It runs!
The engine makes noise.
This past weekend, the engine ran! It had been started a couple of weeks earlier, but Scotty was sorting through some distributor, cap and rotor issues. So now we have a smooth running engine, for all of five minutes. The sounds are glorious, less deep than the 2.5 liter engines, more smooth and lighter in sound.
Imagine – 4/6 of a 2 liter engine is about 1.33 liters, similar to a Fulvia. And 4/6 of a 2.5 liter engine is about 1.67. So the difference in revving is kind of like the 1.3 vs. the 1.6 Fulvia motors. Just a lot less mass to move around.
Idle is still a challenge, but the fuel pressure gauge is showing ove 10 psi going to the carbs, so the mech’l pump needs more shimming. It may be that on many Aurelias, there is too much fuel pressure, leading to some fuel washing down the cylinder bores. So Scotty pays very close attention to fuel pressure, aiming for the 2 1/2 to 4 psi the Webers should have.
The shot above is of the two older Webers that are in place – very hard to find these single cylinder Webers.
Work still to be done (after the fuel pump) includes final install of the driveshaft (its been in once, but is out now), some work on the gear shift linkage, clutch adjustment, and of course final install of the exhaust.
Its definitely getting closer to getting on the road. Amidst 8” of snow, its getting exciting. Spring may come, some day.
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