Ok so just got bluey's engine is up and running, and everything was fine. Alternator charging the battery, power where it should be, lights, etc etc, then i drove out the driveway and it dies. No power nowhere, and quickly open the boot and the negative terminal is melting.

Whipped it off in time. Checked everything again as I did in the garage, when it was fine, no wires hot anywhere, coil not hot, or anything outta the ordinary.

It was fine sitting in the shed idling and reving, and then i backed out, and wala. As soon as i try to put the connection back on, it sparks badly and begins to melt the terminal..

This is got me stumped..

Obviously I've got something hooked up wrong, but can't figure out what...

Anyone?

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Bluey-1973 Clubby - 1330, high lift, big cam, 7 port madness in progress..

Gumby-1978 Minivan, British Racing Green - 1310, high lift, mild cam, enlarged porting and chamber shape with big valve head, supercharged build in ever slow progress!

Check that the main cable running from the battery to the solenoid is not rubbed through anywhere and shorting out.
Cheers Pete

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A recent study found the average Aussie walks about 900 miles a year
Another study found Aussies drink, on average, 22 gallons of alcohol a year
That means, on average, Australians get about 41 miles per gallon

Kind of makes you proud to be an AUSSIE

Is the battery around the right way?

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Ryan Filippi
Minis In The Gong
[email protected]
www.minisinthegong.com.au

this could be a task but one that i guess could do it..

going to have to pull the cav plates off underneath and all...

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Bluey-1973 Clubby - 1330, high lift, big cam, 7 port madness in progress..

Gumby-1978 Minivan, British Racing Green - 1310, high lift, mild cam, enlarged porting and chamber shape with big valve head, supercharged build in ever slow progress!

umm i'm guessing your being stupid here?

I wouldn't have even though the engine would start and run with lights and all fine in the garage if the battery was connected the wrong way..

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Bluey-1973 Clubby - 1330, high lift, big cam, 7 port madness in progress..

Gumby-1978 Minivan, British Racing Green - 1310, high lift, mild cam, enlarged porting and chamber shape with big valve head, supercharged build in ever slow progress!

well,, you'd be glad to know you've nailed it..

As I put the subframe in, the only thing I didn't check to make sure it went in the correct gap was the postive battery cable,, its jammed hard against the floor and the subframe right down on the bottom right at the bottom of the engine..

Mustive been ok sitting in the shed, but as soon as i drove out the garage, the body twisted, and cut the wires and short it out..

FU**!! PITA!

Not looking forward to dropping the subframe bolts all over again ripping up the carpet and so on to get it out..

What do you think the changes of using the wire again? Wrap some electrical tape around it and that will be ok? or to big a main wire to do this?

If not, i do not wish to try and get that cable out and a new on inside that's a real PITA job when your on own

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Bluey-1973 Clubby - 1330, high lift, big cam, 7 port madness in progress..

Gumby-1978 Minivan, British Racing Green - 1310, high lift, mild cam, enlarged porting and chamber shape with big valve head, supercharged build in ever slow progress!

You could probably use some tape first and then some garden hose and more tape to give it some good insulation.

I feel your pain, have done the same thing before myself.
Cheers Pete

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A recent study found the average Aussie walks about 900 miles a year
Another study found Aussies drink, on average, 22 gallons of alcohol a year
That means, on average, Australians get about 41 miles per gallon

Kind of makes you proud to be an AUSSIE

arhh, i like the idea of the garden hose..

The more i look and think about it, i don't think im going to get a roll of tape down there to rap it up. To do this, I'd have to drop the subframe and engine a long way.. which means even more drama..

I'm not liking this at all..its ok when you have 2 set of hands and all my tools at hand but i don't. It was bad enough lifting the car body over the engine and subframe by myself... I hate doing it this way, but had no choice..

I'm thinking for easy sake, tomorrow go to the auto shop, go get some brand spanking new wire, nice big stuff, and run it though the car to the back The engine and subframe is only sitting in there for a few months before it comes out again for the rebuilt engine, so I think i can live with a positive main wire running along the floor edges inside the car..

From memory im pretty sure theres a hole i could use to get it through to the boot??... no1 sits in the back seat, so all good, the clips wouldn't short it...

Then when the engine does come out with subby, i can replace the old wire with the new one

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Bluey-1973 Clubby - 1330, high lift, big cam, 7 port madness in progress..

Gumby-1978 Minivan, British Racing Green - 1310, high lift, mild cam, enlarged porting and chamber shape with big valve head, supercharged build in ever slow progress!

i thought u mustive. It was a good pick up straight away. Thanks heaps mate, i owe yah! Had me scratching my head.. I was sure I had connected everything up correctly... triple and double checked, and everything was working fine until i moved the car

Your a legend This is one of the many reasons I love this forum! Past and previous experiences from others and know how!

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Bluey-1973 Clubby - 1330, high lift, big cam, 7 port madness in progress..

Gumby-1978 Minivan, British Racing Green - 1310, high lift, mild cam, enlarged porting and chamber shape with big valve head, supercharged build in ever slow progress!

All fixed now Shes up and running and charging no worries now

Nice new big wire down the cuts along the carpet edge, through into the boot, and up through the firewall for temporary measures to be able to drive around as my daily

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Bluey-1973 Clubby - 1330, high lift, big cam, 7 port madness in progress..

Gumby-1978 Minivan, British Racing Green - 1310, high lift, mild cam, enlarged porting and chamber shape with big valve head, supercharged build in ever slow progress!