bstark

James - do you have an oil catch tank? Most of the oil that went from my x-flow ended up going out via the breather at high revs. 7-Indulgence re-routed it back via one end of the rocker cover and then from the other end into a catch tank and it hardly uses any oil now. Mine is also a Steve Parker engine and, touch wood, it's been great for the past 7 years including plenty of sprints and a few track days. We kept up with several 200+bhp cars at the recent Brands GP day (OK, not in a straight line but certainly over a lap ) and while I wouldn't claim it to be fast in Seven terms it certainly ain't a slow car. I enjoy it anyway 😬 Bob Stark Supersprinter

Might be worth checking the state of the front suspension bushes - especially if it's an early 90's or older model with the anti-roll bar as top link setup. Extra grip from the R888's (especially the sidewall as the tread wraps over) might be moving things around a little where they weren't before. Bob Stark Supersprinter

Quick update in case anyone searches on this in the future and worries they may be being a bit of a tart if they are concerned with a similar noise. Diagnosis - crown wheel and pinion totally shot. Best guess old age and oil surge. Bob Stark Supersprinter

Rob, If you can stretch to it (about £300) a GPS Data logger is a great tool for seeing what is actually happening in terms of speeds at different points in the corners if you are going to start making changes, as the overall times may not change much for each adjustment. Bob Stark Supersprinter

Might find the bolts holding the alternator on have fallen off (like mine did during a sprint, and I didn't notice until it went in for a service ) - thankyou rust and friction! Bob Stark Supersprinter

Midnight - another interesting one to check! CageyH - Coil was my first thought, so we changed it - no difference. Apparently the car is currently behaving itself... Bob Stark Supersprinter

Thanks for those I'll keep giving dad more things to try! Car is going to be up for sale soon so we're keen to cure it. It's a lovely car, but they just don't use it these days. Bob Stark Supersprinter

Thanks Bri That also sounds quite feasible - and a pain to sort! I'll let Dad know. Bob Stark Supersprinter

Thanks Mark - I'll let Dad know to check. Tacho seems to be OK though. Philip - don't think so - it's almost too consistent, but it did occur to me that the fuel pump could be heating up and stalling. Bob Stark Supersprinter

This is actually my parents' car. It doesn't get a great deal of use these days, so this may be a factor. Symptoms are: Starts fine from cold, drives perfectly for about 10-15 miles (depends on the road) then starts to misfire, a bit to start then getting progressively worse. You've then got 5 minutes tops before it becomes undriveable. Leave it for 10 minutes then you can drive it a bit before it happens again. Initial thoughts were electric, so Dad has checked plugs and points, and changed the coil and condensor for new units, plus checking all the obvious leads etc. and cleaned the dizzy cap. No change. Battery is fine, and the alternator charging OK. It seems to me that the obvious link is heat, but does anyone recognise the symptoms? Engine is a 1275cc A Series. Bob Stark Supersprinter

Thanks for that - I'll try and find someone local. Bob Stark Supersprinter

Thanks Grubbster - that'll certainly look better as a temporary repair and SWMBO is already looking happier. Hoping for a more permanent repair, if anyone can suggest one. Bob Stark Supersprinter

This is actually on SWMBO's MG Midget. Tonight a small rip (inch and a half) has appeared in one of the rear quarter windows in the soft top, at the top edge just as it meets the vinyl. The hood is otherwise in very good nick, and they're a bugger to replace - does anyone know if there's a way to fix this so it doesn't get any worse, even if it doesn't look "perfect"? And yes, I've tried Duck Tape , but I think t'other half would prefer something more permanent. Bob Stark Supersprinter

Thanks Chris - sounds like the pinion bearing is the most likely culprit, then. To answer your questions: Do I jump kerbs? No, I'm a fairly smooth driver, me Were the bearings tack welded to the shafts? Nope - just the original ones that probably came with the original Ital and certainly in my car since 1992... How did they fail? Basically, I started experiencing a horrible sudden shift of the back end under hard cornering, together with a knock - a bit like a much bigger version of the feeling you get when the A-frame bush is buggered. Worn shafts moving on the bearing... 7-Indulgence fitted new shafts both times, and glued the shafts to the bearings - so far, touch wood, there's been no repeat. What engine/torque/bhp? Steve Parker Racing 1700cc X-Flow to 135bhp spec, probably 125lb/ft torque. Tyres 185/70/R13 AO21R for road/track, and 185/60R13 R888 SG for sprinting. Bob Stark Supersprinter

Chris - I reckon it is overfilled, provided you do just take the cap and dome off the top of the breather tuber, and pour in via the tube. It rapidly started overflowing from the top of the breather tube. Bob Stark Supersprinter

Thanks Steve, S47zz. I've dug out an exploded diagram from the Ital Haynes Manual ( ) - does the ATB just replace the diff carrier, so the original crownwheel and pinion are still used? If so, I'm guessing that would be my first point of call. Bob Stark Supersprinter

Thanks for the blunt reply, Paul . I do know what you are saying, and I'm hoping that's the case. To answer your question, I went through two (probably old and worn) halfshafts when I first started tracking the car on AO21R's and pretty much everyone sucks their teeth when the Ital axle is mentioned in the same breath as circuit work and sticky tyres. R888's just found me 2 seconds at Lydden so they will be working the axle harder. If, for example, I have made an error in filling the axle then I'd rather know now and prevent an expensive failure rather than ignoring something on the basis that I'll know for sure when it goes bang. Still, if TADTS then great. Bob Stark Supersprinter

I had a Quaife ATB fitted to the Ital axle on my sprint/road Seven last year and, after several sprints (and some recent R888's, just for sprinting) I'm convinced its getting noisier (but I know the axle is a weak point so I could just be looking for it). The noises range from various whines at different road speeds - I'm reasonably comfortable with those, given the number of gears involved in an ATB, and the whines aren't ear-splitting or anything, just noticeable. (brain tells me they're getting louder, though, ). The other noise, which I'm more worried about, is an occasional graunching noise around 65-70mph which disappears if you back off from that speed, or you can drive through it. BUT - it doesn't always happen, and could be a harmonic banging of the rear spring against the new GAZ adjustables that went in this year (they rattle a lot over bumps at low speeds). Only noticed it after the last sprint, though... So.. questions 1/ Does this sound normal for a year old ATB? 2/ I've tried to put some molyslip into the axle via the breather (having jacked it up to a jaunty angle) but only got about 30ml in before it started overflowing. I'm taking that to mean that the axle is full, but all I did was take the cap and domed thing off the top of the breather pipe and pour it into the pipe - does the pipe need to be unscrewed to then pour straight into the casing (not sure if theres a clever valve or anything hidden in the pipe)? 3/ The only other thing I could easily think to try was seeing the play in the wheels when rotating in different directions. If I rotate one forward then stop and reverse it there is about 1cm of free play at the tyre circumference (185/70/13) before the slack is taken up and the other wheel rotates. Again, lots of gears so this may be normal - any opinions? The car feels absolutely fine, though, and no vibrations or anything, so if it a case of TADTS and live with the noise, then great 😬 Bob Stark Supersprinter

Worth checking there are no gaps in the firewall around the column / pedal box area as well. Mine wasn't factory built, mind, but there was a big old gap around the column. Getting it blanked off made a big difference - and is somewhat safer re: engine fires 😳 Bob Stark Supersprinter

Nick - talk to Jon or Grahame at 7-Indulgence, they are based just outside Meopham and know Sevens inside out. Mine has GAZ adjustables to suit the car which GAZ valved based on conversations with Jon / Grahame. Bob Stark Supersprinter

I've run 13" A021R's and A032's, trackdays and sprints. I tend to be more fussy during the sprints but I start at 17 psi (cold). Immediately after the run you can jump out and feel the tyres - if the middle of the read is warmer than the edges then let a bit of air out, if the edges warmer than the middle (which side normally depends on the track direction etc.) then add a bit. How balanced the car feels also influences what I do. Bob Stark Supersprinter

A bit of a long shot, I know, but SWMBO broke the frame on her (everyday car) '72 RWA Midget this morning and doesn't want to be without her pride and joy for very long! Bob Stark Supersprinter

Blimey - that's almost spooky - see here: Mixing Tyres for Sprinting I'm likely to have a pair of very good A032R's going in the next week or so as I've decided I'm going to put R888's on all round - if you're interested Bob Stark Supersprinter

Mines a circa 1990 Supersprint and I'm pretty sure the diff is 3.89 or thereabouts, based on the tyre rolling diameter (185/70/13 A021Rs) and GPS VBox speedo readings. I do 80mph at around 4400rpm. Bob Stark Supersprinter

Fitting a Quaife ATB made an enormous difference to my car on and over the limit - but I do stress "the limit", as in during a sprint. Before, balancing the car was a bit knife edge if you wanted the maximum cornering speed without risking a tank slapper as I was throwing the car in to get a drift going. With the LSD it's all much more controllable with the throttle, and much more forgiving. On the road, yes you can get your power down earlier but I never really had a problem before. Bob Stark Supersprinter