20 mpg

I've finally got the 02 up to 20 miles per gallon. I think that having to idle less because of the cold is helping, but also I believe it is just running better. I'll be putting in a new cap and rotor today to try to smooth it out some more and that will hopefully improve the mileage even more.

Dirty plug

So my 02 has been running a little rough for the past few weeks. At low RPMs the engine would wobble and shake the whole car. Last night I took out the spark plugs to inspect them and regap them to a small gap. I did have them at about .035 and regapped them to .028. Also most of the plugs looked fine, but #2 had a bunch of carbon build up that I had to clean off. These were new plugs, less than 500 miles. It seems odd that it would do that.

Anyway, after taking care of that and adjusting the timing at lunch today it is running so much better and much less engine wobble.

I'm thinking about connecting the breather hose to the carb. The fumes that it lets off are dizzying at times. Plus when I am stopped sometimes it looks like the 02 has a major issue with smoke coming out of the hood vents. The good thing is that it really isn't loosing much oil anymore with the longer hose.

Engine wobble

So my 02 developed an engine shake or wobble that was getting really annoying. I wasn't sure what it was. I thought maybe timing, maybe a misfire. Someone else had the problem and it turned out to be low voltage and a better alternator fixed it. I'd like a new one, but there are things that are more important now. I adjusting the timing and it fixed it somewhat, but it really helped with the jerking feeling when cruising along. But what I think really helped it was oil. I was dangerously low because it was all blowing out the breather filter, making a mess too. I extended the hose to 2 feet and put the filter on the end. It has done so much more than reduce the engine wobble. The throttle response is better and it feels like it has more power. Picture to come later.

I need to do a front end alignment really soon. The front tires are wearing the insides down and if I don't do something soon the tires will be toast.

5000 miles

Since getting my 02 together a couple of years ago and finally getting it back on the road this last year after the 5 speed upgrade my 2002 has hit 5000 miles. It was actually a pretty good drive into work this morning. Hit 4000 RPM in second and third with little effort, then I realized I was doing 50 in a 40. But I had to show off, there was a 1 series sitting at the intersection that I had to show up. :)

On Monday the clunking noise came back and after messing with the car for hours (couldn't get the lug nuts off the left rear) I finally found that the diff bolts were just loose enough to get it out of alignment just a bit to cause the inner CV joint to bind. Once that was taken care of the clunking was gone. I also adjusted the e-brake so it was more effective and adjusted the rear brake pad adjusters so that the brakes weren't dragging, right rear was a little.

On Tuesday I noticed that it was jerking a little when off the gas cruising. Normally this is a timing issue. So I started timing it and got it to were it sounded good. Then decided to lean it a little more and noticed that a vacuum cap was missing on the carb. Replaced it and it immediately sounded and ran better.

On Saturday I was able to adjust the valves which quieted the engine noise down. It also allowed it to start much easier. The rear seat belts are installed and the new clutch master cylinder is on the way. Luckily the current one isn't leaking a ton, its just enough to make it soft and drip fluid.

Until I find the keys for my other doors I can't put them on, no idea what happened to them. As for the shift linkage, I'll replace it when the clutch master comes in and I can do all that at the same time.

67

After running the timing with it spot on the "ball" I found that I had to change it. Start-ups were harder and the low end had stalling issues. Power was good above 2000 RPM, but with the other issues I had to change it. So I tweaked the timing a little counter clockwise (advancing it). This improved the start ups and low end issues plus didn't take away on the power. So since everything seems to be going good with it right now I decided to try another speed run. I managed to run it almost to 70 while following some other cars, but the good thing is that it could have done more. The biggest thing is that there was no vibration from the driveshaft that I could tell, although the steering wheel had a little, but I think this is because I need an alignment.

Tomorrow I'll be tearing into the car to do some much needed maintenance tasks. Rear seat belts will be one of the first things on the list. I need to adjust the rear brakes and e-brake. The shift linkage will get some new pieces also. If time permits I'll adjust the hood and maybe replace the doors. Oh and a valve adjustment.

Sweet spot

I got the timing light out last night to finely tune the 02. Got it to where the "ball" was steady in the opening and took it around the block. It felt good. This morning it was a little hesitant until it warmed up. But once warm the throttle response was great. I think I also found the valve tick issue. Sounds like it is coming from cylinder 3 intake side. So sometime this week I'll have to get in there and take care of that to quite the engine a little.

Loose CV bolts and retiming again....

This last week my 02 starting making a terrible clanking noise from the rear end. It started on my way back to work after lunch so I had no clean garage to check it out. I first stopped at Lowes and couldn't see anything. Then about half mile away stopped at a Chevy dealer. This time I noticed the bolt on the left outer CV joint was coming out. I did my best to put it in by hand, but could only go so far. I went to ask if I could borrow an allen wrench, but was denied for 2 reasons. The techs don't loan out their tools and they only had standard sizes. So using the trunk boards as a barrier between me and the wet ground I got under there the best I could to try to get it a little farther in. I knew we had some allen wrenches at work so the next thing I did was drive it slowly to work hoping nothing would break. After work I was able to get the bolt all the way in and found at least 2 others that were loose also.

With those in I figured I'd better get home. The clanking was still there though. I couldn't believe it. My next thought was, oh crap, my diff is going. I made it home and was able to check it out that night. Making sure to tighten all the bolts and double check the diff bolts and the driveshaft. Everything seemed okay. I took it around the block and the clanking was gone. So far, it has not returned. My guess is that the exhaust had come loose because of the tranny bracket and it was causing it to hit on something in the rear end, probably the inner CV joint. I did find on Friday that the rear exhaust hanger had also come off lowering the exhaust there also, so this was most likely the cause.

On Thursday I had a little time before work to see what I could do about the timing. I hadn't reset it since the new spark plugs. It felt a little off, like I had to get it to much gas pedal to really get it going. So I tweaked it until it sounded like it was better. It was. Now it revs much easier and faster with less pedal travel. I actually pushed it over 4000 RPM in 1st, 2nd and 3rd with ease.

There is still a little engine noise I'd like to take care of, so I'll be working on the valves again to make sure there isn't too much play in them. It could also be the timing chain making the noise. I also need to replace the guibo with a good one and some shifter linkage and find the low RPM squeaking.