The car wouldn't run properly this morning. It starts, but dosent sound normal and when you put down your foot it just kind of splutters and misfires. It seems to idle okish though, but most of the power has gone. The only thing I can think of is that its been pinking like a bastard the last few weeks. Any ideas?

a few weeks?!

James,
if it's on points, could be the condenser failing, so accelerated wear of the contact surfaces.
That would advance the ignition timing, causing pinking.

Eventually, either the condenser breaks down completely, or the points gap is so wide that the engine won't run properly...

ken.

Ok problem solved I think. Tried some old HT leads and all seems fine.

Ok well it wasnt actually the coil. Started this morning and was doinge xactly the same thing. Could hardly get above 10 . Discovered the points box had quite abit of oil in it which had turned them a weird blue colour like battery acid. New points and condenser on now though, although it still needs timing properly. So what causes this oil in points box then? I'm guessing it can't be normal? The only thing I could think was that the engine must have been tipped to a funny angle when the clutch was changed, resulting in oil seeping down into the box from the shaft behind? Or is it something bigger to worry about?

Thanks
J

I guess all you can do meanwhile is to clean it thoroughly and keep an eye on it - check it again after a few 100 miles. There's an oil seal on the shaft behind the points - I guess if that's worn then...