Thanks is advance for your help and advice. I'm just pulling into the back
stretch on the 14-year disassembly/reassembly process of my '71 Midget.
Question 1: I'm installing a 276 cam and slot drive oil pump (sourced from
APT); replacing the stock cam and three-point drive oil pump. The new oil
pump spins easily prior to installation (which is via two bolts via the
stock unit's four), and the cam spins easily in it's bearing prior to oil
pump installation. When they are both snug in their new homes, though, the
combination rotates only with difficulty; cyclic resistance with much more
difficulty in one direction than the other. My impression is that that they
should rotate with little drag in either direction (at least until more
parts are added to the equation). The only other part in this conundrum is
the distributor drive; the combination of the cam in place with the
distributor drive spins freely and only gets difficult when the oil pump is
installed.
Judging from this, I would guess that the oil pump deforms on installation
(two bolts torqued down to about 12 ft lbs) or that I'm missing some
critical "prime or lubricate the oil pump" step. Any common experiences?
I'd especially like to hear about those that shouldn't be repeated, or are
expensive or painful, or result in broken parts - but I repeat myself.
Question 2: The talented and popular Ulix came by the house the other day to
pick up a part. As we were gazing in admiration and wonder at my engine
compartment (correction - the engine compartment of my car), he noted that
there were no shims under the steering rack - it's bolted directly to the
front cross-member. His ('66?) Sprite has shims there. He remembered
hearing, or thinking, or feeling that the shims were important to the proper
alignment of the steering rack and column. The steering wheel spins freely
and feels normal whether the car has it's nose in the air (as usual) or is
sitting on the ground (sans engine referenced above). The rack was
installed by the shop that did the bodywork and painting; and their work
seems largely competent (and focused mainly on MG's).
Question 3: Should I expect any discernable play at the front wheels that
could be attributed to the wheel bearings? I can grab the top of my front
tires (either side) and rock them inwards and outwards, hearing an (audible)
clunk (imagine that! those audible clunks are the hardest ones to hear . .
. .) and detecting movement at the outside of the tire of perhaps 1/16".
Nothing seems to be moving in the suspension or steering, and the splines on
the hub look good to me. The talented and popular Ulix opined that there
are some tolerances that were, by design, somewhat less than optimal: and
that what I was seeing was in the "normal" range. Shall I expect the wheels
to fall off? Sieze up at speed? Wobble when going over 50 MPH? Or is this
merely part of the carefully engineered self-correcting steering to
compensate for the crown in the road in little quaint country lanes ("It's
not a defect - it's a feature!").
Thanks again for your help.
PS: Amusing item . . . . I belong to the local MG club (MGCCNWC). My Dad
has a '74 BGT, so I have him on my membership as a family member. The
annual directory just came out and I noted that he was listed as . . . my
spouse! My fiance (the lovely and talented Kathy) found some little
amusement in that.
|