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General Murphio's Meanderings

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General Murphio's Meanderings

I have been to Inverary once Steve, but Loch Fyne is just out of my area and most of these meanderings are work-related.
It's been quite a day today and doesn't want to end; it's still daylight outside. Here's a shot to prove it at 11.43.
DSC_8344 by Peter Thompson, on Flickr
Not digitally enhanced, in fact under-exposed to show the actual light levels.
 
It is a beautiful part of the world in the Highlands judging by your pictures. Really perfect for meandering about in a Murphio I think if I tried doing 200 miles in a day down south I wouldn't be home yet due to the traffic.:(
 
The same places an look pretty drab in the rain, which is more common on the West Coast.:(
The roads are so narrow and twisting that it is maybe only 10% slower by Fiat 500 over long distances.
Worth it though, for the all-round benefits which include making a lot of people smile:):):)
 
Peter I have been trying to see in your pictures when you have the sunroof fully open where the centre bar sits?

When me and Sean going for our spin this evening the bar started banging on the roof as we got faster, so I pulled over and folded it back so that the centre bar was inside the opening and only sort of half open if you see what I mean.

I can't remember it doing that before but that was along time ago. Am I missing something or is there meant to be a strap?
 
Vitesse said:
Am I missing something or is there meant to be a strap?
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Is Sean very tall? Maybe his head was creating some strange air currents?:D
It might be the fabric of the roof being relatively new and stiff? I can't imagine a way you could have it wrong and there are no restraining straps needed; nor have I had that problem although I do shut it when it's windy.
I find that at 25 mph and mybe a little more sometimes, I can (safely?) open the roof keeping a hold on one of the indentation grips in the metal front bar and the roof gets nicely arranged by the airstream. With care I can also shut it on the move.
DSC_8867 by Peter Thompson, on FlickrDSC_8866 by Peter Thompson, on FlickrDSC_8865 by Peter Thompson, on Flickr

PS Yes, I just noticed the gutter trim needs pushing on. It's probably Murphio's body rejecting it as it shouldn't be there.:rolleyes:
 
Cheers Peter for the pictures I think maybe your first guess about Sean being tall was maybe why it was clunking. I went for a spin today and it was as good as gold!!!!:D
 
Great pictures and video, the scenery is fantastic like here in the Lakes but your roads are a lot quieter. However they look in a poor state of repair like ours, only Belgium has roads in a worse state, almost third world out there these days! not long got back from a motorhome road trip, still screwing the cupboards back on the walls!
 
Cheek, my head was well within the roof line. That's how Tony's roof looked but when we drove it started banging on the roof. I noticed you can buy a small bracket that sits in the middle where the roof is fastened down, and then use a strap to hold it in place.
 
Franko500 said:
Cheek, my head was well within the roof line. That's how Tony's roof looked but when we drove it started banging on the roof. I noticed you can buy a small bracket that sits in the middle where the roof is fastened down, and then use a strap to hold it in place.
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Well it didn't bang today and I got up to 56mph down the same bit of road so it must have been you fault. :D:nerner: Technically I was still two up as the dog was with me.:rolleyes:
 
Vitesse said:
Well it didn't bang today and I got up to 56mph down the same bit of road so it must have been you fault. :D:nerner: Technically I was still two up as the dog was with me.:rolleyes:
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56? Blimey, you only got 50 with me in it. I better not tell the wife otherwise she will have me on a diet.

Maybe it's time you tried that 650 engine.....
 
As you will all know, the simple fact is that any event is enhanced if you use the Fiat 500 to get there.
This driver certainly doesn't think that they are small and the passenger didn't find the noise levels anything to complain about.
DSC_9000 by Peter Thompson, on Flickr
DSC_9003 by Peter Thompson, on Flickr
PS. The "driver" actually went to the wildlife park in Granny's car and although it was a bit naughty to let the little one sleep in the back, it was at the end of the journey and he is nearly five.

Extract from Gov.UK webpage.

3. If your vehicle doesn’t have seat belts

If your vehicle doesn’t have seat belts, for example it’s a classic car, you aren’t allowed to carry any children under 3 years old in it.

Children over 3 are only allowed to sit in the back seats.

These rules only apply if your vehicle was originally made without seat belts.
 
It's nice to do simple (pointless?) things for my car as relief from the major undertakings which are more usual. The rubber cover on the internal wheelarch on Murphio has two square holes cut out of it. I think that the old gent who first owned the car had made some modification; I seem to remember at least one self-adhesive hook???
Since the mats on my "new" acquisition are definitely not re-usable, I used them to provide a couple of skin-grafts for it.:rolleyes:
DSC_9005 by Peter Thompson, on Flickr
This is not meanness...it's just my excessive need to retain the old bits where I can.
I'm also going to nick the RH petrol-tank strap as Murphio is currently sporting an incongruous stainless-steel one.
 
Murphio's engine had started to "wander" a little. The problem being an unreliable tickover when hot although still running like a dream when under load, at speed.
I hadn't wanted to disturb such a well-running but potentially temperamental engine until now. But my hand had been forced and on inspection, I found that the exhaust valve clearance to the tappets had closed up, which must have been the cause of my little problem.
I also gapped the points and reset the timing and it all seems lovely again.
Two simple jobs which I guess are the cause of many of the problems regularly reported here.
 
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Tappets seem to have a mind of their own on the 500. I can understand them needing to be looked at with the amount of mileage you clock up but even on my 500 and the low miles it does they like to wander.

If I ever get hot starting problems they are normally my first port of call. After my rebuild last year I got hot starting issues and it was down to them. I can't remember which, I think it was exhaust as well.
 
The engine has been running particularly well after its maintenance, with no problems starting when hot (or cold), steady tickover and great acceleration and torque :) (accidentally set off in 3rd yesterday, stuck to it and it didn't feel to be unduly straining the car).
The problem I had with it stalling after a cold start and struggling straight away up a slight incline from the garage has also vanished.
I have been getting some use out of Murphio as a "normal" car, with visits to the park with grandkids, trips to the Post Office and shops and today with a major B&Q expedition.
DSC_9508 by Peter Thompson, on Flickr
My mileage between MOTs for the regular car is well down on last year showing that Murphio is no luxury but really earning his keep...he's lovely. x
 
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stevehg said:
Good to see that recent tune had such an improvement. How often would you recommend adjusting the tappets?

cheers, Steve
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I had done about 5,000, effectively from new. One of the exhaust valves had been replaced when I rebuilt the engine as it was cracked and burned. So I could have expected to have to look at things early. Haynes suggests checking them every 6,000, so that is looking about right.
 
Vitesse said:
So are you saying you have done nearly 5000 miles since the MoT last year Peter?[/QUOTE

To be accurate, I am about 500 miles short of that. This last month has been quiet for work-related trips but will pick up in Autumn when I will have another 1500 miles or so before the MOT. I am also considering another trip down to Preston so that Murphio can meet the little A35 van my brother has just bought....oh, and to see my parents and celebrate my Dad's 80th birthday.
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