Fettling the Davrian
I’m still hoping to use the Davrian for a few hillclimbs, which is why I’ve been getting it track ready. I felt that I’d done most of the things required, but to find out exactly what is needed in order to comply with regulations, I contacted an RAC MSA scrutineer. Although I’d apparently ticked most of the boxes, he mentioned the requirement to fit an extra throttle return spring to the Weber carburettors, and he suggested that I also improve the underfloor reinforcement for the driver’s seat.
I tackled the return spring first. In fact, I did try to devise my own set-up and spent an hour or two filing strips of metal and trialling different spring lengths. Then I gave up as nothing I fabricated seemed to work well enough. So I looked online and discovered that Webcon markets a kit specifically for this purpose – problem solved. The kit, which consists of a lever, spring, angled and shaped bracket, screws and washer, only took a matter of minutes to fit. I did use a smidge of threadlock on the nut as well as the small tab LEFT AND BELOW: After struggling, and failing, to fabricate a throttle return spring set- up of his own, Martyn gave up and bought this excellent kit from Webcon. The kit is an easy fit and works perfectly. washer, because due to the thickness of the lever, the nut wouldn’t quite thread all the way. Although the kit is first rate, I was worried that the pedal pressure might increase. In fact, the pedal pressure is perfect, and the throttle response spot- on. Even if your car isn’t used in competition, if it’s running Weber sidedrafts, I’d recommend fitting a kit.
Whilst occupied at the rear of the car, I had a quick check around and noticed a few tiny drops of coolant on the floor. They were directly beneath the water pump, but such things can be expected when cars are stored for such lengthy periods. When the engine’s running and the cooling system is up to temperature, there are no leaks.
Even so, I decided that it would be prudent to get a new water pump and put it into storage.
However, the pump on my engine isn’t an Imp one, it’s from the front- engined Chrysler/ Talbot Sunbeam 930 (the 930 engine is a slightly improved Imp engine). This pump is also used on the 1300 and 1600cc Avenger/Sunbeam engines, but due to the 930 engine’s Imp ancestry, the pump isn’t mounted directly to the block. Instead, it sits in a remote housing. Luckily, I managed to find a NOS water pump complete with remote housing – thanks must go to Robin Human for supplying this.
As for the seat mounting reinforcement, due to lockdown at the time I couldn’t purchase
“Whilst occupied at the rear of the car, I noticed a few tiny drops of coolant on the floor”