headlamps, wiring question, RPM setting

Hi to everybody,
Let me first Introduce myself quickly. I have been an enthusiastic reader of this forum since the last 8 to 10 months. Especially the 365/400/412 corner, since I am also a big fan of this, very underrated, machine. The way you guys help each other with advice is quite unique and I have found the many threads very usefull in finding out the do's and dont's in buying a 400.

Finally beginning if this year I made the "dive" and bought myself a '79 400 automatic.( I wanted to have the carburettor version because of the sound). Car was in a good original condition but has not been driven a lot the last 6 years. Car had a a general overhaul and will now have to pass technical inspection to make it streetlegal. This will happen shortly so I can finally start enjoying it. My idea is to drive for a ouple of months to see what problmes might pop up and then have these fixed the coming winter.

I have at the moment two general questions in which I would appreciate your feedback and opinion:

1) Lights: we have looked at the wiring of the headlamps and put everything back in its original condition as per the electrical diagram in the manual. Everything is working perfectly but when I put on the parking lights (turning the knob) the headlamps already pop up (but are giving no light). I assume the headlamps should only pop up when you pull the lever down in its first position to light the headlamps. .... any thoughts in to this ?

2) rpm at idle. The manual says that when the engine is warm it should be around 700 to 900. When adjusting the carbs this is perfectly possible when the car is in Drive but as soon as you put in Parking it goes up to 1200 - 1400 RPM which is way too high in my opinion. If we adjust the carbs to 800 RPM in parking we are afraid that when shifting to D the car will stall .We are thinking the carbs need to have a complete revision. Before doing this I wanted to know whether somebody has some other ideas ...

Thanks in advance for your reactions.

David

 

David

Congratulations on your 400. The carbed cars sound fantastic.

There is a position with the headlamp switch where the lights pop up but are not illuminated. I think this must be to allow cleaning.

Sorry, I can't help with the idling issue as my car is a 400i.

Aidan

 

If you set it to 900 in N and the balance and mixtures are correct it should have a good idle in D. If not the tune is not right. It is a sloppy torque converter, it should not drag a good running car down very much.

 

Congrats on the car
Yes there is apoint where the lights dont come on so dont worry normal.

On the idle speed that is way to high so iether the fast idle needs to be adjusted or the carbs idle settings. Apologies but dont have the know how to tell you exactly how to do those.
Regards
Alastair

 

Ahhgh beaten to it by Rifledriver a man who really knows!
Respect from Scotland.
Regards
Alastair

 

Hi David!

Lamps are normal. Got the same on my '77, so I presume it is for cleaning purposes too.

Did you check your idling device on the camcovers? And does it make a difference in revs it the temperature changes?

And also :WE NEED TO SEE SOME PICTURES OF THE CAR

groeten van de bovenbuur!

 

Dear all,

Thanks for the quick replies. So for the headlamps I know now that everything is in order.

With the idling we will again try to readjust the carbs and keep the 900 rpm in N in mind. Changing of revs when temp. goes up I still have to check further when driving it.

Flinch, once I get the car on the road I will post some pics. By the way car is coming from Holland and has been discussed on the dutch forum end of last year. It was the light blue 400 from Wassenaar.Garage wanted to sell it before the end o the year so timing was right. Is your car now running ?

Once again thanks for your reactions and I will keep you posted on further developments.

 

LOL, I almost bought that 400 while it still had engine troubles (small end bearing died) but the seller wanted too much cash. Your 400 has a very very nice color combo!

My engine is running nicely and this weekend we are going to do the last finetuning. Next week I have planned for the technical inspection.
On my youtubechannel are some vids.