54/1846

[rascott]

the rain+time has become time+showers, so i have made the door surround more colorful.

pinned the door back in place with my hunk of rod, and it fits o k, latches, and i can compensate for previous repairs.
 
still need to finish the color treatment to the door and fit the rest of the latch pieces, window,....
evolving a "finish".

[rascott]

finally got enough green on the door. also got the latchin'/lockin'/doorhandle functions figured out.
next is to re-gut the door...…. and finalize that door hinge pin.
just checkin' in.
tried posting pictures, but they are way too big- not sure why.

[rascott]

think i figured out the picture thing.
also mabe figured an assembly process to install the quarterglass and the window frame.
gonna try it again with some sealing/bedding stuff.
a bit concerned about how the frame and doorshell meet below the window.
the "rescue" continues.

addon0609
took it back apart, added the channel/wiper pieces.
that took some learning that will help next time. only broke 2 clips(had 5 "installed") before i realized i was putting them on wrong.
window fits smoothly- kinda snug.
thinking about the rivits-

smore0615
fiddled around and got final(?)install of the windows, added the motor, found good function!

[BDA]

Sounds like a very productive "rescue" operation! 

[dakazman]

Glad you got it worked out!
Dakazman

[rascott]

hmm. picture size problem again
this was a big deal, to me. the bungeecord doorlatch was a bit sketchy.
and to have almost finished the door hinge- still need to cut the door pin- is also satisfying.
think i'll drill a hairpin hole like the "manual" seems to indicate.
also added to the wirenest and put the alternator fail lamp in the dash, so the suzukidonor charging system is completely cobbled together.
54/1846 is california legal, and will be seeing some commute action again soon.
i have some reasonable condition door covers, but don't like those clip fasteners. considering threadserts/fasteners? mabe.
oh, yeah. door seal. still have to refit that...….
mabe i'll have a beer, and give it a coat of lookin' at...

[dakazman]

Yes , have a beer.  Don’t work on the car after that.,,, but take it all in.

  Are you taking pictures with your phone?  Have you selected a picture and tried to email yourself?
If you do the phone will ask what size do you want to send. Sometimes it say original, small, medium, large. Sometimes it asks in kB or mb with a number. Try it . After it sent to your email select it and save to photos . That is the one you post here. You did post some great pics so you’re doing good.
Dakazman

[Certified Lotus]

Your making good progress. I try to figure the one or two things I want to get done in a day (how ever many hours are allotted) and stay focused on that. Your much more satisfied when you get things done and walk away then struggling to get a list to get done and rushing which usually means screwing something up. And the ultimate sense of accomplishment is having a beer at the end of the day admiring your achievement while deciding what to do next.

[rascott]

finally got around to finalizing the door pin.
the weldable steel cold rolled stock that i've been playing with seemed to do fine with where "the lotus" lives, so i made it 15" long and drilled a hole for a hairpin.
fitting went very well.

mor070719
put some new door seal material on.
removed the brake/clutch pedal assembly i had made, for some modifications.
no test runs 'till that's back.

wel071319
slowly morphing the assembly... haha- certainly a handbuilt affair.
it could work...…

nxtday071419

i can now see if i improved function. there is beauty in function.

hmmm071619
started some road testing by using "the lotus" as a commuter car.
pedal assembly is a better fit, and will work for now, but my right foot keeps hanging on the steering shaft connector sleeve thingy.
need to make a speedometer work, so i don't get a ticket...….

l8tr072619
trying to smooth out engine performance, and am having doubts about the "manual" again...….
it says the distributor should rotate counter clockwise("seen from above"), but seems to turn clockwise...…
also, i am not finding any clear marks on the flywheel indicating 180* off tdc, so setting tdc for cyliders #3&#2 is a bit of a guess?
hmmmm…….
back in 1969, i had some experience with an r-16, but don't remember having this confusion.

[Sandyman]

I always forget that the #1 cylinder is at the back of the engine (Transaxle end). Using a wooden dowel in the spark plug hole helps to find TDC of all the pistons.

[jbcollier]

The distributor rotation is wrong in the manual -- it's a bit of a famous erratum.  You need to know BTDC to adjust the valves?  Simply get the valves rocking on it's firing order opposite.  The firing order is 1 - 3 - 4 - 2.  Adjust 1 when the 4's valves are rocking, 3 when 2's valves are rocking, etc, etc.  Put it in 4th gear and push the car back and forth to turn the engine.  DO NOT TURN THE ENGINE OVER USING THE CAMSHAFT PULLEY NUT !!!!

[dakazman]

The distributor rotation is wrong in the manual -- it's a bit of a famous erratum.  You need to know BTDC to adjust the valves?  Simply get the valves rocking on it's firing order opposite.  The firing order is 1 - 3 - 4 - 2.  Adjust 1 when the 4's valves are rocking, 3 when 2's valves are rocking, etc, etc.  Put it in 4th gear and push the car back and forth to turn the engine.  DO NOT TURN THE ENGINE OVER USING THE CAMSHAFT PULLEY NUT !!!!

Thanks JB,  Sounds like I need to put that in my manual.
 
Nice work Sandman!

Dakazman

[rascott]

thanks for the replies and tips.
i am checking valve clearances, and am expecting the valve lash specs in "the manual" are correct, even if the distributor turns clockwise.
i had used the method described when i first started the little renault, and wanted to confirm all was good.
pulled the plugs too looksee and do a compression check as well, so the dowel trick will be simple enough insurance.
i lift the right wheel and turn w/wrench, 'cause i'm too lazy to push!
think there was a pulley to look at on the r-16.
i remember thinking of marking 180* on the flywheel when i had it off, but didn't......
thanks again!

wonsagan072719
with renewed confidence, i reset the valves, and played with setting dwell.
"manual" indicates a point gap 0.016-0.019", but a dwell> 63*+_3*.
the gap is considerably less than 0.016 to get that dwell...…..
seems to run well enough to street it some more.
i need to try some different instruments. glowshift were inexpensive, but most don't seem to work.

[jbcollier]

"Dwell" readings are relative to the number of cylinders.  The meter should have different scales or a correction chart for various engine cylinder numbers.

[dakazman]

I was cleaning some parts today and found the TDC marks on the bell housing, (see pic) went to the engine stand and sure enough mark on flywheel lines up right on the mark. This is on the 821-30 engine.
    I don’t know if a cross flow has this since the flywheel isn’t keyed.
Dakazman

I modified this statement. I checked my 843 flywheel and it is marked with a deep cut line . I do not have a crossflow bell housing to see if it is stamped.