Start of the restoration of my 15184 Urraco

75086 Views 551 Replies 36 Participants Last post by Pollus, May 25, 2021

Pollus

Discussion Starter · Oct 18, 2008 (Edited)

2

Start of the restoration of my 15184 Urraco.

Last year I bought this Urraco from somebody who had been working on it since 1980 but was not able to finish the job.
This week I started with the preparations, I placed a second hand elevator in my garage.

See less See more

501 - 520 of 552 Posts

Pollus

Discussion Starter · #501 · Feb 22, 2020

Today I did another start attempt and the car is running! It started with a lot of smoke and spitting but very soon it started to run good, of course the carbs need to be adjusted but I think it runs very good for the first time after 37 years it ran for the last time?
Smoke was caused by the oil, I put this into the cilinders several times and rotated the engine to protect it. It was rebuild about 1990.
I could not upload the video for some reason, get an error with no explanation but I put it on Youtube:

I let it run for more than an hour, everything seems to work fine!

GRS Paul.

blissinindy

· #502 · Feb 22, 2020

GREAT NEWS - Congrats Paul!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pollus

Discussion Starter · #503 · Feb 23, 2020

Thank you Bryan!

Martinkdf

· #504 · Feb 23, 2020 (Edited)

Congrats to you. What magnificent moment! Give more fuel with the throttle accelerator pump. Be sure that it burns not water. Martin.

Pollus

Discussion Starter · #505 · Feb 23, 2020

3

Some pictures from the problem with the leaking headgasket ant the test with the penetrating liquid.
Before I did put in place the heads I placed them on the engine without gasket and washer, now you can see that the cap nut does not press the head when you put it on the stud. The stud is about 2mm to long. And I write about because I found 1mm play in the cap nuts! And in this case 1mm can be to much! Poblem solved by using an extra washer 2mm thickness.
GRS Paul

See less See more

samba-lee

· #506 · Feb 23, 2020

Excellent!

Yes for the start I pump my throttle ten! times before turning over. Particularly if it has not run for a few weeks.

I suspect the oil you added also made the plugs a little dirty so probably worth swapping them out now you burnt the oil off.

I presume you now need to balance and set the carbs and it should be good for the September Polo Storico 50th year celebrations!

Pollus

Discussion Starter · #507 · Mar 18, 2020

3

Yesterday the car got its technical safety approval, APK in the Netherlands. After that I drove it for about 80km. Oil temp 60 degrees, oil pressure when the engine is warm at about 3000 revs 4 bar, water 80 degrees, all very constant. So in the coming time I will make more trips to run in the engine. After running in the carbs will be balanced. And I think of installing electronic ignition, this one: https://simonbbc.com/sparkrite-sx4000-universal-points-and-electronic-ignition-amplifier-module/

See less See more

blissinindy

· #508 · Mar 18, 2020

Pollus said:
Yesterday the car got its technical safety approval, APK in the Netherlands. After that I drove it for about 80km. Oil temp 60 degrees, oil pressure when the engine is warm at about 3000 revs 4 bar, water 80 degrees, all very constant. So in the coming time I will make more trips to run in the engine. After running in the carbs will be balanced. And I think of installing electronic ignition, this one: https://simonbbc.com/sparkrite-sx4000-universal-points-and-electronic-ignition-amplifier-module/

Wow, congratulations!!!!!!
What a journey you have had - very impressive

Got a video - would love to see and hear the car on the road

I haven't seen that ignition module before - looks interesting!!
I had my distributor tested on a SUN machine and after it passed, sent it to Pertronix to have them replace the dual points with two of their modules. Haven't re-tested since the mod though and haven't installed it ...

Others had complained trying to mount the Pertronix kits themselves in dual point distributors. I knew Pertronix offered the service from talking with some 308GT4 owners who seemed happy with it ... So, I took the simple way out

Regards,

Bryan
'74 P250S S/N 15622
Indianapolis Indiana USA
[email protected]

See less See more

Pollus

Discussion Starter · #509 · Mar 18, 2020

blissinindy said:
Wow, congratulations!!!!!!
What a journey you have had - very impressive

Got a video - would love to see and hear the car on the road

I haven't seen that ignition module before - looks interesting!!
I had my distributor tested on a SUN machine and after it passed, sent it to Pertronix to have them replace the dual points with two of their modules. Haven't re-tested since the mod though and haven't installed it ...

Others had complained trying to mount the Pertronix kits themselves in dual point distributors. I knew Pertronix offered the service from talking with some 308GT4 owners who seemed happy with it ... So, I took the simple way out

Regards,

Bryan
'74 P250S S/N 15622
Indianapolis Indiana USA
[email protected]

I want to make a video when the engine ran in and the carbs are balanced again. At the moment the sound is not so good when idle.
grs Paul.

jlambo

· #510 · Mar 18, 2020

I would recommend that you have the oil checked (like OELCHECK.de) when you do the first oil change, then you know if everything is fine. Such an analysis revealed a leak on my engine...crack in the head...
Btw, I also use the Pertronix system

jlambo

· #511 · Mar 18, 2020

your car looks amazing!! this colour is a thrill. enjoy it as much as possible and keep the posts coming although you are finished with your car, not like other who never show up here again....
;-)

Pollus

Discussion Starter · #512 · Mar 18, 2020 (Edited)

jlambo said:
your car looks amazing!! this colour is a thrill. enjoy it as much as possible and keep the posts coming although you are finished with your car, not like other who never show up here again....
;-)

Ha ha, but I am not yet finished, the carpets!
I do not have them, did not come with the car when I bought it. Maybe they were destroyed when the previous owner removed them.
But thanks to you and thanks to another Urraco owner from whom I could borrow the carpets so I can produce a new set. The material is nowhere to find so I ordered another material. I expect to get it in a week.
Keep you updated!
GRS Paul.

Pollus

Discussion Starter · #513 · Mar 22, 2020 (Edited)

During the last few days I drove the car for about 100km, but there is one problem still there, when you push the accelerator more than lets say 20% the engine stalls, not enough fuel. I took out the carbs, took them apart, nothing to see. Checked float level, cleaned them and put them back. Before putting back the carbs I did a little test by blowing compressed air in the venturi to see if fuel came out the main jet, fuel came out. Testdriving learned that there was no improvement. So what the h... can be wrong I thought.
I took the Weber Bible and studied the drawings and what I saw was amazing: the company who restorated the carbs made a mistake, they put part nr 10, see the pic, upside down. You would not believe it is possible but it is possible, fuel will come out and the acceleratorjet can be put in place and it will work. And they did the same on all 8 carbs. :evil: so they payed attention!

So today I took of one carb to test if it was true what I suspected, well, it is true.
So tomorrow I will do the rest and make a testdrive, I am sure that the behaviour of the engine will be much better!
GRS Paul.

See less See more

Pollus

Discussion Starter · #514 · Mar 24, 2020

So did the drive yesterday and now she runs OK, I revved her up to 5000rpm and I could feel that that is not the end but the beginning! But because the engine has to run in I did stop there, very nice to drive it, I had fun!
GRS Paul.

Pollus

Discussion Starter · #515 · Apr 12, 2020

Clip from a ride in my Urraco.

GRS Paul

blissinindy

· #516 · Apr 13, 2020

Wow, what fun Paul - a thrill!!!!
Again, congrats!!!!

Sounds pretty good!!! I hear a bit of what sounds like metal resonance on that lovely acceleration onto the high speed road, but the engine sounds smooth and seems to be pulling smoothly!!! How does it feel?

Difficult to tell in a video, but the exhaust note sounds different than my car. What exhaust are you running?

Tell us please, about the starting process. When last my car was running I always felt I had to overdo pumping the accelerator before starting, when using unleaded premium (93 octane) with 10% ethanol ... Of course I also felt I was going to need to re-jet to optimize for that fuel. Switching to leaded racing gas made too much of a positive difference ... What petrol are you using?

Warm regards,

Bryan
'74 P250S S/N 15622
Indianapolis Indiana USA
[email protected]

See less See more

Pollus

Discussion Starter · #517 · Apr 13, 2020

Thanks Bryan! :wave:
The car feels good but I do not go beyond 5000rpm. But I can feel at 5000 more power is coming.
I use a new original ansa exhaust, I think the previous owner bought it at Lamborghini. But the camera plays a role too of course in recording the sound. And you can hear the differential gear with it straight teeth.
I use 98 fuel, no ethanol. And starting is a little difficult, Lamborghini choose not to use the cold start device on the Webers. So before every start attempt I push the accelerator several times so the acceleration pump from the Webers pump fuel in the carb to enriche the mixture. When the engine starts I keep pumping the accelerator in the beginning.

Best regards: Paul.

samba-lee

· #518 · Apr 13, 2020

Excellent video Paul! and congratulations on the rebuild project as it has been many years I think.

I must visit Holland again, it is one of my favourite places and always had good memories of car meetings in Holland.

The way you describe the starting is exactly the same as mine - I guess they are all like this, and the sound of the gearbox is also the same when I drive.

Maybe one day we will have a Urraco meeting closer to this side of Europe. Did you plan to take the car to the 50th celebration in September in Italy? (if it is still happening ?)

Lee

Pollus

Discussion Starter · #519 · Apr 14, 2020

Hi Lee, yes, exactly 11 years ago I started removing the paint!
A lot of work but I enjoyed working on the car and now I enjoy driving it.
And about Italy, I do not go but when you are in Europe let me know, may be we can meet.
Best regards: Paul.

schnage

· #520 · Apr 14, 2020

Hello Paul, nice to see....! When you ever come to Frankfurt area, let us meet....

501 - 520 of 552 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.