[Healeys] Subject: Re: healey overheating

[Alan Seigrist]

Mark -

The BN1/BN2 have comparatively low compression to most 60's British cars,
even in Le Mans kit trim.

If a 4 cyl is running on all the time, it probably means that the carb
mixture and/or timing is off.  Normal premium pump gas should be enough to
keep the car from running on.  I put regular unleaded in my BN1 and it has
no problems.  I can put moonshine in my A90 and she won't run on...  6.9:1
compression!  Goodness gracious....

Best Regards,

Alan

'52 A90
'53 BN1
'64 BJ8


On Mon, Apr 27, 2009 at 10:31 AM, Mark Schneider <mandmschneider at comcast.net
> wrote:

> Bob,
>
> Most Brit cars seem to have a propensity to "run on" or diesel  after
> killing the ignition.  It is a symptom of hot spots in the compression
> cylinders.  actually glowing pieces or metal of combustion products serving
> as unwanted spark plugs.  The way I have dealt with it also fixed a couple
> of other problems at the same time.  For about 20 years I have bought and
> keep on hand a gerry can of 110 octane  leaded race gas.  I mix one gallon
> of race gas with 6 gallons of regular pump gas.  This gives me a calculated
> octane rating of about 97.  Also, the race gas runs cooler than regular
> unleaded gas and cleans the combustion chambers so a point where no glowing
> bits remain.  Therfore, no running on. If you have access to aviation gas it
> works the same way.   Finally, another way that doesn't involve the expense
> of race gas or the safety issue of storing it is to simply leave the car in
> gear and as you switch off the ignition slowly let your foot off of the
> clutch.  As the clutch engages the drag on the engine will stop it pretty
> much immediately.
>
> Marks 3