Trouble getting up hills

Speedfreak

Speedfreak

Active Member
2000SC. what is the most likely cause do we think here folks. Car runs nicely on the flat, however,up hill …..forget it!
Just runs out of omph. I realise there are potentially lots of possible causes, however where do I start? Carb been rebuilt and it was same on the temporary carb I used whilst main one being refurbished, therefore I dont think it’s carb issues. Ditto, dizzy has been refurbished and timed nicely at around 4 degrees BTDC. Not sure if it’s relevancy however, I’ve noticed an occasional ticking noise from top end, comes , last a few seconds then goes..
 
Try checking that the weights in the dizzy are coming out correctly, and check the vacuum advance is working.
 
Are you sure you have the correct needle in the refurbished carb? Those can give you a flat spot or lean mixture. I would also check your cam timing. Chains stretch with age and it can be quite out if so.
 
Someone, away from this forum has suggested the possibility as a cracked valve, what do we think about that bearing in mind the symptoms of not being able to get up Hill?
 
Is the idle rough? Are you getting puffs from the exhaust? Then it could be. I’d do a leak down test first to look for problems, if you don’t have a compressor for compressed air try doing a compression test at least.
 
sdibbers said:
Is the idle rough? Are you getting puffs from the exhaust? Then it could be. I’d do a leak down test first to look for problems, if you don’t have a compressor for compressed air try doing a compression test at least.
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No, the idle is nice, and smooth, it is slightly variable tick over but it is smooth. Also a very steady exhaust note so perhaps not a broken valve? A leak down test might be a good idea, or maybe I’ll treat myself to one of those borescopes on eBay. Anyone had any luck using one?
 
Speedfreak said:
No, the idle is nice, and smooth, it is slightly variable tick over but it is smooth. Also a very steady exhaust note so perhaps not a broken valve? A leak down test might be a good idea, or maybe I’ll treat myself to one of those borescopes on eBay. Anyone had any luck using one?
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The leak down test will give you more useful info. If you have excessive blow by from worn piston rings you’ll hear a noise through the oil filler cap. If it’s a bad intake valve you’ll hear it through the carb. And if it’s a bad exhaust valve you’ll probably hear something through the exhaust (although you have to listen hard!).
 
Another thought, 4btdc might not be advanced enough. Bear in mind that the original advance point on ignition timing was for leaded fuel and not modern fuel.
 
Compression pressures checked? Advance the ignition until it pings under load, then back a touch. Check that you can rotate the rotor button by hand in direction it turns - failure to advance normally can give your symptoms.
 
One other thought: you mentioned the carb being rebuilt. Did you set the mixture correctly after fitting? It could be running too lean.
 
My 2000 TC was hopeless on hills before I rebuilt the engine. Ignition, carbs, cam timing and valve clearances were all set correctly, and there was no blue exhaust smoke, but compressions were all about 30psi down. With the head off significant wear ridges were revealed at the tops of the bores even though the engine had done only 66,000 miles. Maybe it had spent too much time idling with the choke out in a past life, or just too many cold starts and short runs. Post-rebuild (now overbored to 2.2 litres) compressions are as they should be and it flies up hills. Same carbs and camshaft as before, albeit different distributor to suit the 2.2 spec. But the old distributor advanced and retarded as it should.

So a compression and/or leakdown test might reveal the reason for your engine's feebleness on hills.
 
sdibbers said:
Another thought, 4btdc might not be advanced enough. Bear in mind that the original advance point on ignition timing was for leaded fuel and not modern fuel.
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When I originally set OCC up I had the timing too retarded & the car seriously struggled with hills - although it stopped the previous pinking! ;)
 
harveyp6 said:
Have you checked the valve clearances?
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No, not yet. looking at some posts from our friends, might be an idea for me to advance the time in a little, and also make sure my carburettor is not running lean, I think it possibly is a tad. If none of that works then I’ll check the clearances..
 
Speedfreak said:
No, not yet. looking at some posts from our friends, might be an idea for me to advance the time in a little, and also make sure my carburettor is not running lean, I think it possibly is a tad. If none of that works then I’ll check the clearances..
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@harveyp6 makes a really good point. The P6 engine is very sensitive to closed up valves, you can lose a lot of power there (not to mention a chance of a burnt valve!)
 
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