1988 Vari-Ho - Same running issues return. *11.08.10*

[filthyjohn]

a garage opposite Boldon greyhound stadium where a friendly chap keen to pump my petrol asked 'fill er up ?'

That's why the petrol there is 10p a litre more expensive
Pleased it seems to have potentially cured itself too.

[macplaxton]

Weird. I think we must of entered the twilight zone.

[volvosneverdie]

hold the front page!

7 minute journey to Morrisons jetwash today and the Running probs are back.

off for a meal so it looks like i shall be investigating tommorow.
(why do something today if you can put it off till tommorw?)

Because this thread is getting a bit pic-thin, heres a couple with added coolness.
Spot the addition?






Cheers for all the advice everyone!

[jtbo]

Did you say smell of petrol?

If there is leaking fuel hoses, pump might get air in which could cause some problems, it could be also linked to ambient temp in some situations.

[volvosneverdie]

There came a knock at my door this wet evening.

It was jikovron in a V8 Dolomite loaded with carbs and enthusiasm!

Carb swap ensued.

Cue Goldilocks type story:

The first carb would not work, so we tried the second.

The second worked but hunted to much at idle and made gear selection impossible.

But the third was juuuuuuuuuuuuuuuust right.
Seems to run superb.
Couldnt run far as id drunk some beers, but Ron ran it up the coast road and we were both very pleased with the results.

This is good news, and I am one happy mother effing furker.

[macplaxton]

Does it goes as well as when I took you up the road in it?

Now don't go touching anything unsupervised. I'll be over before the year is out.

[volvosneverdie]

Does it goes as well as when I took you up the road in it?

Now don't go touching anything unsupervised. I'll be over before the year is out.

Seems to Rich.

Dare I say it, it sounds a bit better.
Sweeter if you will.

Pulls great and theres no hesitation, spluttering or anything.

You can have a shot when you get over.

[volvodspec]

Now don't go touching anything unsupervised.

they're lovely when everything works the way it was ment to be.

[trabitom99]

Ooooh yes, sounds superb!

Tom

[JPB]

ron in a V8 Dolomite loaded with carbs

You've fitted a four barrel Holley carb to the Vari-Ho? Or did Ron bring Webers for Volvos?

[volvosneverdie]

It was just a bog-standard swap for another b14 carb. "there was a few on the shelf" it seems.
The uberDolly is quite astounding imo. Once around a wet roundabout was enough to make me love/fear it.
Pull away in second and the wheels spin changing to fourth.
Mmmm. Torquey!

[JPB]

Torquey for sure, but the low gearing of its bog-standard (Marina/Dolly 1500) diff probably helps!

[volvosneverdie]

Ok, took the car to work today and after 20 odd mins of running, the SAME issues reared their ugle head.

Symptoms:

In pressing the accelerator when cruising, nothing immediatly happens. Theres a pause, then theres a surge of power (accelerator held steady), then power drops, then surges. This carries on unless you really gun it. Really gunning it brings stready acceleration. Untill you back off.
Makes for spastic running at low speeds.

So, the carb has been changed for a one known to be in good order so we can rule out -
Engine. seems ok. - havnt changed ign parts (bar one plug) but everything looks ok.
Carb base warping
Carb soleiod
Loose carb Bolts.

Note - This ONLY starts happening after prolonged use, 20 - 30 mins and make the car a bitch al low steady speeds.

Got to be an air leak somewhere then surely??
But why only after 20 - 30 mins of running?

Buh.

[Speedy88]

Because something is expanding and suddenly you have a hole. Maybe. Have you tried the old spray quickstart everywhere?

[volvosneverdie]

Because something is expanding and suddenly you have a hole. Maybe. Have you tried the old spray quickstart everywhere?

Not yet man, it only happents after prolonged use and squirting stuff on a hot running engine kind of worrys me.
Rubbers not gonna expand with heat is it?
And I cant think what metal part would be expanding and causing a leak.
Not the base of carb anyway.