Introducing new 107e owner………

[stanstan20]

Hello,
Please bear with me I am new to the forum and new to ownership of my Ford Prefect 107e, purchased only yesterday…..on the spur of the moment.I just thought id introduce myself im Nancy and completely new to classic car ownership myself but my husband has a rather over the top hobbie of collecting series 2 land rovers so ive at least got someone to do the maintenance :wink: Im hoping to learn a lot more about my new/old prefect and hopefully get her looking a bit more tidy and attending the odd classic car show ,
Shes my only car so will be used on a daily basis so she needs to be reliable and so far sort of so good as she ran the 50 mile trip home without missing a beat but has a problem restarting which we believe to be just a rather tired battery. Having never driven a car this old(i wont drive my husbands land rovers theyre too big) i was amazed at how quiet and easy to drive she was . Anyway thats enough of me rattling on . Nancy
Hopefully these pictures of her will show up…

[Jason105e]

Hi Namcy and welcome to the world of Ford!!!! Looks a lovely car and you’ll have loads of fun in it.

Jason.
:)

[JAN]

A very nice looking car – and welcome to the elite section of the Club!

Looks as though there are a lot of rare, original parts there, including the (real!) carpet. Let’s know how you get on with it.

[stanstan20]

Many thanks for the welcome , im now starting to think that she may not have a flat battery but a very tired starter motor as sometimes it spins nicely but most of the time it is very slow and occasionally doesnt spin at all but just makes a noise similar to a cow mooing :oops: . does anyone have any thoughts before we look for a replacement starter . many thanks Nancy

[Arthur]

Hello, Nancy, your car is gorgeous! You have chosen a good car for everyday use, I used my Ford Prefect in London for commuting to college in Bedford for two years and it never once let me down.

My starter motor also ‘moos’ if it doesn’t start the engine first time, but if you are having trouble starting, check the electrical connections are clean and sound between the dynamo (alternator), battery and starter motor. Check your spark plugs and clean the contacts in your distributor cap. If the red ‘GEN’ light on your dashboard doesn’t go out once the engine starts, your dynamo is not charging the battery and needs to be looked at. I’ve just had to do all these things to my car, it’s very easy so don’t worry! Hope you get it sorted,

Michelle

[JAN]

Really, I’d need to hear it, but either the starter is turning the engine slowly or turning normally but not engaging the flywheel. When it does this, put the headlamps on and operate the starter with someone watching the front. The lights should dim slightly. If they don’t, the starter isn’t engaging the flywheel. The starter must be removed and the pinion on the end cleaned so it will slide freely on it’s shaft. If they almost go out, either the starter has a short circuit; there is a bad connection (the earth strap goes from the rear of the gearbox housing to the chassis, and is a common fault area) or the battery is discharged or faulty. Remove and clean all battery and earth connections.

The easiest way to test the battery is to try jump leads to another car. If it will turn over then but not with your battery alone, the battery is either faulty or discharged, which leads on to checking the charging system.

[stanstan20]

Hi,
Thank you all for such a lovely welcome to your forum and for all your fantastic and in depth advice.
I have been using my car nearly every day over the last week and she seems to be getting much better at starting. The main problem at the moment seems to be that she cuts out when I slow right down to come to a stop at junctions etc. I change right down to second and yet before I stop she cuts out – I can’t change in to first until I come to a complete stop, and even when I get to that point she sometimes cuts out? We haven’t yet had the chance to put into action the advice given here so maybe these tips will help? May also have a leak fom the carburettor as she smells very petrolly?
We are going to try all these things today if it ever stops raining so will let you know how it goes. Fingers crossed as from Monday I am back at work full-time so need her to work every day for a 30 mile round trip!
If you have any more advice for making her more reliable it would be much appreciated as she is my every day car now? Is it a good idea to change her to negative earth, to change the dynamo to an alternator etc?
Thanks again for all your help,
Nancy

[andrew123e]

Hi Nancy,
The cutting out could be due to the idle jet being blocked (assuming the idle speed is high enough of course). If you have the original carb this is at the rear of the carb (i.e. facing bulkhead), to the right just below the joint between the top and bottom aluminium carb castings (attached by 5(?) screws). The head has flats and a slot to take a screwdriver. Remove, clean by blowing through/washing with carb cleaner or petrol, refit. Do not clean by poking wire etc in or you will damage it.
The reason you have to stop between 2nd and 1st gear is that there is no synchromesh, so it’s stop or double-declutch I’m afraid.
Regarding dynamo vs alternator, imho the dynamo is adequate for an unmodified car. If, however, you wish to fit accessories (e.g. rear screen heater, electric fan) and brighter lights for safer use at night I would recommend an alternator.
Andrew

[stanstan20]

Hi Andrew,
Thank you for the advice about the idling I will get my husband to take a look at it as soon as he stops tinkering with his own Land rover. Tried all the suggestions on here as far as starting is concerned, unfortunately she still takes a while sometimes to get started – but I haven’t yet had to use the spare battery and jump leads that I have in the back for emergencies, so definitely better, thank you!
Nancy

[andrewoverton]

Welcome Nancy glad your Prefect has gone to a good home i remember seen your car on ebay for sale and i do remember reading something about maybe requiring a new battery. my Prefect had a slow spin starter moter which i thought but it turned out to be the battery. If the starter moter is suspect i would change it also regarding the battery check it for holding its charge and also keep an eye on the voltage regulater on these old Prefects i have had two which have proven to be requiring changing.
Hope you have many many pleasurable journeys in your lovely prefct 107E. regards Andrew O

[stanstan20]

Many thanks , the battery is fine and after quite a bit of tinkering by my husband she has been running pretty well for the past couple of weeks and starting doesnt seem to be a problem(we,ll see how she goes in winter)although it still takes a couple of goes first thing in the morning but i guess thats to be expected of an old car . but seems to start better without the choke out.
My husband replaced the coil dizzy cap and leads and since then she is much more reliable and does not cut out when sitting at the lights or coasting as she did before :D He had to buy modern replacements as he couldnt get hold of the screw in type.
Theres still a fairly strong smell of petrol after i park her up on our driveway and when i say up i mean up its more like a ramp and my husband thinks that she is leaking petrol from the carb when shes parked up like this and hopes its just a case of fitting a new gasket .
If not hes asked me to ask you how much a new carb will cost ? i believe its a solex carb and can anyone recomend a good place to buy a decent one or has anyone used the carb exchange for these . many thanks Nancy

[JAN]

@stanstan20 wrote:

…it still takes a couple of goes first thing in the morning but i guess thats to be expected of an old car . but seems to start better without the choke out.

They normally start first time, but DO need the choke. I suspect (see below) that the carb is flooding overnight so supplying too rich a mixture on the first start.

@stanstan20 wrote:

Theres still a fairly strong smell of petrol after i park her up on our driveway and when i say up i mean up its more like a ramp and my husband thinks that she is leaking petrol from the carb when shes parked up like this and hopes its just a case of fitting a new gasket.

The fuel tank is unusually high on these cars, and if full or the car is pointing downhill, fuel can by-pass the needle valve in the top of the carburettor, which is what’s happening here. Changing gaskets won’t help, you’ll need to source a new needle valve. Any suggestions, anyone?

@stanstan20 wrote:

If not hes asked me to ask you how much a new carb will cost ? i believe its a solex carb and can anyone recomend a good place to buy a decent one or has anyone used the carb exchange for these . many thanks Nancy

Hen’s teeth, to use the polite form! I got rid of a low mileage 997cc engine complet with this carb a month or so back. I doubt the new owner really wants the carb. I can ask him if you wish.

[stanstan20]

Thanks for your answers Jan but as for parking its parked the other way i.e. facing up the drive not down so im afraid that puts paid to the fuel passing the needle :(
Ive always found that if i use the choke she wont start at all , ive read the original sales manual and it tells you to pull the choke out halfway but as i said just seems to make her harder to start :?:
As for the carb Jan if you could find out that would be great but is there any different carb that can be fitted ? my husband says that on his land rovers there are still being made and several different kninds that will fit i.e. webber zenith and solex that will fit series landys (he prefers diesals though :( ) so is there a modern or reproduced equivelant ?
he thought that we might be able to send the carb off to the carb exchange were they basically rebuild it but obviously this takes time and to be honest we need the car everyday so if we could find a tempory replacement whilst this was happening that would be great .
Just another quick question , im very happy with how she drives but as ive never driven a vehicle this old oi was wondering how she is supposed to sound when driving again my husband says that a decent petrol landy sounds like an old sewing machine and he says that poop the prefect (sorry thats his name now) sounds very similar but obviously not as loud
many thanks for your answer Nancy

[andrewoverton]

Hi Nancy i should not really worry about the carb if the carb is not worn try to somehow give it a overhall i do not recommend and this is from my personal experience sending the carb to carb exchange i had a refurb one and it was a total waste of money it would not work and they replaced it with a seconod one which failed to even start the car.
to cut a long story short i rebuilt the B30 ZIC3 carb myself from two old carbs and used the best bits. the two prefects own have both solex B30ZIC carbs on and providing the spindle is not warn and the carb is not giving a weak mixture you can manage quite easily.
Try stripping down the carb clean it out properly removing any sediment and white deposiits and scale check the needle valve . i find making sure you oil the inner choke cable is essential so they dont snag and study the exploded diagram because the early B30ZIC 3 carb is not easy to get replacements you ned to make sure each jet size is correct so mixture is not rich or weak. these carbs t are prone to flat spots from cold only and in really cold weather you will need to pull out the choke its mild at the momeny in november december it gets damper .
i dont really know a really reputable firm which hold stock of the B30ZIC3 carb spares so look out for any secondhand carbs and use what
is any good. hope this helps a little regards Andrew.

[JAN]

@stanstan20 wrote:

…to be honest we need the car everyday so if we could find a tempory replacement whilst this was happening that would be great .

Contact MarkEverill about the 107E carb.

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