A no show for Stoneleigh

As you will have seen on the last post a new engine was fitted to Nena just 2 weeks before the Stoneleigh show.

In theory this should have given me 2 weeks to bed the engine in and iron out the teething problems. Theory doesn't always become practice ! A lot (every evening) of time was spent on the new carb which I could not get running smoothly.

The carb, a Weber 32/36 is a well established carb, and recommended by many VW drivers. However I was getting poor acceleration, juddering, and was also unhappy with the throttle mechanism.

After methodically running through the adjustment progress two nights I concluded there was a fault with the mixture adjustment screw. The theory is that this can be wound in until the car nearly stalls, then backed off slightly. However whatever I did with the screw it didn't change at all ! Discussions with many confirmed this sounded like a dodgy carb, so the hard decision was made to take it, and it's own manifold out and replace the VW unit.

This took me all of the Saturday before Stoneleigh, and when I had re attached the VW carb I realised that the trimmed throttle cable (to meet the Weber) no longer reached the VW unit. So I had to put a joiner on the cable.

Based on this joiner being a weak point, and the new engine having had little running the hard decision was made on Sunday morning to leave Nena at home and go up to Stoneleigh in the daily driver.

Despite this we had a lovely day in the sun at Stoneleigh, catching up with Club Nova, and I answered some more questions re the Weber carb with owners running this. In fact we found Karman Ghias, Campers, Porsche 356 Replicas and Novas all successfully using the carb.

I have now made the decision to run in the new engine a little more on the existing carb, and then switch over to the new Weber unit I have when time allows. I also picked up some great tips on how to modify the throttle linkage to ensure the second inlet opens on 2/3rds throttle travel, and avoid cutting the new throttle cable I bought at Stoneleigh !

Nena also got a few more presents at Stoneleigh ! A footrest plate for the passenger side to ease Sarah's back, and some aluminium mesh grille for the bonnet and side air scoops! My aim is to get these bits all fitted prior to Buglovin, a VW show where Nena has been accepted as a show car.

Hopefully more on that soon, Jim

A lot has been happening

Well since the highlight of the Detling show a lot has been happening. A few blogs will follow in short succession soon as I need to catch up a bit !

After Detling my focus was one or two simple little jobs - trim out rest of carpet, wire up stereo etc. And more importantly, enjoy driving Nena. I had been taking her out for a drive each evening for two key reasons - one, because I could, and two - to reassure myself about her intermittent starting problem. At Detling she started very sluggishly, despite a long run to charge the battery. However for the whole week after this I couldn't get her to do this again, so wasn't sure if it was a charging or starter issue.

Anyhow, around a week after Detling, with just a fortnight till Stoneleigh we got home after a quick evening drive to the smell of warm engine oil.

Not what you want to see on your new paint job !

A quick think prompted the decision to plump for a new 1641 lump from VW Heritage, as the detonated engine was from my second donor car and a bit of an unknown quantity. The oil cooler seal, and flywheel seal had let go at the same time, and I felt more would follow.

The new engine is, according to the manufacturers, Remtec, built to the same specification as their Premium units but with an increased capacity of 1641cc. They are also fitted with a Scat C25 mild sports cam (Valve lift 0.423” / Duration 275 degrees). This combination provides a reliable increase in power and torque at a reasonable price. Results are especially good if used in conjunction with a 4 into 1 sport exhaust and aftermarket carburettors. Customers typically report 94 BHP at the flywheel! A new 009 distributor is also fitted, and the engine is hot tested prior to shipping which should aid set up. A call was made on the Wednesday, and by Thursday I had a new engine in the garage. (Join a VW/Specialist club to get a discount)

Friday night saw the old lump removed, and all ancillaries removed. Saturday saw the new engine in, and fired up. I am skimming over the knuckle grazing process a little here, but if you are methodical it is a day's job. I also took the opportunity to change over to a Weber 32/36 progressive carb, which as you can see in the pictures necessitated the modification of the engine lid - more on this in later posts !

One positive to come out of the whole process was that I also took the opportunity to change the starter motor and bush. I figured they were also original parts, and would only let me down later. This revealed the cause of the intermittent starting - a damaged bush.

This is a cheap part (£1) but only easily changed with engine out (unless you buy a £40 tool) so well worth checking when you drop your engine.

So now Nena has a new engine we should be cruising nicely to all the shows ................

Nena on show at Detling 2008

Well we made it ! After all the hard work we had a great run up to Detling including a nice pitstop at Clacket Lane where we got chatting to an Ultima driver on his way to the show too.

We made quite a site at the petrol station.

I have been testing Nena over the last week or so and the engine was a bit lumpy but Nena definitely ran better on the way home, a good run always helps blow away the cobwebs !
Highlight of the day – arriving to see everyone at Club Nova on an excellently positioned stand waiting for us (we didn’t brave the camping Friday night!), and a Nena shaped hole in the middle of the display – cheers !
Great to see a line up of 5 Novas, and good to catch up with everyone that was on the stand or came to say hello.

Some snagging items to sort – the hailstorm and rains found some areas where the canopy and sunroof don’t fully seal yet !
Overall though a great day, which we ended by crusing along the Southcoast from Brighton to Worthing.
Here are some pictures from the show,

Bet you were wondering if she would ever make it to a show !

The colour, in case you were wondering, is Volkswagen Vapor blue.

Well done to everyone from Club Nova who made the show, and a great display - sorry we didn't make the camping but it seemed a little ambitious for Nena's first trip out ! Stoneleigh will be a 2 day event - I promise !

All the best,

Jim

She made it

Many days, hours and grazed knuckles have passed.

Detling 2008 will see Nena on show.

She passed the MOT last week, but the clutch slipped all the way to, and from the MOT station ! In fact, it slipped so badly I needed a push off the brake rollers !

This weekend I dropped the engine, fitted a new clutch and did some fine tuning. The snow on Sunday did look likely to stop any test drives, but come lunchtime the thaw started and Nena glided gracefully onto the road.

Sarah and I did a quick spin around Worthing, and Nena behaved perfectly. Roll on Detling !

PS I won the bet.

What a difference 516 days make

Birthday celebrations were the order of the day this weekend, and a chance to recreate a photo from an earlier blog entry (Oh Dear Nena).

What a difference those 516 days make !

From this

to this:

and yes, I am still keeping current pictures black and white as the colour will be shown for the first time (hopefully) at the Detling kit car show !

She is nearly there, just the front bumper, wiper and interior to go !

More soon,

Jim

PS Hasn't Nick changed (back left)