More chapters in getting her to run well:

So a while back I was fiddling with the float level on my twin SU H1F6 carburetors. Putting them out of factory spec was a bad idea. The solution was to reattach the old mechanical fuel pump and disconnected the electrical one which had been put on.

Since then it still hadn't been working exactly smoothly, but was better than it had been.

But then I noticed the car was always running cold. So I got a thermostat and replaced the old one. Actually, the old one was missing. What I found when I took the hose and cover off was a thermostat housing with the thermostat cut out. Amazing! So now it runs at proper temperature for the first time in who knows how long.

But as soon as it was running at the proper temperature it began having real problems starting and was dieselling very badly.

So a week ago I adjusted the jet levels on the carbs. The rear one was way way down. My respect for the mechanic in Toronto who worked on the car last fall just keeps falling and falling. I put the jet levels where they were supposed to be, according to my Haynes manual and the carb chapter from the service manual that was scanned in.

It was still having problems with starting and with dieselling, so today I adjusted the timing. It was 1 notch off (on the side with only 1 notch, not three - I don't know if that means it was advanced or retarded), so I returned it to dead centre, neither advanced nor retarded.

And voila! My volvo seems now to be running as close to perfectly as I could hope for. Now...who can tell how it will run tomorrow. I have been fooled before. But right now I am a very happy neophyte mechanic.

Anyway, all of these adjustments basically were returning the car back to how it was intended to be set up from the factory.

I had never worked on a car before a month and a half ago, and now I feel great at having learned enough to do these things. Anyone who is new at doing things like this, like me, it is easier than you think, and you will save a lot of money, and more importantly have fun doing your own work.

A book which has really helped me get my head around my 144: "Auto Mechanics Fundamentals" by Martin W. Stockel, 1974 edition. It has taken me from knowing very very little to a good theoretical knowledge of the various systems. I recommend it highly.

Greg in Ottawa
1974 model 144