Dave Robsons Challenger R/T

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Mon Sep 07, 09 8:50 pm

Now it has started to cut out and kill the ignition when hot.

Checked the ballast resistor and that seems OK. But there has been some issues with the ignition switch lately so I need to look into that.

I found that in the "run" position I don't get any voltage to the ignition system. So as a short term measure I connected the accessories circuit into the ignition wires so that I got voltage in "run".

However now it cuts out when hot. Yet I still have voltage. Not sure what is going on.

Maybe the FBO ignition module is acting up?

challenger · Post by **challenger** » Mon Sep 07, 09 9:29 pm

had this once, was a bad earth between ign box and body, ran a seperate earth wire from box to motor and all sorted

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Tue Sep 08, 09 8:45 am

Already got one in but going to check it.

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Tue Sep 22, 09 9:48 pm

Been too busy to work on the car much lately but have managed to track down my latest ignition problem.

The car was just cutting out when up to operating temp. Eventually during tests it stopped firing up at all even when cold.

After a lot of fault finding and with some help and test suggestions from Neil (Wil) I finally traced the problem to the ECU.

Neil sent me a new ECU the next day. Not only that he also sent me a new coil and ballast resistor just in case.

But fitted the new ECU tonight and the car fired right up and runs great again.

I have a small concern about how hot both the coil and ECU are getting. So I am going to fit both in a different manner so that they keep cooler.

Thanks again for your help and fast response Neil.

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Sat Oct 31, 09 9:50 pm

Have had a few problems to sort out before taking the trip to the NEC Classic show.

First problem was the electric fan. Since fitting an aluminium water pump housing the thermostat for the fan (which screws into the pump housing) has been switching the fan on far too early so the radiator is not getting very hot and the engine has been running too cold for my liking.

So I bought an adjustable thermostat switch with "probe" and i have fitted that by pushing it through the radiator core. The engine runs at exactly 180F now.

Second problem.
Before the Nats I noticed the brake pedal had gone a bit soft. Bled the rear brakes again and all was well. Some air came out. Couldn't find a leak though.
But while testing the fan thermostat recently I noticed the pedal was getting near the floor again. So there must be a leak.

I just found the leak this evening. It is where the rear flexy joins that block on the top of the axle? Nipped it up and problem sorted. Although the rear brakes will need bleeding again one night when the wife is not watching the X-Factor.

Third problem.
I filled up the petrol tank ready for the long trip to Birmingham. Right to the brim.
But the fuel gauge never rose from the "empty" mark.

Tested the gauge and low voltage supply by shorting the terminal on the sender to earth with a screwdriver. The wife reported (X-factor was having a advert break) that the fuel gauge deflected all the way to full.

So the problem is in the sender.
Maybe the float sunk?
Maybe the sender is faulty?
Before now it was showing "Full" when the the tank was full OK but it was going down to "empty" when the tank was still half full.

Only way to see what is wrong is to remove it. But I have gone and filled it to the brim. So I need to siphon out a fair bit of fuel and Diana will not let me do that in the garage because it will make the house stink.

So now I need a dry day to do this outside and there is a storm coming tomorrow.

Or I could just leave it and fix it next spring. If I fill the tank back up half way there and again on the way back I will be OK.

Decisions decisions....

AllKiller · Post by **AllKiller** » Sat Oct 31, 09 10:05 pm

Drive the car and empty it that way...couple of good short blast down the motorway will sort it, and be more fun than siphoning

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Sun Nov 01, 09 9:11 am

Could have done earlier yesterday when the weather was good (not a cloud in the sky) but we are under a really bad storm today so that is out.
Mid week is out too.
Only have next weekend to get it done.

Plus I can't really afford to waste the petrol.

Philth · Post by **Philth** » Sun Nov 01, 09 7:19 pm

Use the car 'as normal' but take along a long thin stick, and a large petrol can if you run out.

That way you still use the car but the fuel will eventually lower below the sender/pick-up hole. Saves any syphoning hassle and the taste of petrol in yer gob for a few hours (must admit the used to last longer with the old leaded four star!!).

BTW I replaced mine recently (which was originally yours!) with a new 3/8" item from the guys at Six Pack Speed Shop. Arrived within a couple of days of ordering and looked pretty much like the original, except a wire was used instead of a flat strip of metal for the sender, and it had a plastic float instead of a brass one. It works a treat!

Cannonball · Post by **Cannonball** » Sun Nov 01, 09 7:24 pm

dave if your hoarding that fuel for the nec just do as phil says till the show is over, they aint gonna know yer fuel gauge dont work

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Sun Nov 01, 09 8:18 pm

Yeah I think I will just leave it until after the NEC.

My sender is a chinky 1/2" unit.

It is nice only having minor problems for a change though and nothing major to do to the car for the first time in my bloody life.

Alex · Post by **Alex** » Sat Nov 14, 09 10:34 pm

I was lucky enough to see both Dave and his car today at the NEC and I have to say it is stunning.

After hearing and reading about Dave's journey over the last year or so and them seeing him today and the car as well, left me full of admiration.

The car is awesome and I fully believe it goes and handles as well as it looks!

Dave, you are are an inspiration mate, I hope your recovery carries on as planned and you enjoy the fruits of your labour.

BEST car at the NEC bar none.

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Mon Nov 16, 09 9:54 am

Wow.

Thanks Alex. That means a lot coming from someone with your knowlege and experience. Thanks very much mate.

I have to say. The car drove perfectly there and back despite a two hour stoppage on the A1M and grotty weather.
The journey home last was the best though. The further North we came, and the later it got, the A1 became almost empty. The bit through Durham in particular. I was able to keep the speed up to 85mph most of the time and in the cool night air it just swept along like a rocket on rails.

I was home by 10:30pm which is not too bad at all.

AllKiller · Post by **AllKiller** » Mon Nov 16, 09 11:40 am

Congrats Dave...Beautiful car and a Job very well done

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Fri Feb 19, 10 11:34 am

Managed to find some flow data for my ported iron 906 heads the other day. I forgot I had it.

It was only three points.
0.500 --- 258/201
0.550 --- 262/204
0.600 --- 258/208

I have 0.570 lift intake and 0.579 lift exhaust.
I think these figures were at 28" H2O.

But I found more complete data on other similar heads so was able to plot a graph and get a good idea what flow is probably going to be at smaller lifts.

This meant I could create a head flow file for desktop dyno and get a more accurate graph from that. The result falls nicely into line with what I had been expecting. Which is nice. The combo now should (in theory and if everything works 100% for a change) run 11.80 @ 115mph.

But I will settle for 11.anything at the Nats this year. Even a 12 would be better than last year.