Yep. It pops right off now, even tho I really haven't done any tuning on it yet, but at least I got the throttle linkage sorted, so now it's drivable. It's leaving tomorrow morning to go to Tulsa for a bit while I finish up some other projects, then it will be back for final fettling.
Today was a fun day! Dan and I actually got to drive the Innocenti - and boy howdy does it run! Film at 11! Dan came up to deliver the 67 S to cstudep, which went off without a hitch, they just rolled it off one trailer and onto the other. He also delivered a couple of engines for me, which were not fun to get off the trailer, but we managed. Then he loaded the Inno onto his trailer to take it back to his shop where he will do some engine tuning and fettling with the ride height and alignment.
My partner in Tulsa aligned the front end and has already been putting miles on the Inno - he and his wife in particular like it so much he may try and buy me out on it! He's going to do a little tuning on the carbs and continue to do the break-in mileage, then he'll see about getting it on the dyno and we'll see what HP and torque it makes. I expect it to be about 100hp at the wheels, considering a stock 1275 makes 52 at the flywheel, that's a pretty strong result if it does. I know it felt really strong when I drove it around the block.
Finishing up some details on the Inno to get ready for our local All Brit show on Sat. First I had to sort out the brakes, Dan said they were really noisy - I had blasted the rotors and even tho I put in new brake pads they didn't seem to bed in, so since I had a set in stock I went ahead and changed them out - rechecked the adjustment in the rear and bled them - that seems to have done the trick - the pedal is right where it should be and they're smooth and quiet. I'm going to bleed the clutch, it releases right off the floor tho it works just fine, I can get all the gears and nothing grinds, even going into reverse. I also sorted out the steering wheel, the hub was rubbing on the shroud when I tightened the wheel down, so I had found another Hellbore wheel and swapped out the hub - bonus I got a horn button with the new one, unfortunately there were no "works" under the button, so I'll still have to figure that part out. Still, it steers nicely now. Lastly, I got to drive it today!!!!! First real drive in it since we got it.....this motor is STRONG! I haven't pushed it yet but it sure pulls like a train even on light throttle. Still lots of fettling to do, need to get a proper alignment and of course put the dash back in place and finish up all the wiring .....but a successful test drive is always a great motivator.
Drove the Innocenti over to the alignment shop today, post alignment it really drove well! The brakes are "interesting"......It has a vacuum brake booster that doesn't seem to do anything at first, then seems to overboost. It just takes a little getting used to.. But boy howdy is this thing a runner! Tons of low end torque and wants to rev like mad! The gearbox is a little noisier than expected, but then I never drove it prior to rebuilding the engine.....it's not bad, just a little whiny.....works perfectly tho. All in all the nicest most powerful Mini I've ever driven.....almost hate to sell it! I still have a little electrical work to do to it yet, and some minor tuning on the carbs - seems a little lean coming off idle. Need to get some more miles on it now.....it's so hard not to put your foot in it, it's so eager to rev and pulls so strongly!
At today's Heartland All British, the Inno won 1st place in its category! Of course, there were only 2 classic Minis there out of 120 cars that showed!