"Something in the Orange"

[phantomx]

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..

 

[like_A_pike]

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

 

[like_A_pike]

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

 

[like_A_pike]

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]

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.

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

 

[like_A_pike]

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….

 

[like_A_pike]

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

 

[like_A_pike]

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…

 

[like_A_pike]

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….

 

[like_A_pike]

 

[4spdragtop]

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!

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….

View attachment 1716483585

 

[like_A_pike]

Great pic of wee one on the swing

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!

 

[like_A_pike]

Remember that carb work back in September? Well I flooded the poop outta it the first time I tried to start it.
Now that the County put salt out last week, that’s finally condemned the car to the garage. So I changed the oil and it was pretty thin (gas I suspect). Dang filter slipped outta my hand and slid upside down the header collector. What a mess!
I took the distributor out again and swapped the heavy spring for a second lite one. Also closed up the slots a bit more.
So I’m thinking about letting the vacuum advance come in pretty early. I use ported vacuum though and I noticed that the new spring doesn’t have that oval loop in it. That stiff spring seemed to let the mechanical open a wee bit on the one lite spring by not coming into play in the beginning.?? All that to say I wonder if I’ll be getting much advance at all at idle unless I physically set it higher. So closed the slots up a bit to limit the top end.
the curve in my head looks like maybe 16* initially. I think my VA is 6 more in around 1700. (I’m at max cruising vac around 2300) then mechanical starting in the low 2000’s and all in before 3200. About where my converter flashes. Am I on crack?
It started right up cold after but I couldn’t road test it yesterday… TBC

 

[Richard Sweet]

I suggest getting a dial-back timing light and making your own distributor curve. Harbor Freight sell a cheap one for around $40. That way you can see exactly what you have and you'll have to guess a lot less.

 

[like_A_pike]

I have one, been great for mid 12’s and street ability. But I’m gonna find out what my combo actually wants. Yeah I have numbers but it’s not the whole story I’m learning. If it won’t ping at 45*, and I can get the car to scalded dog faster, then maybe I go there. Then put it back to grocery getter once I see (or break something). “For science”

 

[like_A_pike]

Tonight’s episode of how to not fix it right, I attempt to get the handle back on a broken window crank:

First thing I planed the burrs off the handle and cut the rubber back a little to allow more of the shank to be exposed.

Then drill the hole out to 15/64” to accommodate the shank.

Then I procured a couple e clips and snapped them on the shank.

Field test…

Should be fine until the next swap meet when I can pick up another one!

Until next time something breaks; cheers

 

[like_A_pike]

I figured a few inches of rain likely rinsed the salt off. So after some fresh oil and payin’ the insurance man for the year, I decided to sneak out for some quality time…. Had to back the timing off a tiny bit after a hard pull up a hill got it to ping a bit… pretty good after that though.

 

[4spdragtop]

Yer getting a good head start Doug. We're still dealing with a lot of the white ****. And of course the salt that goes with it...
Looks good, enjoy!

View attachment 1716506502
I figured a few inches of rain likely rinsed the salt off. So after some fresh oil and payin’ the insurance man for the year, I decided to sneak out for some quality time…. Had to back the timing off a tiny bit after a hard pull up a hill got it to ping a bit… pretty good after that though.