"Something in the Orange"

The car looks great, you’ve done lots of work to it. It looks just like my old 68 fastback, it was a factory 999 code special order paint orange car. I’d love to have it back but the guy I sold it to isn’t interested in selling.
Travis..

Depending on the sun angle, it’s probably a “10 footer”, lol! A trained eye would find things in the body and paint that shouldn’t be.

I’ve been advancing the timing and cleaning under the hood here and there. Found a burnt spot on the No.1 plug wire (replaced) and stopped at the scale shack on a road test and weighed in: 1880 in the front 1460 rear. Ordered some bigger jets and squirters just to see if it still thirsty. Plugs seem to show a borderline lean condition….TBC

Wood split and stacked, kids set for school, and car parts stashed for winter!

After the results at the track last June I began tweaking the timing a little and learned it kinda wanted more initial…But if it got warm out or bought gas from a particular place, it would detonate a little just up the steep hill in my driveway. (Or I couldn’t hear it and it did it more often but I don’t think so). I backed it off. Plugs seemed to be telling me it was running leaner when I advanced it too.
So I figure it is time to tune this combination for power and see what happens. It has a biggish cam, a high stall converter with my 3.55 gears, and I run biggish slicks at the track. buuut I run a pretty stock Holley 650 and a pretty much outta the box electronic ignition that I’ve only ever tuned by ear.
The plan; well first to make sure it doesn’t get too lean I put some more fuel through the carb. I installed 73 and 79 jets (secondary on extensions) upgraded the secondary squirter to 37, swap the 6.5 to a 9.5 power valve and had to change the float in the back. The float was bent a little and it flooded pretty bad the first time but I tweaked it back so the needle could reach it!!!! It is tricky to start just now but sounds really good. Once I get it idling better I’ll get my timing values figured out (mainly to keep from going backwards at first) and then see how much more initial it really wants. I’m gonna try that FBO advance limit ring dudad and try different values until it runs as well as it can. Any and all pointers are welcome.

No pictures, doesn’t seem like a good day for them anyway!!

like_A_pike said:

Once I get it idling better I’ll get my timing values figured out (mainly to keep from going backwards at first) and then see how much more initial it really wants.

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Belay that! I reckon it’s time to advance SO it will idle better at this point…..then adjust, test, repeat!

That’s what it wanted!

I just learned that the last test n tune in Bremerton is the 19th. I knew there was at least one more and I was going to get the car ready for another crack at it but that’s deer season!!! The last one was the first day of school!!! Grr life sometimes… alright this is going on the back burner for now.

Here’s where I am though: with the aforementioned carb additions I have the idle screws both out 2 full turns. I gave it as much initial as last summer but no detonation now. No leaks, but anytime I crack open the needle on the secondary, gas sneaks out. I have the level just below the site window but I don’t have any more needle to tighten. I think the float may take some more arm bending if I need to adjust that more. It idles good and I can work on figuring out how much timing is in it.

Results. The way it is it seems to pick up faster. There is no hesitation off the line and the annoying stumble from the secondary seems to be gone. However it seems a little hesitant overall in the beginning and it stinks!

Next time I get into it I plan on advancing some more rather than reducing my fuel. See ya’ll after deer season….

Reckon I should have looked before I bought that FBO limiter dudaad. This is pretty slick.
I may have awakened a sleeping dragon!

Power tuning has slowed down to about glacial level now. I limit the mechanical adjustment and advance it to the point where the starter begins to push back and reduce the idle to run it but invariably it would detonate a little and I’d back it off and give it more gas again. I think it wants a bit more initial. Just cruising; it seems a little boggy or heavy?? I am also using the vacuum advance but I had it cranked up high to keep it from coming in too early… well maybe it needs more when there is vacuum so I’ve started to relax that incrementally.

In other news; it died a couple times while running errands. Turn the key, get a tiny tick, then nothing! Wiggle wires around the battery, starter solenoid, regulator, and ballast and it would start right up!? I bought a new solenoid cuz it has been along time- like I’ve never changed it. Today I decide to disconnect the battery for now since it had been a little flaky for awhile. Don’t want to burn the house down or anything. AND VOILA my issue presents itself…

I had a terminal in the trunk since I spotting a crack in the positive terminal some time ago. I kinda arc’d it and went on my way. I know, I have hack tendencies. Notice that I don’t offer much help on the technical threads. I just post junk now and then & drive the wheels off of mine!
Broke the window crank today. Can I just snap an c clip on that pin?



I took the car down the highway (first sunny day in a long time) and it seemed to like the earlier addition of advance so I added another 1/2 CW turn on the vacuum advance.
To be continued….

We broke same part of handle on our 67. We just bought a repop. I don't think a c clip will hold, and a replacement bolt/screw may be too long.
Great pic of wee one on the swing!

like_A_pike said:

View attachment 1716480083
I had a terminal in the trunk since I spotting a crack in the positive terminal some time ago. I kinda arc’d it and went on my way. I know, I have hack tendencies. Notice that I don’t offer much help on the technical threads. I just post junk now and then & drive the wheels off of mine!
Broke the window crank today. Can I just snap an c clip on that pin?

View attachment 1716480084

I took the car down the highway (first sunny day in a long time) and it seemed to like the earlier addition of advance so I added another 1/2 CW turn on the vacuum advance.
To be continued….

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like_A_pike said:

View attachment 1716483585

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4spdragtop said:

Great pic of wee one on the swing

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They insisted we go out in “orange car” so we made a long run for some tribal gasoline and then a playground stop! It was good for all of us. I think we’re close to ditching the last baby seat!