SA Import Beta 2000 Coupe

[Ferrit]

AT B####y LAST!  It runs!!!!!

Massive shout out to my saviour who was right days ago, thanks Alan Rossocorsa.  Long story short Mr Engineer mixed up the cam pulleys and marked them up and I am not good enough at this stuff to spot it.  Alan mentioned dimples/holes on the cam-wheels today and this came flooding back from my early 90's Beta engine rebuilds, a quick Google of stock photos, Nigel 131's two engines etc confirmed.  Inlet timing marker hole is csk and exhaust is not.  I had them the wrong way round.  Compression went from 50 to 180 :-)

Still lots to do, but it starts on the button.  Timing needs sorting first, flush the coolant and oil and filter again etc etc.  I wonder if I can get gears and it will move?   

https://youtube.com/shorts/q_RpwoWnoEE?si=RyMm3BZUzgfK-aEz

[WestonE]

I am sorry for your suffering! I thought you would follow the instructions for timing the cams to the cam boxes from GC with marks on the cams and cam carriers. This would have shown the cam wheel marks as wrong quickly and you would probably find ideal timing for the cams is not exactly where the cam holes are. The lucky gods are with you getting away with turning it over cam wheels reversed. You will be running with it soon.

That video showed the cheapest nasty head gasket variety and I thought he was going to add sealant to the head gasket as well. For the benefit of others NEVER do that. Along with NEVER re-use a head gasket, original bolts or used stretch bolts. You can of course re-use an MLS gasket provide block and head are flat and clean. 

[Ferrit]

https://youtube.com/shorts/q_RpwoWnoEE?si=RyMm3BZUzgfK-aEz

Sorry that was the wrong video, it was meant to be my car running, amended now

Yes Eric you are of course right.  I studied and looked it the timing compered between the two sets of cams and decided it was worthy of a go.  I do need to learn how to do this properly as I understand what you are saying re: std accuracy not good :-D

I used the gasket that came with the set to test and bought a racing Spesso one for the final build, new ribe bolts

My problem is I have limited time, energy, and mental power after a day at work, when my wife's away dealing with kids, dog etc  Now its running I can keep playing and improve it

[WestonE]

Well Done Mark! This stuff is difficult to do right. Far too many people want to get away with cutting corners that do not lead to happy results for long. Enjoy it.

[Ferrit]

So checked the oil and coolant, sorted the ignition timing and had a play with the Gunson Colourtune (I think I failed to get anywhere with this).  Took it for a 9 miles drive.   No coolant pressurising issues and so far zero leaks.  Engine sounds good so far.  Managed a 9 mile drive locally with no issues.

Issue #1: So I have lost all the small lights, side front and rear, and dash lights for some reason.   

Issue #2 no reverse and 5th gear.  Gear change 1 through to 4 feels sweet.  I have run out of adjustment on the end rod, but read on a post hear you can add a washer or two under the  gear change housing.  I will go and find it and repost the link

Mark

[Ferrit]

I think the wear in my bellcrank thingy is the issue.  I cant see I am going to be able to get to this for a while so the other option is here:

https://lanciabeta.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=472.msg1795#msg1795

I think this will do the trick until I can get the subframe lowered enough to get to the correct repair.  I will try tomorrow. 

I need to start riding my bike again.  Seems to have stopped since I got this car, well nothing since Sep at least.  This weekend of pasties and bacon rolls at the Classic Car Restoration Show has not helped :-)

PS the first four gears feel brilliant now

[Ferrit]

I think the wear in my bellcrank thingy is the issue.  I cant see I am going to be able to get to this for a while so the other option is here:

https://lanciabeta.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=472.msg1795#msg1795

I think this will do the trick until I can get the subframe lowered enough to get to the correct repair.  I will try tomorrow. 

three washers did the trick front left of the main gear stick support

lights lights lights now

[peteracs]

Hi Mark

Have you checked to see how bad the bushes on the gear lever rods are including the small link rod?

They can fail and leave you with no gears if old and worn out.

Peter

[Ferrit]

Morning,  all bushes replaced and the link rod, AND the bushes on the gearbox end rod.  I think its the wear in the bell crank thingy losing some of that motion.  When I fix the bell crank slop I am sure I can loose the washers

[Nigel]

Mark,
The small link rod should be adjustable. Seems like you're not getting
quite enough sideways gait.
Maybe a mil or two longer?

Edit to add: If you can adjust that rod it will affect the position of the gait
in relation to centre (3/4 gears) so you'll need to adjust the front
vertical support.

N

[Ferrit]

I will take a look at the weekend Nigel.  I will not put the console back until I have checked.  I thought it was fixed I must admit.

[peteracs]

I would be tempted to sort out the play before messing with the link rod. Just a small amount can make life difficult getting one or more gears.

Peter

[Ferrit]

I will get to it.  Just not now.  I am thinking I need to drop the subframe, but then I then need to source a part so the car will be on the drive with its subframe hanging off for days

M

[JASPER_40]

Does anyone know what causes the vertical play in the bell crank....Is it a plastic shim that is missing/broken ?

Cheers,

Steve

[peteracs]

Hi

Guess just general wear, I found it really sensitive to what thickness washers were used. I had a play with various to get rid of the up down movement, but you should also check the side to side movement which indicates the bush or pin are worn. Having the pin plated can help increase the diameter albeit slightly to help with this side to side movement.

Peter

[Ferrit]

Another 5 miles spin early evening...

Tested compression and was low 180's psi on all pistons.  Went for a spin, all gears are working well (I have ordered new bell-crank bushes from Betaboyz).

I then tried Gunson Colourtune but couldnt get it better than this - https://youtube.com/shorts/qEcRmVhwbDI?si=3GbsxJf07ZOkmVID

I think I need to find someone to tune it now

So lights...  funny thing is on full beam the whole work, off FB I loose, side and rear tail and dash lights.  Odd.


Change coolant and oil this weekend. Fix lights. Interior in.  Tracking

[Ferrit]

Weather has not helped and on my own with one son and dog. 

Oil changed and coolant changed.  I double checked my jets just in case I put them in the wrong place and I hadnt.  So while I was there I swapped some of the jets back to the original spec (as the car was before I rebuilt the carb) and it does seem a lot better.  Hopefully get a tune booked this week.

Next investigating the non-working side, tail lights and dash illumination.  tried all the obvious stuff, and while I had the instruments out I thought I would start removing some of the icky-sticky tape, and repair some of the previous splicing.  Originally my instruments were hard wired to new connectors.  I replaced the instruments and went back to the old connectors no issue and I just bagged them up.  I removed them and cut out the splicing and used crimp joiners and heat shrinked the connections and tested.

Still no side-lights, I wondered if the instrument connections had come loose.  Alas not.  I have an old set of switch-gear I am going just plug it in and see if it works before I go looking to trace more.  Earths seem okay.  I am going to head to the distribution point next behind the glove box #59/5 is worthy of a test.  The fact it all works on full beam strikes me its a switchgear issue.

I need to find some replacement switch connectors at some point

I was also contemplating reverse engineering my much nicer fusebox, but one step at a time

Mark

[Ferrit]

I spent a couple days on and off removing vast amount of sticky insulation tape, repairing cuts and joins (and testing) with crimp on joiners and heat shrink, whilst trying to trace my lack of side lights issue.  One item I was ignoring was switch gear as it was 6m old but more and more it was pointing this way.  Dug out the old original one and yep that was the issue.  New one has to be sent back to Italy to checked so I just bit the bullet and ordered another.   I will send the old one back in due course.

Right so in the meantime in between rain its time to rebuild the interior.  I think headlights are next.  I dont thing the mountings are actually working well

M

[Ferrit]

New stalks fitted and lights all back to normal - a week of evenings wasted
50% of a renovated lhd cowl fitted
make and fit brkt for engine breather catch can - done
fit catch can and hoses fitted
Tried to adj front and rear tracking, and 50% failed i think.  Rear looks sort of right, and front was a pig and looks like its 30mm toe-out now after a spin around the block

Any chance someone out there can take a photo of a five wire HRW switch so I can check on my wiring order please?

[Ferrit]

I think i did the tracking better today.  It feels better.  I will double check later in the week.
I purchased a cheap lhd cowl from Italy, it was a mess.  I cleaned it up, repaired the fixings with spacers and a glue gun and sprayed it matt black.  I had to trim it a bit.  Now 75% fitted
I filled the tank up with fresh fuel and no additives or tank save stuff, re-timed the engine. 

New plugs and Capriblu's jet recommendations this week. 

Fitted the passenger seat and just before got one of the Recaro's out of the loft and checked the mounts are right and fit.  While I was there I stripped them off to clean up and repaint on a rainy day.
Re-fitted the airfilter.  I almost have my garage back after just over three months