ok so i did a few jobs on the mini yesterday:
1. re-torqued head to 50lb/ft (scott ballistic's reccomendation)
2. adjusted rocker clearances to 12 thou (cold, in correct sequence)
3. changed oil and filter
4. cleaned and re-gapped plugs and points

i went for a test drive after everything was done, and it ran beautifully! i was very very pleased with my efforts.

BUT THEN...

i went for a drive later, and it started misbehaving. it felt like the engine was cutting out (revs dropped to zero) but then push started. also, when it didnt cut out it felt like it was hiccuping. is this pinging???

i became very wary and paid cose attention to the car. i was supposed to be driving the boys to the pub but it wasn't looking good at this stage...

put some safeway petrol in (my only option )

later it decided to hiccup more and more, and conked out at one stage. i thought maybe it was a sparking issue, the points i have fitted are set at the largest gap and it is still is not enough, will have to get some new ones (have been running fine so far though).

so i pulled the dizzy cap off, but the spark was still there (weak though. points gap not big enough?). put the cap back on, but it started straight away. so immediately i thought there was moisture in there. even though it was not a wet day at all. so off we went.

but it started again. so we turned around and went home, and took my mate's car. on the way back, my car was backfiring, so assume the spark didnt go off and the fuel got pumped straight out, igniting in the exhaust pipe.

all this says to me the points need replacing, but is there anything else? it wasnt doing this before i started mucking around with it... i feel like an idiot.

also it was running really low on petrol, but it ran dry the other week and didnt complain at all... another stupid thing done by me

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78 Leyland Mini - Prince

what's this "largest gap" business?? - .016" - 16 thousandths of an inch, it's not a big gap by any stretch of the imagination

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

yes, it's a sparking issue, the points need to be set to between .014" and 0.16", if you set it wrong, it roots your timing - too much gap means they're opening sooner, and advances your timing. This would have something to do with why your idle has gone silly

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

oh i mean the ones i replaced it with were not new, just my spare set. the gap is the biggest i can set it to, but it is still not big enough, i assume they are worn down.

new points it is! cheers mr. simon

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78 Leyland Mini - Prince

Check that the lead from the points to the coil isn't earthing out on the dizzy.

cheers, but won't need to

put NEW points in today, and it works probably the best it has since i've owned it!

i went to take it for a drive, which turned into an hour-long tour of the area... and i loved every minute!!!

and the mini did not skip a beat. it feels great!

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78 Leyland Mini - Prince

wow!! proper maintenance leads to a proper performing car - who woulda thunk it!!

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

i know! it's AMAZING!!!!

it will be good having money, i'll be able to spend some of it on the car!

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78 Leyland Mini - Prince