Time is approaching and EMC club gatherings and the run of spring car shows are nearing.

I’ve been splitting limited time between Ole Red and the GT but I am making headway. Just finished the usual late winter early spring maintenance on Ole Red so I’m ready for the trip down to the first tech gathering of 2009 down in Eddiceton. Progress as been slow but sure on the GT which the club was generous enough a couple of months ago to assist with taking apart.

Brother Clay has been attacking the differential in his B and is road ready. Got word from John Turbeville that he’s completed the foundation pouring for his up-coming shop and Jim Enzman’s going to have a few projects set up for us so make plans to attend Tech Session I.

I also caught the web master himself, David Crawford, out and around in his MGA. David indicates that he’s positioning himself for a 5 speed so he can do some long range cruising. He’s also making our plans for the 2009 Drive Thru History. Initial reports are good weather, roads and times so make plans to participate.

While getting Ole Red back into street condition this week I got caught in one of those right hand left hand things while balancing the SU’s. You know, right is rich, left is lean ordeals where you suddenly get lost in it all and after an hour of so you thump yourself in the forehead with a greasy palm and wonder what time your brain decided to take a break and leave you hopelessly behind? Taking and hour and a half on a job that should have only taken thirty minutes? Oh well, sometimes it just be’s that way.

One of your newer members Howard Laramy a.k.a., Mr. Blender dropped this tale of mechanical mayhem on us this month and as in most ordeals the answer is usually there if you just take your time and know where to look. It’s a good read and thanks for the submission Howard.

"I once owned a 1973 XKE V-12 Jaguar roadster with a 4 speed gearbox. It was BRG with biscuit interior. This car had been neglected and needed a lot of attention and I eventually fitted a new top and proper Avon tyres. The engine had a problem that stumped me for a very long time. The V-12 would idle on 10 cylinders but above 1500 rpm it would fire on all 12. At first I thought I would change the distributor cap, rotor and ignition wires, but when I found out the cost I thought I would trouble-shoot it down and find the real culprit. The solution came to me one night.

The Lucas ignition used on this engine is a CDI capacitor discharge ignition. It is triggered by a magnet moving past a pick up coil. Lucas uses a plastic disc placed under the rotor with 12 pin-sized ferrite magnets in it. This rotates past a pick up coil (it looks like a audio tape-head). At slow speeds (idle) a weak magnet will not fire the CDI. The faster the magnet moves past the pick-up (over 1500 rpm) the greater the signal and it will then fire the CDI pickup. It is a lot like swiping your debt card through a reader slow: do it slowly and it will often not read but do it quickly and works every time. So how did these two magnets get weak? Someone apparently had used a metal feeler gauge to set the gap between the magnet disc and the pick-up coil. The ferrous feeler gauges will deplete enough of the magnetism from these little pins rendering the system unpredictable inoperable (at least for those pins affected). That was the problem.

You might have noticed if you have a good set of feeler gauges (Snap-On or Craftsman) there is a brass 10/1000” (0.010”) gauge in there. That is the one you use to set this gap. If your feeler gauges do not have one like this, go find one before you set this gap space. MGs and Spitfires all use the same type of distributor; so does Ford and GM only their magnets are more robust. So the lesson to be learned here is that if you do not have a brass feeler gauge use the thickness of a business card to set the gap (or go find piece of brass sheeting stock that is 0.010” and use it). It will save you a lot of time and money. And how did I remedy the problem once I found it? I figured out which magnets were bad and replaced them, but most of you will probably purchase a new magnet-disc. But that is another story. Good luck!! "

The weather for the most part here in Mississippi has been very mild this winter and it appears according to the various weather prognosticators that this will remain the pattern with a couple of days of rain, a break for a couple of days with clearing skies and mild temps. Now is the time to get out, raise the bonnet, do all the things you planned on doing last summer-fall but were having too much fun to stop and do. Make sure that you take care of your ride so it will take care of you and see you to and from your travels safely.

Don’t forget that we’re still working on our membership! The Treasurer indicates that we’ve taken in about 35 membership applications and we’re hoping to get everyone on board by April 30, 2009. We’ve got lot’s of neat stuff on the calendar for the year. Just check out the updated calendar at www.msemc.org to see what it’s all about.

Here’s a glance at upcoming events. Please make plans and mark your calendar.

MARCH 14, 2009 - EMC Tops Down / Rocky Springs MS

Our annual rite of passage is on tap again this year. This trip down the Trace (or perhaps up) is a great way to ensure that the top of that LBC is permanently dropped for summer. Bring a dish and settle back for a relaxing day under the trees at Rocky Springs. Lunch begins at 12:00pm. Details: Keith Anderson (601) 829 - 2573

MARCH 20-21, 2009 - New Orleans British Car Day / New Orleans LA

Word is spreading. The British Car Club of New Orleans is getting together for the 19th Annual New Orleans British Car Day. Plans are underway for another great show in the Crescent City so keep an eye on their web site. Details: www.bmcno.org

April 4, 2009 - Deep South Alfa Club Rally / Raymond MS

He only lost a few of us in 2008 so Andy’s going to try it again. Andy has more elaborate plans for 2009 and being that it is occurring on April Fools Day bring your best navigator. Details: Andy and Bonnie Menapace (601) 857 - 2829

Happy Motoring

Gene Johnston