Got to Dover.

[claypole1360]

The 7V8 had made it to Dover From Lincolnshire, a reasonable run at 23 mpg (ouch). Only thing bothering me is the only small dial moving with any menace. The volts dial is slowly working it's way to the left. Should I be worried? Something loose at the back too, minor sure what. Still, press on to Spa in the morning, hopefully we won't need the lights or the fan and it will charge itself up a bit. Cheers, Calvin.

[Hasbeen]

Good luck.

I hope we can't plot your track by the trail of abandoned flattened new batteries.

Hasbeen

[john 215]

Hi Calvin,

Glad you made it that far, cant say I am not jealous mate !

As far as your voltmeter is concerned most of the TR7's I have been in seem to display a different reading ! Like the other gauges fitted to our cars they are not exactly made like a Swiss watch more a garage forecourt watch ! My V8 reads top of the scale but the FHC reads really low neither have let me down, as far measuring charging a amp meter is far more handy compared to a voltmeter.

The voltmeter takes its feed from the starter motor switch not directly from the battery, any form of resistance in this circuit will give a low reading and therefore a false reading. If she starts this morning, which I don't doubt, happy days and enjoy your weekend

Cheers John

[Cobber]

Whist an Ammeter is a better indicator of charge they are also a bloody good way of starting electrical fires!
For the traditional type of ammeter to work, all the current must run through them, unfortunately I've known several cars burnt to the ground by faulty ammeters. There are inductive pick up ammeters that measure the current running through the wire (rather than measure the current running through the gauge itself) though I've yet to see one as a dash board instrument, I've only seen them as a separate diagnostic tool.

[claypole1360]

Well, I got in the car at calais and it read really low, close to the red. So I started the engine and then tapped the dial and it dropped into the middle. I stopped worrying about it, plugged the satnav back in, turned the stereo back up and drove across Belgium.
Only problem I had was serious fuel starvation on one hill alone, pulled over to the hard shoulder and it settled back down again. No probs since. Spa is amazing.

[rugbyref1]

Good stuff - pop it on your list to sort when home (safely) ... have fun!

[claypole1360]

Adding class to the proceedings.

[claypole1360]

Well this wet weather greeted us this morning, the back end went at the ice rink roundabout at the top of the hill. This lasted for half of the distance to Bruge. The road surfaces in Belgium are appalling and made worse by the rain. They have this kind of sandpaper finish to their motorways which trebles the noise in your car and drones.
The b roads are equally as shocking to the point that the pavé cobblestone in Bruges is actually better than some of the supposed smooth ones.
That said, some spectacular scenery. The new engine has worked brilliantly, I find the way it pulls from 75 in top allows you to pull out into traffic on motorways safely.
Back to Lincolnshire tomorrow and already planning next year. Might need a four seater, hmmmn, dolomite or guilia ti?
This is Ron in bed at the hotel.