Re: Liftoff!

[FMags2@domain.elided]

In a message dated 3/27/99 3:09:14 PM Central Standard Time,
gprtech@domain.elided writes:

<< I am psyched!
 
 Earlier this week , I filled my new acquisition up with about 10 quarts
 of oil, poured oil into all 8 cylinders, and started checking the
 electrical system out.
 
 Got a new battery, put it in and turned on the ignition. Almost instant
 gas smell.  On carb is spitting gas out of the overflow vent. So, I
 figure stuck float. If I'd thought about it earlier this week, I could
 have had a rebuild kit in, but I was busy at work, and forgot.
 
 Last night I pulled the carbs, and I could see that besides the stuck
 floats, both diaphragms had split in multiple places back when that car
 was running.
 
 This morning I remembered that there's a brit car shop not 15 minutes
 from my house. I seem to always forget these people except when I'm in a
 hurry.
 
 Quick trip, quick cleanup and rebuild, and I remount the carbs. No more
 gas leaks. Drain the excess oil. Spray a little starting fluid in, turn
 the key, and Whammo! Wow! The exhaust system on this car is shot!
 
 On the other hand, the Triumph V8 is not. After a 10 year snooze, it ran
 rough for a few minutes, smoothed out and ran for 25 minutes.
 Temperature gauge swung up almost to the halfway mark, then dropped down
 to the 1/3 position as the thermostat opened and stayed there.
 
 I shut it down, and 20 minute later, it kicked right off and ran
 smoothly right from the start. Damn. If I'd ordered the brake parts, I
 could get this baby rolling this week.
 
 I'm still waiting for my Rimmers catalog to see what type of patch
 panels are available, but in the meantime, I want to get this car ready
 to roll. >>

George, sounds about like my weekend, but you're way ahead of me!  I put in a
battery this weekend and started troubleshooting electrical stuff.  Of all
things the clock actually works!  So does the fuel pump and the starter.  Ran
the pump for a while and had the same result as you - big puddle of fuel under
the engine - gas pumping out the carb overflow; must be a stuck float.
Cranked the engine over with the plugs out to blow out the oil I loaded in the
cylinders - cranked over fine.  Hope to start it in a week or so.  Now I have
a question:  I think I have a bad ignition switch.  It has two positions out
of off that are non spring loaded - the 'run' position, I guess.  Initially I
thought I had a bad fuel pump, but on going to crank the engine the pump came
to life.  When I turn the key in the spring loaded position, the electric fuel
pump starts to run.  If I turn it further, the starter engages.  But, if I
release the key to the 'run' position the electric pump does not run - is this
correct?  On my Healey, it has 3 positions of the key - off, run, start.  In
the run position the fuel pump will run until the system comes up to pressure,
then it shuts off.  I expected this on the Stag, but it's different.  Any
suggestions?  Do I have a bad switch or is it working as it's supposed to?
Help!
Thanks,
Frank M.