Engine runs again  Let the oil pressure come up on the starter again without plugs. It was tad rough to start with as it tends to be.

Turns out the fan temp sensor switch is broken which is why the fan wouldn't run when it was hot.

So the problems were dodgy earth, broken fan switch and the starter stayed engaged. 

Solutions: New earth strap, new fan switch on order, greased starter mechanism, new oil, new filter.

I may need a new starter, the alternator could do with being replaced as well.

All in all lucky escape.

Once I have new bits we'll be able to take it for a run make sure it OK over a longer period.

The reason the temp sensor was not working is that the bigger bit at the end that does the sensing had fallen off! Doh.

New sensor from CBS looks a lot better. The switch has an override setting so if the sensor goes you can wind it all the way up and the fan comes on even when the engine is cold.

This is the new sensor: http://www.cbsonline.co.uk/adjustabl...stat-763-p.asp

Been for a 15 mile round trip an all is well again.

The Rad is a bit border line -situation is the temp comes up and keep going up until the fan kicks in when your stopped. The fan stops the temp going further but the rad is not big enough for the temp to come back down again to normal when sat in traffic.

So it will be OK for now, We'll see what it does when the outside temp goes up.

Toe fine tuning after changing the wishbones before the trip to Stonelight:

Starting point, 1.25 degrees negative camber, castor set 3 washers on the front and 4 on the back.

Symptoms - car does not auto centre going forwards, but it does backwards. Problem is too much toe in.

1) Mark on the track rod a line so you know where the top is.
2) Unbolt and turn the track rod by 1 turn so it move out from the track rod end - this moves the wheels outwards at the front.
3) Take it for a quick drive forwards and back and see how it feels. Ours felt a bit more neutral going back ward but still no auto centre.
4) Repeat if needed, we did with a 1/2 turn. Now backwards wasn't auto centring much at all and forwards was doing it a bit, but not quite enough.
5) Repeat if need, we did an extra 1/4 turn. Now the auto centring forwards was very good. Still slightly loose around the middle but 1/4 turn and it runs nicely back into line.

This has a made a huge difference to the handling feel. It feels nimbler into the bends and is easier to steer.

I've also moved my seat a notch forwards which is less relaxed but gives me better control.

FAQ Item added to cover this, click here.

It was the Sportsters first year at Stoneleigh. It nearly didn't happen because of the weather. We set off around 10:30 in the rain getting to Stoneleigh some time after 12:00. It was good to meet up with the people from Madabout-kitcars and the Marlin Owners club.

Click here for 98 pictures from the show (starts at the bottom of the page)

Due to some over heating issues we decided to upgrade the radiator, here's some photo's comparing the new rad to a 325i face lift rad which is a tad bigger than the one in there now.

Radiator upgrade - stock face lift 325i rad compared to the new ali one.

It is substantially thicker than the stock rad.

The M10 rad in the car now it slightly smaller than the 325i rad.

Northern - made in the USA and bought off eBay in the UK from these guys http://stores.ebay.co.uk/USA-Speed-and-Restoration!

Comes with all the bits you need to customise the radiator anyway you need it.

Swapped the alternator out today as the old one was showing signs of failing. New one charges properly at 14v.

Replaced the blue temp sensor in the hopes of fixing occasional warm start issues, but that will need more testing. It was fine after filling it up.

Replaced the Silkolene Silk Tran Syn 5 in the gear box with Fuchs ATF 3000 which has smoothed out the gear changes a lot (no more crunching, even from cold) gear box is still a bit stiff though.

Final touch to the wheel restoration!

some silver BBS badges, from eBay

Sadly not the best quality, they needed epoxying on as the sticky on the back was rubbish.  

Was bored so did a bit of photochopping:

And other just for the hell of it

First test fit of the new radiator

[Ace Ventura]Like a glove[/Ace Ventura] the fit is pretty much spot on, just needs a small notch in the mounting metal to clear the steering column.

At this height the cone goes on over it with pleanty of clearance. Only issue is that the oil cooler needs its pipes relocating as the rad uses up the space with were in.

More than enough room to fit a big fan behind to suck the air in. The oil cooler need some 90 degree bends so that it can sit back on top of the front chassis cross bar.

Marking out the position for the inlet pipe.

This is how far down the rad stick under the car. Not too bad still higher up that both the steering rack and sump. This may need some extra protection from any potential impact.

Oil unions. Need a 90 degree bend which nobody seemed to make so the solution was to use a 90 + connector + straight.

What seemed like a big fan is actually quite small!

They've done a nice job on the welding, here the inlet and small pipe back to the header tank.

Outlet pipe

Drain plug, will be useful for drain the system. We will no longer need to take a hose off to drain it.

Mounted in the car.

The oil cooler needed relocated and the oil pipes running round the front of the chassis cross member.

This time we've mounted the oil cooler so it looks like it is sitting in the middle of hole at the front. It's actually off to one side slightly in relatation to the chassis.

Here you can see the 90 degree oil unions in place, these allow the pipe to take a sharp turn around the chassis cross member.

The fit is very very tight, so tight that the top corners of the rad got a little make over with a bodywork hammer. The rad now just clears the cone when it is installed on the car.

The new pipe assembly now mirror the donor car. The top pipe has a joiner and the small pipe that take any trapped air away is now attached to the radiator.

A much cleaner look. The small pipe is just long long enough to fit in the new location.

Big thank you to Paul "Millie Marlin" Carey for inviting us to the 50th Anniversary of IBM Hursley.

Part of the day was a car show from the member of the Hursley Motor Club, they invite Marlin Owners Club member to join their show. We went along with our Sportster and the BMW 840Ci.

There were 6 Marlins there from the Marlin Owners Club as well as a wide variety of cars from classics to much newer cars each and everyone was a really nice car.

It was a great day out with all sorts going on and a Spitfire fly over / display:

Hursely House

 A small collection of Marlins

Our Sportser parked up next to Millie Marlin

Another Sportster!

After 14:00 it got really busy, I spoke to a lot of people today!

One of many stunning classics

BMW M3 CSL - one for the dream garage!

The BMW 840Ci Sport

Went to the London Motorshow today, Westfield were there hooning around a car park (you can always hear tyres screaming for mercy when they are at an event  )

Lots of nice things to see:

View all 53 pictures here

We went on a bit a cross Europe drive which took us past Marinello which is Ferrari home turf. Took a few hours out to visit Gallaria Ferrari (Lambo, Alfa and Ducati were on holiday)

Lots and lots of F1 stuff and their main cars from the 70's on wards. No really old stuff unfortunately.

Maybe next year we'll take the Sportster!

One of many F1 engines to drool over:



2004 Car:



The only hints of the old cars:



A fuel filler



250 GT



An F430, one of the car that makes on to list of ones I'd like to own!



This is the oldest car I could find a 125 8 from 1947



Various prototype cars



Even the toilets are filled with engines here:



More F1 engines!



Enzo with engine:



Next more important questions, where do I get one of these and will it fit in the Sportster



F40


F1 Car


A test car doing the rounds outside the factory


Full set of images is on the website: http://www.msportster.co.uk/detail.asp?cat=24&offset=0

I was at the Hampshire Pageant of Motoring on Monday, lots of cars from all different era's and countries (I was on the E30Zone stand):

I convoyed with 3 US cars as all the E30’s I was supposed to meet at the services were not there (I may have been a few minutes late)! I followed 2 station wagons and this thing:



It sounded fan-bloody-tastic every time he put his foot down. I sooooooo want a US V8 powered car to drive. I just be drooling all the time though

Best this was the guy in front missed the turn off so I followed the only group of people that didn’t know where they were going ha ha (like me me!)

It's been a year since the MOT it passed today! No problems at all with emissions on the rebuilt engine.

Only one small problem, the hand brake cable had slipped out of one of these things:

The solution was to mill a hole in one side through to the centre bore that the cable sits in. We then welded the handbrake cable into the bolt - its not going anywhere now!  Pictures to follow at some point.

I can't believe its been a year and 2300 miles already!

It's been little turbulent in that time:

• Shortly after SVA pass we lost a wing stay (oops)
• During December a complete disaster with the lower wishbone.
• While off the road we completely rebuild the engine enlarging the capacity to 2.8ltrs.
• In March we finally got the new and improved parts to put the car back on the road, decided to get light weight Carbon fibre wings to avoid issues with the (albeit stronger wing stays).
• From then on it was a pretty uneventful summer with regards to mechanical issues.
• We visited a number of kit car and other cars shows which was great to finally have the car there rather than just looking at everyone else's!
• Recently it pass its first MOT with one issue to sort out (handbrake cable loose), no problems with emissions on the rebuilt engine which was great.

The car is fun to drive now that it's had most of its teething issues sorted out (still one or two such as the clutch and pedal box assembly need strengthening)

To come in 2009 a paint job (I know I keep saying it but I mean it this time)

The exhaust on the car is a tad noisy when all 4 holes are open so we've been running around with one hole on each side plugged. We've been looking for a more elegant solution that would allow us to choose the volume.

The starting point, Vauxhall Omega V6 2.5 throttle body, nice and cheap on ebay for £5 !

After chopping the throttle body in half with a hack saw and removing excess bits with an angle grinder it was time to turn it down on the lathe.

This is how it will work in the exhaust.

Here's one half down and the other half still with the rest of the metal on it.

Now both are cut out on the lathe.

Test fit with valves closed.

Valve open!

Hold drilled through exhaust tip, throttle body metal fitted in test fitted.

Welcome to 2009 :o) I swear this year we'll paint the car. Few other projects still on the cards such as exhaust valves, ITB's adapted from a Suzuki GSXR 600, bonnet louvres and a bit of a change to the rear lines.