Updates to my Touring

[John Fitz]

? Having trouble overheating, poor charge from generator, fuel starvation or delivery, and fed-up with old spark or distributor ?  Maybe many of you have solved all these problems long ago, but if not, and you don't regard old tech as sacred perhaps you would consider doing an upgrade now. For what's it's worth here's what some have done, incl. me.  First: get the radiator core upgraded. Then 2. ditch the old Genny and replace with an alternator. 3.  One solution to poor fuel delivery or failing pumps due to worn out diaphragms and porous hoses that go with it is to fit an electric pump. There are not many on the market that can be put in the engine bay, which I favoured, but if you search the internet the Huco or Hueco, now owned by Hitachi, should appear. If it doesn't put it in yourself. I just bought one but it took a while. 4. Chuck out the points and fit electronic ignition, it's discreet and can't be seen. If you prefer you can replace the complete distributor for a new, electronic one but it's expensive. An alternative to the fuel problem is to convert to fuel-injection, but that involves much expense,and ECUs.

Would love to have your opinions about this, so write soon.

[Mark92131]

John:

 

It is kinda hard to answer or make comments on your post, because we can't figure out was you have or haven't done to your Touring.

 

Overheating issues, typically upgrading the radiator by upgrading the original radiator to a three core or replacing it with a aftermarket or replacing it with a radiator from a BMW 320i will help with the cooling issue.  Other things to do include cooling system flush, hose and thermostat test and replacement, electric cooling fan upgrades.

 

Is your Touring a 6 Volt or 12 Volt?  Upgrading to an alternator with a higher AMP rating is desirable when you are running additional items, stereo amps, fog/driving lights, etc.  Upgrading 6V to 12V has issues related to wiring, relays and other components that were designed for a 6V system.

 

Upgrading to an electric fuel pump to solve fuel delivery issues is a very common fix.  It sounds like you did this upgrade and I am assuming you picked a pump with the appropriate output pressure.  Other things to consider, is the screen on the pickup in your tank, the fuel lines, new filters and an inertia cutoff switch to turn off your pump in case of an accident.

 

For ignition, Pertronix or other similar modules are a cheap and easy upgrade.  However, the 123 Ignition Distributor upgrade was one of the best upgrades I have done on my car.  You can run a Pertronix in your car, but if the internals of your distributor are worn, it won't deliver the proper ignition curve for you motor.

 

In order to better comment on the specifics of the upgrades on your Touring, take a few pictures of what was done or what you were planning to do and we can share our experiences on getting the desired outcome.

 

Lots of people here are happy to share.

 

 

Mark92131

 

 

[02Les]

Post a pic or two of your Touring.

Odd that it has a generator as those were phased out before Tourings were built.

[John Fitz]

Remembered afterwards that I should have said dynamo. You know, the heavy, round black thing fatter than the coil that was old fashioned and outdated many years before the car was designed. An engineer friend advised me to ditch it if I wanted a better, and more reliable spark, and battery charge.

[John Fitz]

Hello again Les,

I got a local specialist Co. to put in the upgraded core. Did most of the other things you mention later, including using special, purified water, or collected rain-water, replaced the thermo,. and am still considering a cooling fan. It doesn't overheat but this guy who did the work on the head when the gasket blew some time ago put 2 holes in the Thermo. instead of just one that is advised. Result : low reading in the dial.

The system is 12V, negative earth, and I have just bought a Powerspark Electronic conversion kit to fit in the Distributor.

Also purchased a Hueco/Hitachi pump that is specifically for the engine bay, and an inertia cut-off switch to go with it. Still need to replace the hoses with Ethanol compatible ones.  Lots of trouble locally with gangster pump-station owner who seems to be buying laundered fuel, or having an excess of Ethanol mixed into it.

Filter in-line in fuel delivery already in place, and now need to retire old mechanical pump.

My car is a standard 2002 Touring, with the 1990cc, 100bhp engine, Single Solex carb., and 4 speed box.

Would love a Turbo, or a Tii, but they are fetching high prices now. The one I have does me anyway for what I want to do, and where I go. 

[Mark92131]

20 hours ago, John Fitz said:

now need to retire old mechanical pump.

 

You can retire that fuel pump with one of these...

 

https://www.iemotorsport.com/product/fuel-pump-block-off-plate-for-m10-cylinder-heads/

 

Mark92131