Mikeys / Greenys / Colin Watson v8 Coupe

Post by **Revingtosh** » Wed Feb 13, 2019 4:05 pm

Latest update

I have replace the full fuel system apart from the tank as that was in fine fettle.

New fuel lines & clamps, back to front with the nice shiny braided type from Merlin (thanks for the recommendation PhilHoward) - Merlin were a joy to deal with.

Stripped & cleaned the Edelbrock 500, all new gaskets & seals. Found a small amount of f**kery going on inside the carb which I repaired. Rejetted it for the 3.5 too, as it was incorrectly set up for a 4.6 according to RPI Engineering.

New Malpassi fuel reg to ensure a constant 5psi which is Edelbrocks like according to what ive read.

New Coil / Plugs / Leads / Cap / Rotor Arm & cabling to suit.

Replaced the Dizzy & Amplifier with a Powerspark unit - cheap as chips, really easy to fit. I can highly recommend this company - very helpful, knew their stuff & their gear was a fraction of what RPI Engineering wanted for their dual points setup.

I'm pretty much done for now apart from a bit of carpet and a good clean.

I don't plan on MOT'ing it until the weather picks up as the chassis has all been painted & is looking really well. Its running sweet as a nut now - hopefully for good.

Oh yeah - ive had to agree a noise curfew with the neighbours too. Apparently it was causing ornaments to vibrate off their mantel piece

: Scim1.jpg (110.05 KiB) Viewed 3596 times

Post by **DARK STAR** » Wed Feb 13, 2019 9:31 pm

Very nice, roll on the Springtime

Post by **Revingtosh** » Sat Feb 23, 2019 12:09 pm

Valvoline vr1 20/50 for the win

Im now getting a much healthier 50lb of oil pressure when cold, and 25lb at idle when stinking hot.

Im concluding that the old oil was mullered due to fuel contamination as it stank to high heaven!

The oil leaks seem to have slowed up completely too

Post by **Revingtosh** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 2:55 pm

Taxed / Insured & MOT'd now - so all road legal

It was dry today so ive had it out, just to give it a quick wash and wax.

Its fairly terrifying on greasy roundabouts and the local Tesco car park when given a bootful!

*JP* · Post by ***JP*** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 3:45 pm

Paint job seems to be holding up well.

How long has it been done?

(It looks very like a colour I experimented with in my youth...because it had a cool name--"Rolls Royce Regal Red.")

Post by **Revingtosh** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 5:18 pm

Hiya - Colin told me that the build was finished in the very early nineties - so I guess that its nearly 30yrs old.

Nightfire Red apparently - with gold in the lacquer. As it stands - the paint is ok, but theres the usual bubbling and a few knocks here and there but still very presentable. It looks a lot better after it got a good layer of autoglym super resin on it

MikeyBikey · Post by **MikeyBikey** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 5:41 pm

Revingtosh wrote: ↑
Fri Mar 01, 2019 2:55 pm
Taxed / Insured & MOT'd now - so all road legal

It was dry today so ive had it out, just to give it a quick wash and wax.

Its fairly terrifying on greasy roundabouts and the local Tesco car park when given a bootful!

Great stuff and well done with all the effort to recommissioned.

Regarding lighting the wheels up and without telling anyone how to suck eggs but how old are the tyres. There is a DOT code on the sidewall that will tell you date of manufacture. Ideally you don’t want anything much over 6 -7 years old

Post by **David Tew** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 5:55 pm

I've been going through my photo archive today and found the following photos from the NEC in 2002. Might be of interest.

: Colin's Coupe 2 (1).jpg (164.38 KiB) Viewed 3154 times

: Colin's Coupe 2 (2).jpg (106.96 KiB) Viewed 3154 times

Post by **Revingtosh** » Fri Mar 01, 2019 6:08 pm

Great stuff and well done with all the effort to recommissioned.

Regarding lighting the wheels up and without telling anyone how to suck eggs but how old are the tyres. There is a DOT code on the sidewall that will tell you date of manufacture. Ideally you don’t want anything much over 6 -7 years old

The tyres are good thanks. Its just the wonderful combination of me never driven the car before / v8 torque, and a greasy road !

Post by **Revingtosh** » Wed Apr 10, 2019 7:09 pm

Today is the first time that i feel that ive really gelled with the car. Once warmed up its running sweet as nut - i think she may be a keeper, which is unusual given my car ADHD

MikeyBikey · Post by **MikeyBikey** » Sat Apr 13, 2019 8:57 am

it’s great when a car repays the effort you put into it. Well done

Post by **reliant-reviver** » Sun Apr 14, 2019 11:22 am

I have to admit I originally regarded this car as a bit tasteless, or rather not to my taste.

Bit the wheel combination and colour just knocks it right out the park. Love it.

Maybe without the 90's Sabre spoiler. Meh.

Post by **turbster** » Sun Apr 14, 2019 3:26 pm

I've just noticed the subtle flare on the front arches...I like it

Post by **Revingtosh** » Mon Apr 15, 2019 8:00 am

reliant-reviver wrote: ↑
Sun Apr 14, 2019 11:22 am
I have to admit I originally regarded this car as a bit tasteless, or rather not to my taste.

Bit the wheel combination and colour just knocks it right out the park. Love it.

Maybe without the 90's Sabre spoiler. Meh.

Yes - i originally took a pass on the car as i didnt like how it looked - the whole hot rod thing wasnt really my bag. Luckily, i could see the potential and sort of knew what i wanted to achieve! Fortunately the thing was still for sale when i did a 180, and the guy was willing to deliver as it was dangerous how it was - on many levels.

Thank you all for your kind comments - i was starting to think that i was the only one who really liked the thing in its current guise

Spoilers - i have already bought a capri RS3100 front chin spoiler - come payday i'll be getting the rear ducktail spoiler too all being well.

Post by **Revingtosh** » Sun Apr 21, 2019 2:11 pm

: s-l400.jpg (10.27 KiB) Viewed 2264 times

In for a penny, in for a pound. Hopefully this will resolve the interior accomodation issues - or i'll have to sell the v8.

Its just too painful to drive at present because of the seating position - its giving me severe neck and back pain when im in it.