School project

ok thank you and all my pictures were bigger thank 1MB so I don't know how to load them.

These Bradley GT kit cars can be a fun and rewarding project. There are a variety of things that you can do with them to make them "customized" to match your style and, in some cases, make them safer than the original design.

I like to work from the bottom up. In other words, get it running and then make it pretty. (Big Dan likes to do it the other way around.) When I first got mine, the 1600cc VW engine had been setting up for years. The advice I was given (on this site) was to rebuild the carburator. Also, pull the spark plugs and squirt in some Marvel's Miricle oil, then let is set for a few days. Next, turn the engine over manually to distribute the oil and lubricate the engine...slowly. Of course, you will need to completely clean the fuel system; tank, fuel lines, carburator, etc. Replace the fuel filter with a metal one and get it away from the engine compartment & heat sources. Replace the motor oil. Check all your wiring and hose, especially vacuum hoses. Repair/replace anything that looks bad or is missing. Install a fresh battery and check it out. My fired right up! I almost pee'd my pants!

Search this site for a TON of information about parts suppliers and very creative ways to solve problems and improve the design.

Oh, and take lots of pictures and have lots of fun with your project. One last thing...be careful.

Keep us informed of your progress.

thanks for the info!

Scott,

I used your hyperlink (above) and I did manage to see the pictures that you posted there. That looks like it is going to be a good project for you. You might want to start with making a list of the things that you would like to fix/replace. Try to resist the urge to modify/improve the project at this time. Get it running first. If you spend a lot of time & money on the body and interior only to find out that the engine is "shot", you may have invested in something that you can't complete.

Have you pulled the plugs and tried to manually rotate the engine? What is your progress?

If that is the gel coat& it looks like it is, then you may be able to wet sand it & polish it out if there's no damage to the body.
That will save a lot of money on a paint job.
It's only been sitting around for 10 years.
And get a shorter shifter for it also!

thanks guys for all the input so far. well since I pulled it from the field I have not really started monkeying yet we have tried putting a socket on the motor and turning it over but that didn't work and since my garage isn't Cleaned out yet I don't want to start taking it apart and loose half the nuts and bolts. but as far as I know it runs ( or at least that's what the guy said).

P.S. Chad I have your site bookmarked I found it a long time ago and Im gonna be using it for some reference!

Here is a product to restore your gel coat & it will bring back the shine. I have used the Vertaglas put not the replacement kit check it out before sanding or buffing.

www.marinestore.com/vertglas.html?cart=3464885941141756#mskits

Well I finally got a chance to work on it this past weekend and SHE RUNS!, well not yet it turns over really good like she want to run but theres no spark. im gonna go to oriellys this week and get a set of points a condenser and a coil hopefully that'll do the trick. ill update when we get it running

I think that I would check for voltage at the coil (with the ignition switch on). Next, I would check the points for proper adjustment and clean the point contact surfaces. Inspect & clean the distributor wire connections. Also, make sure the coil is grounded.

Thats the VIN number for the pan. The motor could be anything. Get the number from the motor near the alternator/generator stand. You also need to know if you have a factory dizzy or a very common aftermarket 009 dizzy. They take different points.

And yes...I would do all those steps BEFORE you invest in a new coil. Coils fail...but not that often. Replacing it could be a waste of money.

Sorry....dizzy is slang for distributor.

Look for a large vacuum canister on the side of the dizzy. If it is there it is NOT a 009. If it does not have a canister look for some numbers on the body of the dizzy. The last 3 numbers should say 009. It could be a 010 or an 051. Either way you need to know what it is to get the correct cap/rotor/points/condensor.

Hey...thats what I said!

Another thing to think about when trying to start the engine for the first time...Fresh fuel and don't trust anything left in the gas tank.

Fuel that has been sitting around in thegas tank, gas lines, fuel filter, for an extended time can evaporate and leave behind a varnish like substance. That leftover junk will clog the carbs and won't burn like new clean gas will.

You might want to start out with disconneting the gas line from the tank and running the gas line into a one gallon gas can with fresh gas to help with getting good fuel into the engine. My Bradley had been sitting only a few years when I bought it and already varnish had developed in the gas tank and has been a bit of a headache for me.

Me and my grampa took some emory cloth to the points to get rid of the corrosion, then he showed me a way to tell if theres good spark. we put it back together and......... She Officially runs!!!! we had to dump a little gas in the carb to get it started but then after she went it picked it up from the tank(of new gas) I tested the tranny a little and all the gears work. but we just have to replace the throttle linkage because its either broke somewhere or its rusted tight but I have an idea for a make shift one for now but it rolls forword and back. but overall a success this weekend.