Running even better

I managed today to get the 02 running even better than before. It now idles around 1000 RPM and starts somewhat easy. I had to turn in the idle mixture screw about 1 turn and then backed out the idle screw just a tad. Still has plenty of power through the range, yet is much quieter when at the lights. Should be able to catch more people off guard now. :)

Still need to replace the nut and washer on the guibo, but so far it is holding. It's so nice when things work.

Tuned again

After work on Friday I spent a little bit of time trying to smooth out the engine. It was running rough even though it was easier to start. I turned the dizzy clockwise a little more to smooth it out and it doesn't seem to have affected the starting. It definitely helped, it drives a lot smoother and even sounds better I think.

I know, I still need to get some more pictures. I'm hoping tomorrow will be a good day for it and maybe even some driving video so I can finally share what it sounds like. My wife says she can hear me coming from over a mile away.

I did have another thing. I had noticed a couple of weeks ago that quick turns and maneuvers made it feel like the back wheels were helping turn the car. Turned out that the tires were low on air and once aired up it took away that feeling and tightened it up. Also the other day it got below zero and the 02 wouldn't start, had to charge the battery at lunchtime and then could drive it. Apparently I had forgotten that the battery that is in there was bought about 5 years ago and had been used not only while building this car but also in a Sentra SE-R and a Porsche 944 for a while (both had issues). I might be needing a new one soon.

Loose bolt

It was a loose bolt, pictures don't show much so I didn't put them on here. Not sure why it loosened up but I think I need to get some different nylock nuts. Guibo doesn't look damaged either so that is good. Need to take it out for a test drive now.

Ticking sound

So yesterday a sound started coming from the shifter area. Today it got worse. There really isn't any vibration with it so I don't think it is the flex disc going out, but instead I think it is a bolt coming loose. I need to go out and look at it and see if it caused any damage. Other than that it has been running great for the last few days. Well, here I go with the camera to see what is wrong this time.

Tuned and ready

I was able to get under the car and under the hood today to make sure everything is still tight, most of it was. The nut that connects the 2 drive shaft halves together was slightly loose (hardly at all). Everything else looked good, no cracks in the rubber pieces. Once that was done it was under the hood to get the engine running a little better. I made sure the distributor was working well and oiled and then adjusted the timing. The 02 will now pretty much start right up and idles even when semi cold. Had to top off the coolant too as it had dropped a little. Now I can't wait for the morning to take it to work and push it a little more. I love Mondays.

50 mph

I got it up to 50 this morning with no vibration, of course it was only for a couple hundred yards. I would have taken it out again just now but the battery still isn't fully charged and doesn't want to start without a jump. I did notice while tightening the rear drive shaft bolts at the diff that the upper sway bar bushings are pancakes, I don't think they are supposed to be like that. Luckily, this is not something that will keep me from driving the car, but I know what is next on the list. Also on the list

320 alternator
drive side door panel
replace both doors and paint them

Finally, the drive shaft is in

After weeks of waiting and working to get the drive shaft apart and then back together with the good rear half I finally had a chance to finish putting it in the 02 tonight. Bolting it up doesn't take long when you've done it a number of times in one year. After getting it in, and charging the battery I managed to get the car started and took it for its first drive in probably 2 months around the block. Up to 20 mph there is no vibration, that's good. Maybe tomorrow I'll have a chance to get it out on a road and push it to 40 to see how it will do when it comes time to go to work Monday. Now that it running and driving, I'll have more to update on here so stay tuned.