Steering Wheel - Sneak Peak

Hi All,

Sneak peak at ongoing project.

The car already has a reproduction MotaLita wooden steering wheel, however at Christmas my Dad kindly gave me an original steering wheel of his old MG.
This is both original vintage and a family heirloom so it's very cool and very special.

　
Only down side is that it's cracked.

I've managed to get it welded but with a big bead of weld.

　
Out with the files, wet and dry and dremel and we are getting there.

I think it looks go so far

　
Rest of the wheel still to do, more wet''n'dry, polishing, sort the wood and give the back of the boss some crackle paint.

Cheers,
Richard B.

Next . . . . Seats. Actually there are out at the moment and I've already done the base, just got to put them back in.

Hot or Not

Think she is okay ! phew.

Took my laser thermometer into the office for some lunch time test driving.

Warm up and idle, about 75 C so a few degrees cold by some opinions but very okay.
The thermostat is also opening nicely at 70-75 C as the radiator inlet starts to get hot.

Gentle lap of the office ring road, gentle acceleration and braking about 78-80 C so spot on.

Hard lap, full welly needle moves and definitely smelly but out with laser and still only about 80 C.
However as well as the smell got a distinct fall off in brake performance, simple its hot brakes.

Given that there are about a dozen speed bumps in 2 km its fair comment for the hard use and given drums on the back.
　
I also just discovered a retro fit supplemental alarm.
   Engine Watchdog
So one now winging its way over as we speak and I'll post more once fitted.

Cheers,
Richard B
　
Next . . . . . Seats I think. 

Temperature Sensor

Hi All,

After my recent battle with cooling I've been off doing what I should, DRIVING :-)
Lots of fun driving, but I'm still not convinced on the cooling.
The new temperature sensor shows her running warm, almost hot, not good in the Desert.

A bit of a search on the MG Experience and it looks like there are two sorts of sensors.
BUT not clear on what which sensor with which engine etc. so out with the kitchen physics kit and time to plot some graphs.

These are the two that I've got.
Original

Part GTR101
Dia : 8.39mm
Sensor length : 13.3mm
Connection : Perpendicular

And then new :　

New Sensor
Part GTR104
Dia : 8.59mm
Sensor length : 12.4mm
Connection : Axial
　
The way the temperature gauge works is all about resistance. The sensor is a thermistor, the hotter it is the lower the resistance.
So out with the sauce pan and multimeter.

　

Plotting a graph for each sensor it is clear that the original sensor the gives a higher resistance.

Deg C  Old   New             Deg C   Old    New
   26     909   554                   70     181   146
   28     869   542                   72     168   134
   30     849   524                   74     160   119
   32     792   482                   76     142   112
   34     725   454                   78     132   109
   36     667   406                   80     124    98
   38     599   378                   82     116    91
   40     563   352                   84     108    86
   42     529   335                   86     101    75
   44     496   325                   88     95      69
   46     442   304                   90     90      65
   48     421   281                   92     85      59
   50     400   272                   94     80      54
   52     362   268                   96     69      49
   54     343   235                   98     61      45
   56     311   206                   99     56      47
   58     288   202
   60     270   184
   62     255   179
   64     244   170
   66     213   186
   68     197   180

Problem is that old sensor shows the engine running Cold (to cold in my mind) and the new one running Hot !
Time to get the laser thermometer out !

ANY IDEAS ANYBODY ?

Cheers,
Richard B.