A few parts have started arriving for the Spitfire. First to show up was a new starter solenoid. Yeah, I could have gone to Autozone and bought a generic Ford 4 wire, but I bought a Brit part (I may regret that before this is done)
Trans doghouse came in next. Tires are somewhere in Greensboro NC, but FedEx doesn't know where
New convertible top and master cylinder rebuild kits are on backorder.
Yesterday after the A Mod was loaded and gone I thought I'd work on the Spit for a bit and see if it would run.
First, pull the plugs and stick a borescope down the holes. No mice, no water, and no bad rust. I shot a bit of penetrating oil down each hole.
Next, check the oil. Clean, not stinky, no water.
Next, turn it over by hand. Not stuck. Took it through a few revolutions and shot a little more penetrating oil down each hole at bottom dead center.
Solenoid is here, so popped the new solenoid on and turned it over with the key.
It spins freely and very quickly got good oiling up to the rockers
Put the plugs back in, it's time to see if it runs.
Hooked up a temporary fuel tank and cranked it over, gas, but no spark.
Go digging around in wiring and see the start power wire to the coil is broken. Fix that crank it over Vroooooom, then stop. Again, Vroooom, then stop.
Out comes the multimeter and go probing wires.
13.4V to switch
13.4V from switch to solenoid (yeah, I already knew that, but never hurts to probe and see voltage.)
13.4V from switch to ballast resistor
2.5V from ballast resistor to coil.
Bad ballast resistor
got the meter, so might as well check coil primary winding. There's a ballast resistor, so I'm expecting 1.5 ohms , aka 6 volt coil.
probe it annnnnnnndddd 3 ohms 12 volt coil
I unplug input wire from ballast resistor and plug it into coil.
Turn the key and Vrooooooooommmmmmm vroooommmm vrooom
It comes to life and idles.
Charge light on the dash goes out, oil is pumping around the rockers, and i see water moving in the radiator. I guess there's no thermostat, but at least I know the 1500 runs well.
The carb needs adjusting and the timing set, but it runs remarkably well after sitting for so long