Bad tune up. WTF

[Big Josh]

Just had my 63 mini's fuel and timing adjusted by a 'classic car expert' . Drove home and the car performs worse. Now there's a flat spot on excelaration and soggy throttle reponse.
This was on Friday afternoon, and too late take it back. So Saturday.... wacked my timing light on it and find... 37 deg at 1000 rpm no vac.... 70 at 4000 all in. Changed it back 8 deg...all in now reads 33 at 4000. Still slight throttle flat spot but after that back to previous performance. Was charged plenty for this 'tune up'. Will be talking to the mechanic on Monday... Hope i haven't got any engine damage... didn't hear any pinking, but the car is pretty loud.

[Big Josh]

Update, got my money back. The mechanic had tuned it by ear and not used a timing light, he fiddled with the fueling, he couldn't tell me exactly what he had done.

[InnoCooperExport]

Some expert. Glad you got your money back. A good friend of mine used to tune engines by ear, and he's built some mean racing cars in his day. Sadly he is now pushing 80 and deaf as a post! He came to me a while back with an engine he felt was ticking over nicely... Ticking being the operative word! I could hear the tappets on his way over, he insisted it was fine as he couldn't hear a thing. I think for some it's difficult to accept they're not as sharp as they once were.

[Herbert]

Get it on a rolling road. I recommend Peter Baldwin at Regency Autos Cambridge +44 1223 324050

[Leestenson]

Peter burgess alfreton.
Industrial Estate, Unit 1 Amber Buildings, Meadow Ln, Alfreton DE55 7EZ

01773 520021

[mk1]

There shouldn't be any need for a standard car to go on a rolling road.

Just set it up as the manual says & it will be coreect.

[Pandora]

A good friend of mine used to tune engines by ear, and he's built some mean racing cars in his day. Sadly he is now pushing 80 and deaf as a post!

I wonder if the 2 things are perhaps related

[InnoCooperExport]

I wonder if the 2 things are perhaps related

More likely the years of panel beating with no ear defenders either

[woodypup59]

Nice to hear Peter Baldwin is still going.

I thought he'd sold up and retired .....

[Big Josh]

All good now. Reset the fueling and and have now set the timing to 10 deg at 1000 rpm. Back to normal. Think i'll be leaving it alone now. Thanks for the replies. In Australia BTW. Rolling roads over here charge heavy. Closest to me is $500 for a session!

[1071 S]

I some how feel they didn't want your business. I've had my cars on the rollers a few times and it cost nothing like $500..... and was worth every penny.

By the way Mark, I think you'd spend a lot more in making sure everything is still absolutely standard (and you'd have to ignore the effects of modern fuel for one thing) than a quick run on the RR to check that timing and fuel are optimised...

Cheers, Ian