sign of binding even on the first click.. I did finish up tweaking them both equally, just in case, and the picture is before I tightened the second locknut. Still not sure what the purpose of the extra washers are ? . Al

Thanks, good advice, but my question was a lot more basic than that. Have never done this before and wanted to understand how it works before getting under the car. Let me try again. I have the standard 2 cables going through the chassis member, each with two white knurled knobs and what is apparently a floating plastic white washer, So how do they work ? Are they: 1. A unit that screws into the chassis with the outer knob acting as a lock nut. So I would loosen the outer knob and then screw the inner knob anticlockwise to move it away from the chassis member to take up the slack and then tighten up the outer knob ? 2. A unit that simply sits into a hole in the chassis member. so in that case I would grip the outer knob and turn the inner knob clockwise to increase the distance between them to take up the slack ? And am I supposed to adjust both equally ? The Sierra manual seems to suggest you only adjust one of them and the cable will self adjust ? And what is the purpose of the floating washer ? Thanks Al

Can someone confirm for me the procedure to tighten the handbrake cable on a Superspec (I assume the handbrake is off a Sierra). Is it the large white knurled plastic nuts that go through the chassis member ? Or on the bowden cable itself nearer the handbrake lever ? Assuming it;s the white ones, do I adjust both equally or just one of them ? And do I screw them out of the chassis member (towards the back of the car) to tighten the cable, or screw them into the chassis member ? Cheers Al

Hi all I know we are only half way through May but I thought I would give everyone a 'heads-up' for June for your diaries. On Saturday 13th June, Richard (richard7), Mick & Stella (mowerman) and I will probably again attend the "HorsePower at the Hall" meet (https://www.facebook.com/horsepoweratthehall, I see we are still their cover photo ) at Doddington Hall near Lincoln, from 09:00 to 12:00. Even with the rain there were still about 100 cars turned out at the May meet, so if the weather if half way decent there should be a much better turnout. A great chance for catching up with everyone, in a petrol-head environment, with a pub lunch afterwards for those interested. On Sunday 21st there is the annual Castle Bytham Midsummer Fair (http://www.midsummerfair.co.uk/). We had 9 cars there last year and I know everyone who went enjoyed it. It is a 'classic' village show (stalls, classic cars, BBQ, duck race, beer tent, morris dancers, BBMF flypast......). The organisers have said we are welcome to come back, and as the theme this year is the 60s, it is appropriate that they display lots of Lotus 7 lookalikes. Please let me know if you are interested so I can give them a rough idea of numbers. Still looking for a good weekend for a picnic meet up at Rutland Water