Found the video file

Right I have found what the camera software did with the video file, and decided to go back to using Windows Movie Maker, It's better and doesn't hide the files in some obscure folder.

Anyway here is the first ever in car Estelle video from the new Toshiba Camileo and the home made camera mount.

Well the running problems seem to be cured. I made up some new gaskets, sealed the inlet manifold really well and did it all up as tight as I could while it was hot. No induction leaks and she is running well.

I have been preparing for the Exeter for the last couple of days, sorting out spares, making a video camera mount, checking wiring, fluids and things. I have also put the name stickers on the back windows, Lauren says they look ggod and she likes having her name on a car. I have taken some video today with the new solid state camcorder mounted on the in car mount I made up and it works well. Once I have worked out where the editing software put the file I will post it up here.
I am getting excited now.

UP & Running, but not for long!

Well took her on a 10 mile jaunt and she was fine, then popped down the station to pick Sharon up and she was as sick as a pig. Seemed to be fuel starvation again, but it can't be the carb it has just been rebuilt. Went over everything and found nothing. Retired to a safe distance before I found a hammer and did some damage.

After some thinking I decided if the fuel is getting there and it seems like starvation, there must be too much air. So off with the whole lot again, cleaned all surfaces, trip to Eddie to buy some gasket paper, made some new gaskets on the dining room table, then cleaned all the surfaces again and re-assembled.

I've been out to Upper Heyford in her today and she is back to being a joy. Just to check I also took her down the station, and she came back fine! So, touch wood, all ready to go for the Exeter. We need to put the stickers on, I need to install some cigar lighter sockets for the GPS or buy some maps, and we need to create a packing list then pack everything. I am going to do some more miles in her on Sunday, just to be sure, and then have a grand sort out of my tools to put together a travelling Skoda tool kit. No point taking all my old AF spanners as they won't fit anything. Also need to sort out and wrap the spares we intend to carry with us.

I'm really looking forward to it now.

UP and Running!

The carb has been rebuilt, the main jet had melted. I've fitted it, given her a bit of a tune and been about 3 miles in her. Completely different car! Running 5 degrees cooler, pulls from nothing, even in 5th gear, nice smooth tickover, revs right through to 5000 without a hitch.

Just a few little jobs to do and we are ready to go for the Exeter. The final instructions and route book arrived in the post in the week and Lauren is getting to grips with the navigation, it seems fairly easy and comprehensive. I think I will go and buy the relevant OS maps, even though they are not essential. Having them could be very useful if it all goes wrong. We need to sort out what spares we are taking, trial pack a couple of times to make sure everything fits and is secured down and sort out the tool kit so we have everything we need. I might see if I can get the fuel guage and speedo working before we got too. But I am putting a specification freeze in on Christmas Eve, no more work after then so we know we have a runner for the event. I was very tempted to do the Witney Motor Club autotest on Boxing Day, but I have decided it would be too risky to break something Boxing Day and not then have time to fix it before the Exeter.

Solved I Hope

After much investigation I think it's solved. Won't know for certain until the weekend when I put the carb back on, but I have got the carb back from the Weber expert and he says it was knackered! The main jet had been melted away completely, the expert suggests the ignition timing may have been over advanced at some point in the cars life, causing the carb to run hot and melting the jet. I've checked the timing since the problems started and it is about right, but I have had the distributor off in all the investigations so it may have been wrong before.

We have booked the hotel for the Exeter, Lauren and I couldn't get a room at Fawlty Towers, so we have gone to one of there competitors. Waiting for the final instructions so we can get on an mark up some maps. Might go on a bit of a recce when we are down in Dorset at New Year, just so Lauren can get a feel for the notes.

I'm working in London now until the weekend, so I'll post agin once I know it's working.