Ok, Well I solved the electrical squeaky thing by just tightening up the alternator but a few days ago a new problem started. It seems to be intermittent, although always occurs after the car has been warmed up abit.... The engine will fire fine, but then won't idle. You've got to properly pump the throttle and sometimes even that won't hold it and it'll die. Try again, and it'll do it, but the problem will dissappear almost straight away? I'm guessing its a fuel supply issue, because I've now got 123 and a harley coil so that's narrowed down the obvious electrical side down abit. Plugs are also almost new. Any ideas?

Have you got a fuel filter in-line? Ever cleaned the idle jet ?

Could be worth having a shufti at the valve clearances too.. if they're too tight, starting/idling will be affected.

I used to find the car would never ever start when hot
There was no gap in the valve clearances
When I was a small whipper snapper I was given a 2cv to shift on for the owner, (wish I'd kept it now!!) and that would never start, but if you gave it 5 pumps of gas, full choke and full gas it would start on the button!

Look at the idle jet - gets blocked very easily

yeah, I'd second that for a first port of call. A quick easy road side job to rule out if it doesn't work....i felt so chuffed when i first did it....and it actually worked...

Ok, well it went away. I did a quick carb clean and thought that solved it. However, it's come back again, and thinking about it, it only appears after putting in the expensive fuel There I am thinking I'm doing the bastard thing a favour....

Likewise mate. Mine cuts out eith expensive fuel
Afaik the expensive stuff has to have the timing set up diffferently

How expensive are we talking? You've not been putting diesel in it, have you?

I think you're getting confused with the idea that higher octane petrol will *allow* you to advance the timing slightly, because of its decreased tendency to pink. It should run perfectly well on it when set up for 95, as far as I know.

James, I would think that if you are having to pump the accelerator to get it to start, that would suggest the mixture is a little lean? If you've checked all the jets are clean, perhaps it would be worth checking for air leaks at the base of the carb and the manifold-head joints? Spray some WD40 at these areas whilst the engine is idling, and listen for a change in engine speed.