Team-BHP - Contessa Classic

Guys.. i have a issue with my newly acquired DIESEL conti.The engine heats up pretty fast even after a short drive say 10 kms.i didn't notice it at first cos the temp gauge and fuel is broken! but after reaching home i popped up the hood to check on the brake fluid and noticed it was pretty hot under it.then i checked the radiator reserve and nothing wrong there.after some 20mins of cooling off i opened the radiator and it was topped up too with coolant.i thought it was one time only but now it keeps happening again.do diesels run hotter than petrol's ?

estimate of heating-the engine head/radiator/air filter is too hot to touch, can feel the heat from the front tire wells and a hint from inside-near gear and no heat on the closed hood .

now my real concern...
> i had took it for a oil change and i think some idiot must have put petrol engine oil instead. will it cause the engine to heat up? how can i ,at this stage detect the type of oil in the engine(diesel/petrol).what will be the repercussions of having petrol oil inside :( and finally what should i do.. i'm too scared to take my conti to other ignorant workshops and thanks in advance!

Contessa is vehicle which took imported isuze to india i think.

The engine in Contessa is a great one,and fitted to amby also.

What is the engine type (B1,C1,D1,G1).

Open your radiator and start your engine.Make it to run in an idle speed.See whether the bubbles (water) are coming in the radiator or is it throwing the water outside.
If it does means the head gas gut need to be replaced.

If there is no sysmptoms like that,then
1.Check the fan belt whether it was loose.
2.Radiator will also sometimes not in a good condition.If its full of dust means inside means,it will also not allow the water to circulate very freely.
3.If thermostat is there,take a look into it also.If its not opening to pass the water freely ,the heat will be there.

Before doing all this plz fit the temp gauge to check what is the temp its showing.

Mukund Menon,
From what you description of the problem is, looks like you have a water pump failure. Replace the pump, get the radiator serviced and check the radiator fan clutch for excess slip (Belt also) and your problem is solved. Worst case the heating is also because a pump fault and in that case should be showing signs with black smoke and low mileage. Clean the injectors and get the pump serviced and should be fixed.

cheers,
M iyer

MIYER _ without you, your advices, tips, and most of all your helpings, i could not have made my conti come this far...

Manickjeet - i bought xylo rims, but the studs are not fitting in the conti, also the centre bore is only 68mm, while conti has 74mm approx. How to overcome these problems ?
can you pls explain how you fitted the xylo rims ? the procedures, alterations you had done pls ?

RJ555, Mycarhasablower, Badboyscad and All Others - Thanks for all your good appreciative words...this keeps me going forward

The conti is being restored as OE as it can be, to look like a fresh car from the factory, not HM factory but like from a vauxhall factory lol:

the car will be gleaming in lots of chrome, and surely chrome bumpers et al... so friends, expect a vauxhall victor FE not a contessa classic...

Lastly, do send in your ideas, tips, and experiences to make my restoration, one of a kind !!!

Badboyscad, can you post me some photoshopped images with xylo alloys, and xylo rims with chrome lips ? pls, if you can...

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadntrack (Post 1278506)

Guys Just for the note:-
I could have done a much better job/my customer wouldn't allow me to go retro. tried my best to go with round lights like the old 70's mustang-he desperatly wanted to have a new generation look. Once its final is out will post the clear pics.
Alteration Taken place
All body parts-Doors/bumpers/fenders/bonnet/ etc even sun roof too.

Up sizing the wheels with chrome alloy wheels with broad tires give good look

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miyer (Post 2023753)

Thanks miyer. well i took the car to the workshop today morning and explained it all to the mech there. he checked the water pump and said its fine.since the temp gauge is busted they would be fixing that and analyzing further.Besides i'm getting the injectors cleaned and the diesel filter replaced.Also the fuel gauge is getting fixed(ran out of fuel one day!).Hope they find a solution for this overheating problem.Will try to post pics of my conti as soon as i can !

hi friends!

Got my salary and i'm looking for ways to spend it on restoring my Contessa! i need a front fiber bumper for it. it is damaged pretty bad ; it is cracked in several places thanks to several minor bumps and is looking crooked.Where can i find it in kerala/Tamilnadu ? Even chrome bumpers(pair) would do. all help appreciated :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by shekaran (Post 2024050)

Manickjeet - i bought xylo rims, but the studs are not fitting in the conti, also the centre bore is only 68mm, while conti has 74mm approx. How to overcome these problems ?
can you pls explain how you fitted the xylo rims ? the procedures, alterations you had done pls ?

If these are stock xylo rims then i dunno why have you brought the stock xylo rims which are still pressed steel types and are noway attractive then stock rims of contessa itself.

If these are stock xylo rims then i dunno why have you brought the stock xylo rims which are still pressed steel types and are noway attractive then stock rims of contessa itself.
__________________
[COLOR=#777]The King[/COLOR]

i planned for 195/65R15 tyres, thats why got the xylo rims, but lying waste now.
the conti wears now 175/70R13 in front and 185/70R13 in the rear - in the OE rims, dropped the 15" tyre dreams, for now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sudhindra (Post 2128786)

@badboyscad: Is your name Zaheed? i guess you had called me once.

@ mukund: what happened to your quest for chrome bumpers..?

well chrome bumpers has to be put on hold for now.The crack in my bumper was fixed with Mseal and i have to admit they(mech) did a good job and its hard to notice the difference.But nothing beats the look of chrome!Now i am planning to do a paint job.Colors in consideration are Grey,Dark red,White... very confused though. well here are some pics that caught my fancy..