7/9/05

Made the console mounts, actually a pair, as the first set put the console about an inch too far back. It is in, the shifter works, GearVendor works, and it drives really nicely. No vibration on the freeway. Hooray!! I need now to remove the console, connect the wiring in there (mirrors, interior lights, etc.), and convert the fog light switch to the overdrive switch. Brett begs me not to do that, saying he can makes the fog lights work. I don't care, I'll use the GV switch more. We can make something else turn on the fog lights. Now getting the ABS to work properly, that is important, and will be the first thing I have him do on the car when we get him back to it someday.

The driver's side window is not sitting properly in its track, so is a little open at the front, producing some wind noise. I will have Nick or Dirk at Economy glass correct that.

7/12/05

Rob Anderson came down to verify the dually wiring, and while we got it working almost immediately, I took him for a Condor ride. The front half of the stereo was not working, and I had looked at fuses, etc. He did his usual mil-spec check, and found a fuse that was dead, notwithstanding it looked fine. Presto! All working. I also discovered these blade fuses have two pinpoint connections on their faces to check continuity. Ever new lessons.

I have to find out just what the connections on the console are for, hook them up, and get the GearVendors control wired to the fog light switch. With that accomplished, I'll run it to Miranda for carpet and be essentially done with Phase One.

8/8/05

I've had a gas smell (the car, the car) for about 8 weeks, ever since the tank was put back in. The sending unit has also been weird. A couple of weeks ago, it ran out of gas at a half tank! After pushing it a half block in 104-degree Valley temps into the local Arco (with some help from a lovely young lady-when's the last time some girl jumped out of her car to push YOU?), I could only squeeze thirteen gallons into it (it's about an 18-gallon tank). Filled it right to the filler neck. Got in, started right up, but MAJOR gas smell. Got home and saw that gas was seeping into the rear left passenger floor. At first I thought I had perhaps had some gas run down the tank from the filler neck. I had Jorge and Chris pull the tank on Monday, and it turns out that Brilliant Brandon (you know, the guy who just disappeared about 8 weeks ago), had put SCREWS through the rear floor under the back seat to hold down the padding!! Dude!! The gas tank is TIGHT to the underfloor (and is plastic)!!! So with some tank putty, it is all better now. I still don't know what's going on with the sending unit. I will address that later when I put the Renegade fuel system from Vortech in place. Right now, we're gonna drive the car and get any bugs handled. I am still feeling some driveline vibration, though dramatically less than the old wobble. I'll need to check for any interference in the exhaust, etc. up on a rack. As I had just been boned for $13000 by the incredibly slimy management company of Ross-Morgan on some condo work we did, I have NO money right now, so a LOT will wait. I have TOO many cars, no space, and with this (hopefully temporary) fiscal f---ing, I gotta be careful (not to go Postal).

I intend to get the car to Miranda to get the carpet done, so at least the Condor will be really complete for phase one. But that's it.

8/13/05

Got the car running, no fresh gas smell. Good news. Bad news: I THOUGHT the guys had put the full tank of gas back in. NOT. I'm driving around and it's approaching empty with about 80 miles on the odometer, and I'm protesting to myself the gauge must be nuts, I JUST filled it before we discovered the leaks. Then it occurs to me they emptied the tank to work on it and put SOME back in. I'm driving down Saticoy with Saul and praying for a station. I found one, pulled in, got out to the pump, and the engine died! It took the full 16.44 gallons for a MERE $48!!. Ouch!! Even diesel is $3/gal. The Duamax is a heft $90 to fill. And the daully will be $120 to fill both tanks (40 gallons). Yikes!

Anyway, I dynoed the Condor today, with VERY disappointing results: 293 RWHP. Man, my 232” Buick makes 379! The air-fuel mixture is RIGHT on at 12.85-13.25, so no help to be found there. The throttle open very slightly less than full, but the secondaries come on full, so again, no help to be found there, either. The timing is about 32-43 degrees overall, but the vacuum advance is NOT working. There is NO change unplugging the vacuum line. This may explain the laziness I feel in the whole setup. It DOES make full advance, but it starts bouncing around, maybe 10 degrees or more at 3000 RPM. We're going to try a new pickup in the distributor and a new Ford ignition module. Mind you, both are BRAND new, as is every part of the engine. I am NOT putting on injection until the ignition is proven perfect, as it will remain on the engine with the injection system.

There is also some exhaust coming in the car, and I have to look more carefully at the sealing of the shifter and the under-console area. There is also obviously some exhaust leak, or I would not have any exhaust seeping into the car. I also suspect something may still be hitting as the driveline vibration is extremely tightly centered around 2000 RPM driveshaft speed. Unto itself this would indicate something out of balance. I also need to cure the engine oil drip, and the trans drip. Both are maddening as both are new as well. These will be two more tips for Sal @ ACT for his Letip membership.

The stereo is also dropping the left front and rear. Apparently we have a bad connection somewhere, although the configuration of the amps and equalizers does not seem to support such a situation. My guess is a connection at the trunk/amp setup, or the back of the radio. More little gremlins to exorcise.

The stereo came back on all channels this morning. Gratifying, but mystifying.

The left window will get repaired Monday at Economy Glass. I had the panel off today at Nick's, but could not wait for him to get done working on cars, so buttoned it back up and just left. Of course he came out and stood around once I got in the car. Whatever.

8/14/05

I drove it today to tennis, and it is just sweet. But I am anxious to see if getting the vacuum advance to work will perk it up. I intend to get it over to Sepulveda Muffler, get it on the rack, and snoop around. Sal has no room right now to mess with it.

8/20/05

Put a vacuum gauge on the line to the distributor, and it pulls from 5-15 inches depending on RPM. The other port on the carburetor pulls nothing. I no of no other port from which to tap vacuum. So it appears the distributor advance mechanism is faulty. Stayed tuned (pun intended).

Took it to Bob's bib Boy last night, and I think the 5-second interval doinking noise I hear could be the AC evaporator dripping on the header. This MIGHT also explain why it is cracking right there. Of course the prior set of headers cracked in the identical spot, but on the left side, where there is no dripping water. Sal promised to remove the header and inspect it. He may ask for an exchange. More fun to come.

Also tested the 2000 RPM vibration and it appears NOT to be trans, converter, or engine related. I siwt6ched it in and out of GV overdrive, and it did not change at the same miles per hour speed. By going past it on the freeway, tossing it in neutral, and slowly coasting down through it, we still get the vibration. I say “it” because I have no idea what the true speed is. So we might have a rear end, driveshaft, or even wheel balance phenomenon. But man, it is SO narrow!

I also talked with Sam at Allstate Radiator about the cooling, and he agrees the airflow is subdued. He suggested the evaporator might need cleaning or replacing. This is a HORRIBLE job, requiring the entire dash be removed. If I go there, I'll replace the heater core as well. Sam confirmed my thinking by phone a moment ago, and I asked him to order them up. So I AM going there, and about $700 from now I'll have a new heater core and evaporator. That's all I can do.

That's why this is the SAGA. But hey, a new car wouldn't cost this little, and where's the fun?

In a disappointing note (as if the foregoing is not), the Condor got little attention at Bob's. This is understandable. It is a newer car, and gorgeous at that. But the engine bay is not show quality. Most of the other cars there could have brain surgery done in the engine compartments. So mine is more ho-hum (or worse), I'll need to get serious about the engine bay and trunk if I want to turn heads with this thing. Or just leave the hood down and let the rumpity idle do the talking. Getting the injection and blower on will certainly increase interest. In fairness, it did get compliments, and more than a few, but almost no one understands the car did not come equipped with a V-8, let alone the unseen 392 cubic inches, GT-40 heads, 4.88 gears, headers, GearVendors overdrive, mega sound system, etc. So I need a display placard to tell the story.

I'll correct the distributor, do another dyno pull, and then move on to the injection for Phase 2.