new to bulldogs, questions :)

[imp124]

Hi

i have just bought my pilgrim bulldog 1.6 pinto

drove it home with a few small problems...

1. its a 4 speed gearbox and i can only find 4 forward gears i.e no reverse, just wondering if there is something im mising, im also assuming its to the right and back on the gearstick?

2. also when i pulled off from a junction there was a rather large bang and the car started misfireing slightly, also the temperature went up but not into the red as i had got home by this point. i discovered there was a pipe which had burst but no expination for the bang?

The pipe is one going to the inlet manifold underneath the carburettor, the alloy flange that was attatched to the pipe crumbled as i touched it. So im wondering where i can source one of these small pipe fittings? picture below...



So now im a little worried about the head gasket although i could not see anything mixed in the oil.
Any help would be greatly appreciated

Cheers

Steve

[istreatf]

Hi again Steve - congratulations on your buy!
I will leave the Ford experts to answer all of your (hopefully) minor problems - they all sound like the minor problems that you will get from time to time on an older car. Apart from the selection of reverse that is - I have to assume that you have tried all of the obvious combinations of lifting, pushing, twisting etc the gearstick although sometimes the most obvious and embarrasing of answers will solve it!
Once you have got your new Bulldog the way you like it, if you use your car regularly, say weekly, remember that Kit cars in particular respond well to the "little and often" style of maintenance so please be prepared to spend 5 minutes, or 15 minutes, or an hour or so every week in order to keep your new baby in pristine condition.   

[imp124]

Hi

Thanks, i am overall happy with my purchase, and i have always been into 80s japanease cars so maintenence shouldnt be a problem, everything apears to be with the car, it just needs a little bit of tidying up may get some pictures up soon

cheers

Steve

[pccthebreed]

Hi Steve,
The pinto engine is notoriously finnicky when it comes to timing. Mine started to overheat on a journey and I just got out and adjusted the timing slightly and it was fine. The cause of the problem was that I had filled up with lead replacement petrol instead of using unleaded with an additive. The LRP burned just a little hotter but by adjusting the timing problem solved. Trouble with cars that have been standing is that the rubber perishes so it may pay you to replace all these bits of pipe around the carb just in case. I have a Haynes Manual for a Cortina so if you need any info out of it just let me know. Have you got an unleaded head on yours? It doesn't do them to much harm running on unleaded even if it doesn't have an unleaded head providing your not driving it hard all the time. I used to use an additive but now I no longer bother. 

[imp124]

it does not have an unleaded head but is running on unleaded and the reason why it has overheated is a metal connector has sheared off the back of the inlet manifold

still dont know about reverse :S lol

Steve

[pccthebreed]

Based on the fact that reverse must be there somewhere it's probably just a matter of finding it. I have a five speed box in mine now and can't remember whether the four speed one I used to have was lift ond over for reverse or push down and over so not much use there. Is the metal connector repairable.

[imp124]

i do not think the metal connect is no, it connects to the inlet pipe for the heater matrix. If i can find the thread type in the end in the back of the inlet manifold i could probably make one otherwise i may have to buy another manifold to rob it off

[imp124]

Also another question, i am looking for a few bits, badges etc, will pilgrim stock these or have all the bulldog bits gone long ago :\

cheers

steve

[pccthebreed]

Hi Steve,
If it's a Pilgrim badge you are after you may well struggle. I don't think Pilgrim keep them anymore and when I was after one a few years ago I
found them as rare as rocking horse droppings. Other badges i.e. St. Christopher, Union Jack etc; can be found on Europa Spares website. www.europaspares.com  Have you sorted out the reverse gear situation yet?

[istreatf]

Last time I wandered through the stockroom about 2 years ago there was a surprising amount of Bulldog bits in there - hood hoops, just odd bits - whether Den will know what is there heaven only knows. Definately no badges! I almost bought a Bulldog boot-lid off ebay just for the badge. Knowing whose written-off car it came from put me off as it was supposed to be crushed, not sold for spares. My ethics lost me an enamel badge for £20.

[imp124]

Ok cheers, no point looking for spares

the car is currently at my brothers house so i cannot have a fiddle with reverse although i didn't try to get reverse with the engine running.
I will be picking the car up on a trailer wednesday and will either be getting a new inlet with the broken attachment on or possibly make one.
I may also need a head gasket set too fed up with replacing head gaskets on cars lol

Steve

[mojo]

If it's a Ford 4-speed (given the Pinto engine that seems reasonable) then reverse should be "push down, left and forward" when the lever is in neutral between first and second.

It's often quite hard to get into in kit cars with shorter gear levers than the Ford originals, simply because you get less leverage that way.

[istreatf]

Hi Mojo and welcome to the forum. Good to see a new member getting on with answering questions straight away. Keep it up!

[mojo]

Hi Ian - glad to have registered at last! I tried late last year, but for some reason it didn't want to let me in...

Good to see you and the others at Detling on Sunday in the cool refreshing breeze.

We've had a couple of calls interested in buying my Dad's FT - one offering close to asking price - but neither have yet set a date to come and have a final look. Fingers crossed we'll have a buyer soon.

Martin

[pccthebreed]

Hi Martin,
Hope you and dad enjoyed the show . I couldn't make it as I was away in sunnier climes as I explained to your dad when I spoke with him on the phone. I do hope he gets somewhere near the asking price as I think it's worth it from what I know about it.
Regards
Keith