Other under-bonnet jobs

Electrical system

Check all wiring and connections, including the battery leads and the engine-to-body earth. Look out for deteriorating insulation.

Breather hose

Make sure it’s unobstructed and in good condition.

Dynamo

Apply a few drops of engine oil to the dynamo’s rear bearing.

Gearchange pivot

Check the pivot welded to the underside of the transmission tunnel. It’s prone to coming loose, with a catastrophic effect on the quality of the gearchange.

Ignition timing

The factory setting is 5° BTDC. Align the aperture on the rim of the crankshaft pulley with the first short pointer on the timing case (the long one is TDC).

Manifold nuts

Check the tightness of the manifold nuts. They can work loose, causing air leaks and weak running.

Carburettor linkages

Sparingly lubricate the choke and accelerator linkage pivot points with fresh engine oil.

Fuel system

Clean the fuel pump and carburettor filters every two years or 12,000 miles. Check all pipework for damage, deterioration and poor routing.