A Californian drying out in South Africa

Uncle Henry · Post by **Uncle Henry** » Thu Nov 09, 2023 8:20 am

Front numberplates on motorcycles were removed many years ago here in Gt Britain. Those that sat on the top of the curved front mudguard considered a safety hazard, and rightly so. Small numberplate are illegal here, but ANPR cameras can still recognise them anyway. In my view, providing its legible, what's the problem. Those shifted along to make names, again in my view, make it easier to recall if necessary, so I don't know why the Law objects. Saw one online yesterday : V14 GRA. Moved slightly it spells the name of a certain blue pill. If the vehicle was driven recklessly, for example, it would immediately spring to mind. Various colours of plate are fine in their own way - reflective ones, whatever colour, are much safer overall than black backgrounds.

UH

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Thu Nov 09, 2023 9:26 am

Uncle Henry wrote: Thu Nov 09, 2023 8:20 am Front numberplates on motorcycles were removed many years ago here in Gt Britain. Those that sat on the top of the curved front mudguard considered a safety hazard, and rightly so. Small numberplate are illegal here, but ANPR cameras can still recognise them anyway. In my view, providing its legible, what's the problem. Those shifted along to make names, again in my view, make it easier to recall if necessary, so I don't know why the Law objects. Saw one online yesterday : V14 GRA. Moved slightly it spells the name of a certain blue pill. If the vehicle was driven recklessly, for example, it would immediately spring to mind. Various colours of plate are fine in their own way - reflective ones, whatever colour, are much safer overall than black backgrounds.

UH

I can only agree with you!

The print shop have produced two copies for me, they look great apart from The Nuns correct comment on the change of type face, I can live with that for now.

They have not had a varnish coat applied yet, that stops UV from degrading them.

At R311.00 for the two printed its super cost effective, say 14.00 pounds the pair?

I think in the UK your white reflected and yellow reflected plates make more sense than ours here, it was yellow front and back, then changed to white front and back!

Also we have at least three provinces that dress their plates up, picture just now.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Thu Nov 09, 2023 9:32 am

This is another South African plate, its the Orange Free State, I think Kwa Zulu Natal may have Elephants or Giraffes on theirs?

The mind boggles on the many types we have in this country!

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Thu Nov 09, 2023 1:19 pm

Do you have speed cameras there or cameras to charge you upon entering car parks or toll road or bridges?
This is why we have to have a standardised font so the cameras can read them otherwise someone else might be asked to pay your fine because the camera misread the plate, and you wouldnt want someone else to pay it for you?

How long before we move to bar codes or a microchip that sends your plate number out over the air as you go by?

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Thu Nov 09, 2023 2:21 pm

The Nun wrote: Thu Nov 09, 2023 1:19 pm Do you have speed cameras there or cameras to charge you upon entering car parks or toll road or bridges?
This is why we have to have a standardised font so the cameras can read them otherwise someone else might be asked to pay your fine because the camera misread the plate, and you wouldnt want someone else to pay it for you?

How long before we move to bar codes or a microchip that sends your plate number out over the air as you go by?

None in the Western Cape as far as I know, yes in Kwa Zulu Natal and Gauteng ( Johannesburg )

The font on the new plate matches those on the regular plates made today.

Uncle Henry · Post by **Uncle Henry** » Thu Nov 09, 2023 2:30 pm

Pete : Barcodes was an April Fools day spoof in a recent APEX magazine issue. Its been patented by the Editor

on behalf of the late John Fenton.

UH

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Fri Nov 10, 2023 7:25 am

Now complete and collected, it was less than than I expected, just R206.00 and on a 3mm plastic backer, plus a spare copy!

So about nine pounds for two?

Next to sort out a hinged way of mounting so that the engine cover lock can be accessed.

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Fri Nov 10, 2023 7:28 am

Looks good Roy, I assume it's weather resistant ink?

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Fri Nov 10, 2023 9:04 am

A trial test using some Prestick putty, to me it looks correct size wise?

At long last!

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Fri Nov 10, 2023 9:05 am

The Nun wrote: Fri Nov 10, 2023 7:28 am Looks good Roy, I assume it's weather resistant ink?

Yes, they had to apply a lacquer to it yesterday, which is why I could only collect it this morning.

I will now sort out the hinge idea to allow the new plate to be lifted, that will be onto the steel brackets in place now, then the lower side of the hinged plate will be secured with magnets as I have done before.

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Fri Nov 10, 2023 7:22 pm

Suits it with your new gold plated bumpers Roy

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Sat Nov 11, 2023 5:41 am

The Nun wrote: Fri Nov 10, 2023 7:22 pm Suits it with your new gold plated bumpers Roy

Bumpers, yes new old stock chrome, well past fifty years back!

They may or may not have come off the 1967 Imp Californian but the standard of finish on the chrome supplied by Rootes has always impressed me.

The bumpers are not from a Sunbeam Sport as I mounted the two stainless number plate lights myself, they were supplied by Oli.

Now to go and buy some small hinges to allow me to fit them and as lift a lift up plate, in stainless would be nice?

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Sat Nov 11, 2023 9:31 am

Now I have the longer plate removed I can test fit the new plate to get the desired image effect that I think the sport engine cover should have.

The hinged plate has now been fitted with a magnet on its lower edge to hold it down.

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Sun Nov 12, 2023 12:33 pm

What does the CA stand for, your local area and if you move house do you need another number or does it stand as long as the car stays in SA?

oli · Post by **oli** » Sun Nov 12, 2023 7:27 pm

Is it just me, or is the spacing of the top white border line wrong compared to the bottom and sides?

What's happened to your quality control these days Roy?

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Mon Nov 13, 2023 6:04 am

The Nun wrote: Sun Nov 12, 2023 12:33 pm What does the CA stand for, your local area and if you move house do you need another number or does it stand as long as the car stays in SA?

CA is Cape Town, as long as the car is registered to the same owner you can keep the number, even when moving to another town, I am not sure when you move to another state?

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Mon Nov 13, 2023 6:06 am

The Nun wrote: Sun Nov 12, 2023 12:33 pm What does the CA stand for, your local area and if you move house do you need another number or does it stand as long as the car stays in SA?

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Mon Nov 13, 2023 6:08 am

oli wrote: Sun Nov 12, 2023 7:27 pm Is it just me, or is the spacing of the top white border line wrong compared to the bottom and sides?

What's happened to your quality control these days Roy?

The top black border is 10mm deep, the lower one is 9mm deep, I was not going to ask for them to redo it bases on 1mm !

The sides are 7mm but its not bothering me?

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Mon Nov 13, 2023 6:10 am

The addition of a magnet to hold the plate down yesterday finished the job off nicely.

Job done?

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Mon Nov 13, 2023 11:14 am

You could go a step further Roy and fit it with a pushbutton actuator so the plate flips up when you pass a speed camera to hide the number, just push a button on the dash.

Someone did that on their motorbike here and never got any more tickets, his nick name was 'Warp Nine Mr Sulu'

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Tue Nov 14, 2023 8:10 am

The Nun wrote: Mon Nov 13, 2023 11:14 am You could go a step further Roy and fit it with a pushbutton actuator so the plate flips up when you pass a speed camera to hide the number, just push a button on the dash.

Someone did that on their motorbike here and never got any more tickets, his nick name was 'Warp Nine Mr Sulu' ,

Your idea is not the only one, as on seeing my collection of number plates it was suggested by someone else that I make a five sided rotating drum with a plate on each side!

The plate CA99918 came off a 1965 Jaguar 3,8 Stype, so white on black, a similar period in time to my own plate.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Wed Nov 15, 2023 6:22 am

What's new?

Well the electric clock on the dash panel has stopped, this happened once before, then restarted so I will not disturb it for now?

The 2 amp blade tests ok.

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Thu Nov 16, 2023 8:01 pm

It will still be right twice a day Roy

Might be the ambient temoerature that affects it, colder any old lubrication thickens?

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Fri Nov 17, 2023 6:23 am

The Nun wrote: Thu Nov 16, 2023 8:01 pm It will still be right twice a day Roy

Might be the ambient temperature that affects it, colder any old lubrication thickens?

I have no idea, last time I was planing to remove it then it started running again, so best left as is for a while?

Then of course we are back into summer, it was say 32c a few days ago, cooler now.

Cape Point shows its position, mine is 34 02 746 s and 18 20 791e close really but its an hours drive to Cape Point!

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Fri Nov 17, 2023 6:55 am

Cape Point lighthouse from the air, built before WW1 and not lit before the war was over!

It is 70 meters above the surface of the sea, so visible for a good distance?

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Fri Nov 17, 2023 7:20 am

Cant see an Imp

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Fri Nov 17, 2023 8:10 am

The Nun wrote: Fri Nov 17, 2023 7:20 am Cant see an Imp

We were at The Cape of Good Hope, that is the area just West of the light house.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Fri Nov 17, 2023 8:18 am

The clock is working again!

And at 7.30am the following morning it still is, I wonder why it stops?

Just twice now and since I installed it.

It was a new movement, I had the issue of resetting the time as the normal adjuster on a cable could not be fitted.

So I just remove the blade fuse and wait for the right time to arrive, then reinsert the fuse.

It gains each week , so I reset it about twice a month.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Sun Nov 19, 2023 10:37 am

The cars engine starts and runs well but the issue of black spark plugs is not to my liking, I have been running the oil and petrol mix in the tank down.

The gauge is showing less than a quarter tank, so time to empty it and with a spare Huco electric pump that I have in stock.

The pump was purchased past a decade back so any warranty is long past I will be pumping from just in front of the AC fuel pump on the engine, so the fuel filter that is there will protect the electric pump from damage.

Uncle Henry · Post by **Uncle Henry** » Sun Nov 19, 2023 3:23 pm

Fitted one of those to a local Impers Nymph last year. Good value for money, providing the plastic body/spigots and O-rings last against the ethanol !

AG

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Mon Nov 20, 2023 5:29 am

Uncle Henry wrote: Sun Nov 19, 2023 3:23 pm Fitted one of those to a local Impers Nymph last year. Good value for money, providing the plastic body/spigots and O-rings last against the ethanol !

AG

Well I do know they offer good after sales service as I had an issue with one, it was new and for my 1966 Jaguar 3.8 S type, the CEO had his email on their web site, name was Michael I think?

The aftersales included this one as a free issue and brought to my door by the Cape Town sales rep!

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Mon Nov 20, 2023 5:31 am

Petrol with oil was removed yesterday, I would think there was originally say 1 liter oil to 4 liters of petrol ratio. With petrol in the fuel tank already that ratio will have thinned down quite a lot.

Yesterday just two litres of petrol/oil mix came out, the Huco pump moved that quickly and quietly.

I went for a short drive later, the engine felt better right away!

Next I will do a longer drive then check the spark plugs to see if the colour is back to normal?

Note that the engine oil was a very thin 5W-30 grade and was in the container from the last oil change that I did on our VW Polo TSi.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Tue Nov 21, 2023 12:07 pm

I went for a drive, not a great distance but far enough to get the temperature gauge well in to the white sector, checking number 1 and number 3 spark plugs and they are still sooty, is that choke staying open?

More of a worry was the orange oil light is staying on when I moved the car later, is it the sender unit I wonder?

I have removed the oil sender from the cars original engine and will test the engine in the morning with that fitted.

The only marking on it is in the black plastic, says 50, another one is marked the same, ex Imp Club Spares I think?

I have had the engine standing for a couple of hours and did a test by restarting it, the oil light goes off and stays off, interesting?

Was this an air bubble in the engine oil?

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Tue Nov 21, 2023 5:18 pm

I see an engine strip down coming up to find that bubble you're now going to worry about Roy

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Wed Nov 22, 2023 5:25 am

The Nun wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2023 5:18 pm I see an engine strip down coming up to find that bubble you're now going to worry about Roy

That had crossed my mind!

Gary, a chap here in Hout Bay built the most incredibly engineered Shearwater 39 keel boat, he restored things like Ferrari and the like for a hobby, so quality was his thing.

After he had launched the yacht he came to see me, he asked should he have bubbles in the diesel fuel line? I asked him how he knew as we all use fuel proof rubber type fuel lines?

He said that to be able to check the fuel supply he had used a clear fuel line, I told him to change it to black rubber fuel line and stop worrying!

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Wed Nov 22, 2023 5:51 am

Normal morning drive around our local estate, the engine started on the turn of the key and without the choke, oil pressure was past the 50 mark, say at 53 to start, then settles down to the normal 50 pounds when running.

Its a new oil pump fitted with the rebuilt 1966 Singer Chamois Sport engine that I did.

With no sign of that orange oil light issue I will put that one to rest for now?

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Thu Nov 23, 2023 4:30 am

As a test I have since fitted another set of Champion N9YC spark plugs which are super clean and done in my bead blaster cabinet. My next drive will soon show me if the fuel to air mix is wrong?

Went for a drive, sooty plugs was the result, so time to remove the choke cable lock screw to see if that is the area at fault?

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Sat Nov 25, 2023 8:59 am

So my first job once the air cleaner was removed, was to free off the 1/4" choke cable clamp screw, before I got to that stage I found my missing short screw driver!

It was inside the inlet elbow and yellow handle facing down, I have been wondering where that had been for some months now.

The choke cable freed off and all found to be well I am now at a loss to explain the rich mixture when all was well before?

Can I assume that the large yellow handle has restricted the air flow to such an extent that it has caused all cylinders to run rich.

I may find out after the next drive?

I did!

oli · Post by **oli** » Sat Nov 25, 2023 10:35 am

How on earth do you leave an entire screwdriver in there?

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Sat Nov 25, 2023 11:06 am

oli wrote: Sat Nov 25, 2023 10:35 am
How on earth do you leave an entire screwdriver in there?

Well its just a stubby, so fitted really well!

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Sat Nov 25, 2023 2:11 pm

Good job it was a good size Roy because if it had got sucked in it would have really screwed your engine up

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Sun Nov 26, 2023 4:37 am

Problem with an over rich mixture was indeed that screw driver, this is number one plug after a drive of around three or four miles.

The number three cylinder spark plug was similar.

The extra power, which is very noticable on the local hill is good to have again.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Sun Nov 26, 2023 5:22 am

The Nun wrote: Sat Nov 25, 2023 2:11 pm Good job it was a good size Roy because if it had got sucked in it would have really screwed your engine up

Yup, then this nice 107 series head would have been damaged on the valves to numbers one and two bores.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Mon Nov 27, 2023 4:38 am

Panic over and what a strange event?

I was next stuck on what to do given that the twin Strombergs were working so well together before the plugs all went sooty, I had put it down to the clean engine oil and petrol mix, it was 20% ratio, that I had tried in the petol tank, I guess I can use that now, maybe not?

This is plug number two, it was sooty, then and after a six mile drive its cleaned up well.

I am using Champion N9YC spark plugs, also the plug caps by the same company.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Tue Nov 28, 2023 11:08 am

I have never seen this before, its a new Champion N9YC that the center insulator has chipped!

Is it safe to use, I wonder?

The Nun · Post by **The Nun** » Tue Nov 28, 2023 3:32 pm

If its brand new it must have passed inspection so yes.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Wed Nov 29, 2023 5:56 am

moose wrote: Tue Nov 28, 2023 4:50 pm There is a possibility that the spark will will jump near where there is less insulation. For the cost of new plugs don't mess about and buy some NGK BP6 plugs put them in and they will do 10 to 20 thousand miles without needing to be looked at.

Thanks,

That damaged plug will not be going into my engine!

I have a selection of both Champion and NGK plugs but some time back I changed from using the BP6 plugs back to N9YC plugs and they are working well.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Wed Nov 29, 2023 5:57 am

I am using bronze valve guides and also oil control seals on the inlet valves.

This is the 107 series Singer Chamois Sport cylinder head.

The surfacing, guides and valves were all done by Viglietti Motors the Ferrari agents, they fitted the sport camshaft and did the tappets also.

That was removed by myself later and I fitted an R17 camshaft, only to find out later that I need race valve springs for that camshaft, so the sport camshaft went back in.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Wed Nov 29, 2023 2:05 pm

The bronze guides on the other side of the head and with oil seals, the R17 camshaft fitted over them just fine.

It was Ferdie of Viglietti Motors that came up with the oil seal idea.

African Imp · Post by **African Imp** » Thu Nov 30, 2023 6:38 am

Since the company Viglietti closed their machine shop, I have used the services of a friend who had a full machine shop in Cape Towns Paarden Eiland ( horse island ) he also had a fair selection of machines in his garage at home.

When he passed away early this year I bought his lathe, I have just used the reaming tool he had made to bore out bronze guides to an Imperial size on a metric valve guides. I have one here, can I ream it out? its very much a learning experience, speeds and set up etc. but the job turned out ok.

This was very much a one off as the guide is still too long and its diameter is too large, I can cut the length ok but can I turn it down to the correct and exact diameter, I would have to try I guess?

I do have some brand new guides to take the sizes from.