28 Chrysler Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 My brother just bought a 1968 Austin America for his kid. It is a bit rough. will not start ( no spark ) and the turn signals don't work. Should I tell him to put this in the battery or in the both coil and the flasher can ? I will forward responses to him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capngrog Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 That's cruel, but funny. I don't think you'll need the Wright's Liquid Smoke, since Lucas electrical components make their own smoke. My sympathies to your brother, Grog 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 Working on any British equipment will require a lot of patience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Bond Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 No - absolutely don't use that stuff - you need this! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Bond Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 Actually you'll need to go through the wire harness and ensure all grounds are clean and tight, all the little "bullet" style connectors are clean and sound, all fuse holders are tight and then - try to undo all the PDO (Dumb Previous Owner) repairs and hack job installs for things like radios, etc. Even my wife has mastered Joe Lucas by keeping things clean and tight. Oh, a word of caution - some recently produced aftermarket components like switches, etc. are of very poor quality and can cause a lot of problems. We've had a couple of replacement (made in China) headlamp switches that literally fell apart. We have had no issues since installing a genuine Lucas part. I've always felt there is something inherently inappropriate about installing Chinese stuff on a British car anyway. You should get a wiring diagram and research the car carefully. You'll discover some interesting things that leave you wondering "why did they do that!" Welcome to the wonderful world of British Motoring! In the USA, we gather around the coffee pot in the morning and talk about sports, in the UK they pour a cup of tea and talk about what it took to get to work! Enjoy motoring about. Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Skyking Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 I agree 100% with Terry above. I've owned Metropolitans since the late 70's and never had an issue once all the contacts were clean and making proper contact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xander Wildeisen Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 I have worked on those wiring systems before, you just need to know how they work. To get spark for starting, you must put on the turn signal to the right, open the glove box to turn on that light, hold down the horn button while tapping on the Amp gauge. This will complete the connection for starting the car. To get the turn signals to work, again the glove box light needs to be on, and also the dome light. And while tapping the Amp gauge, you must also shut down the engine. This will complete the connection for that system. If you are wanting to drive the car, and use the turn signals, I am not sure what to do? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe_padavano Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 56 minutes ago, Terry Bond said: No - absolutely don't use that stuff - you need this! The older style smoke replacement kit is preferred, as it comes with the appropriate filter and adapter hose. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlLaFong Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 Lucas aside, the fact that he bought an Austin America is his worst sin. Apart from the, comprehensively wretched, Austin Marina, the AA is about the worst automotive disaster ever foisted on the colonies by the Brits. Well, there was the TR-7, the Stag, The Lotus Elite, the Jensen-Healey.........Anyhoo, if it a four speed car, they were, actually, a pretty good car. Same basic drive train as a Mini with full synchro transmission and Hydrolastic suspension. The automatic..........not so good. I bet there aren't a dozen, running AA automatics extant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 Not so, I had an MG 1100 with manual trans that was essentially the same car and it never gave me any trouble. Jags I just reversed the diodes and put in a Delco alternator. Of course I think my MGA was one of the last cars to come with a crank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 Gotta love British engineering. We did a '37 Bentley with Lucas electrics. It had 5, count 'em 5 wires running to the sending unit in the gas, oops petrol tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlLaFong Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 2 hours ago, padgett said: Not so, I had an MG 1100 with manual trans that was essentially the same car and it never gave me any trouble. If you re read my post, I conceded that the AA, WITH A FOUR SPEED, was a pretty good car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted February 9, 2017 Share Posted February 9, 2017 The Austin America should have been the Honda Civic of the early sixties. But even though it was supposedly designed for America, they never got it right. They couldn't figure out why they had so many complaints of burnt out clutches in San Francisco and burnt out engines on Los Angeles freeways. How could two cities have such different driving conditions when they were only a couple of inches apart on the map? It really needed a fifth speed in the transmission. It needed a lot of things the Brits weren't ready to give. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
28 Chrysler Posted February 9, 2017 Author Share Posted February 9, 2017 He knows about British cars and problems. He has a series 1 Land Rover 109. This is what I have on my CJ, ( he gave it to me ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amphicar BUYER Posted February 9, 2017 Share Posted February 9, 2017 The #1 issue I usually find is the grounds improperly done. #1 Improper; surface eyelet star washer screw. #2 Proper; clean bare surface star washer eyelet screw The difference is that in the 1st example the path is through the screw head then screw head and eventually the threads (poor connection), in the 2nd (proper) example is the path is directly through the eye to star washer. This has served me well for every connection I've done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 When you are buying British cars you have to be real careful, especially Austins. Sometimes it is hard the know the good ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 Gee a Boston Beany Sprout. (super trivia) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Byrd Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 We have had several British and half British cars (Sunbeam Tiger and a Pantera ...I know, Italian/American, but it had Lucas, Smith, and Yaeger gauges, fusebox, and other "stuff"), and loved them all. The 63 Mini has been part of our family for 27 years, and this last year is my 1st trouble with it.... well, besides exploding something in the lower end that let the oil run out in 2015.... Anyway, the "new" engine and all the new components we've put in it so far has been, well, lets say unfriendly. It ran great for a couple of months, but right now, for instance, I can start it, idles smoothly, revs cleanly. but immediately starts bucking and snorting if I try to drive it ! Got 145 to 150 compression, great looking bluish/white spark, timing dead on, new carb and intake gaskets, new plugs, coil, plug wires, condenser, another of the little nearly invisible mystery wires that hides in the distributor, no vacuum leaks, and well, everything seems right. Even fresh, no corn 89 octane gas...Do you guys think it just hates me for driving it so hard all those years, or has the dreaded Lucas syndrome finally caught up to me. Love the little guy, but considering coasting one way to the ocean or buying a large bore weapon.... And I just sold our precious little 48 Anglia (pure stock) this week, so I need a quick "Britfix" ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 3 hours ago, 60FlatTop said: When you are buying British cars you have to be real careful, especially Austins. Sometimes it is hard the know the good ones. Crushed both my knees in one of these in a head on as a 19 year old. Loved the Bug Eye but now 50 years later I would prefer to still have my original knees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bush Mechanic Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 John, I had a similar problem with my 1275 Midget. Finally traced it to a loose earthing screw on the condenser. Worth a look. No doubt you've checked the oil in the SU dash-pots. And Bernie, that looks like a nice little Bug-eye project. Had one in the 60's, which I had going pretty well. Drove it across the Nullarbor Plain when I was 19, when it was a rough, unsealed 'road'. Slow trip. I could completely hide the car down in some of the holes in the road. Lost a valve in the AC mechanical fuel pump out in the middle, but I carried spares, so no problem. Unfortunately I hit a 6 foot kangaroo, which went clean over my roll-over bar. Nasty dent in the door, and wiped out the 'roo. BUT, no Lucas problems. I have generally found Lucas systems to be quite reliable, especially if you service the points in the electric fuel pumps occasionally...... I still run a couple of Lucas equipped cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 The picture of the Sprite was just an example of what a "discerning" buyer would bring home. You know, the type who really knows what they are doing. Yes, I bought it.... yes, I sold it. To get money for one of my other "discerning" purchases. Bernie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Byrd Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 Bush Mechanic, thank you sir, but yes, those items are as they should be.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meteor Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 I've owned an MGTD for 15 yrs. Fuel pump and voltage regulator are the only items I've had to replace. I would change the condenser. Had that same problem with my 40 Buick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
28 Chrysler Posted February 12, 2017 Author Share Posted February 12, 2017 OK , he got the thing running (kind of ) and has told me that the ignition must be leaking.out through the exhaust . Most likely a stuck rings or worse time for a tear down. It has been sitting since 1985 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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