The Big Day Has Arrived!

34 years later, it runs again. Started it up today and runs good, no leaks so that's good news. Could only keep it running for a short time. My work space is very small and after just a couple of minutes my eyes we're burning from the exhaust fumes. But sounds good and one big item to check off on my to do list.

Here's the video. Click on the arrow to start.

Or try this link http://www.myf5000.com/lola_engine_run.html

Cooling system now complete

Wrapped up the cooling system yesterday. I'll add water and pressure test it today. Little bit of work to do on the throttle cable system. Need to add a couple of return springs.

Oil tank---water lines

Worked on the coolant system plus mounted the oil tank and connected the lines. So, at this point the oil system is complete, coolant system is 85% done and the fuel system for the most part is done. I think next week I have to locate 5 gals of race fuel, add some oil and start her up .

Coolant line from the radiator to the water pump

Getting closer

The exhaust headers are back on. Oil cooler mounted, oil gauge line completed and installed. Needed a low pressure fuel gauge and found one on ebay, that will arrive next Monday. Next is to reinstall the water lines and work on the throttle cable.

Snow!

The forecast is 12-18 inches of snow today. Spring can't be to far away.


With the oil lines cleaned, I could place them back on the car along with the fuel lines.

At last, a completed oil pump with lines in the right location. It's such a simple picture, but what a long journey.

Valve cover breather vents done

Venting for the engine is complete. Using steel braided lines, I had a lot of extra #12 hose, so I used it for the valve cover fittings and lines that run back to the oil tank. Removed all the oil and fuel lines so I could run parts cleaner through them and make sure all debris is removed.

Starter motor works

Really had not idea up to this point if the starter motor would fit properly and spin over the engine. Two oil pan bolts need a small modification. But the starter motor works just fine, this is the one I got from St. Louis, it's got to be at least 40 years old.


Needed to grind these 2 bolts, the starter motor was rubbing on them.


Starter works fine.

Oil lines completed

Received the necessary parts yesterday to finish the oil lines. That's done now. The parts for the oil pressure gauge are all correct. The back order fittings for the valve covers also came. So the next couple of days should be busy ones.

Wired

The nice part about working on the wiring is, it's very straight forward and all the supplies can be purchased at your local auto parts store. Instead of using the solderless wire connectors, all my connections will be soldered. It's a little more work but much more dependable and this is the way it was done in the 1970's. The one thing that is added that wasn't used in the 70's is a fuel pump emergency cut off switch. It's triggered by a sudden stop. Cuts electric to the fuel pump.

The blue connector is the solderless type.

Fuel cutoff switch. It's the one with the red button.

Rain light, hey it works!

Electrical

While I wait for parts, started to work on the electrical. All this old wire needs to be replaced.

I'm trying to use what the car came with to keep it original, but this stuff is just to dangerous to use again.

2 months to go

My first event is in just a couple of months. I'm not in panic mode yet.

Additional parts will arrive this Friday. This should complete the oil lines, a small water line that runs from the radiator to the swirl pot and some fittings to convert metric threads to US for a replaced oil pressure gauge.

Next is to modify the valve cover breather vents to accept lines that will run to the oil tank.

Transponder

That red devise is a transponder. Mounted on the nose of the car, it electronically sends out a signal and every time you do a lap at a race track it's it records your lap time. This can be followed live at mylaps.com

I bought this one from Eric, somehow he ended up with 2 of them.

Fuel system completed

A productive weekend, but a cold one. 5 degrees outside and 35 degrees in the shop. I use 2 small space heaters and it takes about 2 hours to get warm enough to work in.

Anyway, for the fuel system I needed to fabricate 2 brackets to mount the electric fuel pump. I'm sure the car original had a mechanical pump that was driven off the engine. But I don't have fuel injection and a electric pump will be more than adequate. Had all the parts I needed, thought it would take a couple of hours and ended up taking all day, but its done.

Mounting the fuel pump behind the seat.

Brackets for the pump.

Completed system

Oil lines 95% done.

Almost completed the oil lines. Came up short on one hose fitting. Don't know what happened, I'll get one next week. I'll focus on the fuel lines and installation of the fuel pump today, sure hope I have all the necessary parts to finish.

This photo is underneath the car, took some time but I think the lines came out ok.

A busy weekend ahead

With this box of parts that arrived yesterday and other boxing coming today, I should be able to make large leap on the to do list this weekend.

Plus clean up a little, getting a bit messy.