Poor life choices - C4 content

Well I decided on an alternate solution...for now anyway. Whenever I get headers I'll probably mount these correctly. Maybe.

I still have to finish the passenger side, then I can take it for a spin.

So?

In reply to Ovid_and_Flem:

Dinner, groceries, then fixing dinner for the zoo. I'll get back on it tomorrow, probably after mowing the lawn.

In reply to Pete Gossett:

I finished up the wires this morning. If nothing else their improved neatness somewhat satisfies my closet-OCDness.

For anyone else attempting to crimp on their plug wire ends for the first time, the instructions suggest you use their specific tool for this purpose. I of course do not have said tool, but I do have a co-ax crimper shown below that worked fine. I definitely do not recommend crimping them with the standard cheap wire stripper/crimper combos - their jaws do not have the correct shape to give a solid crimp.

Oh, yeah, so I took it for a drive. Definitely much better, though still an occasional random miss under acceleration. Not all the time, nor at a consistent RPM - the one time I caught it was around 2200-2300. My best guess is it's some combination of timing and/or advance. Until/unless I can confirm my timing mark correlates to TDC, it's probably as good as I can make it.

As expected, I did discover a new(ish) problem. Let me back up a bit first...

Before I ever tore into the engine, I'd ordered a new master cylinder. Due to the engine rebuild I didn't get around to installing it until about 6-months later, when I discovered it was leaking out the brake fluid switch port. After searching for a solution I discovered this actually means there's a seal failure inside the MC, so I swapped the old MC back on. It too was leaking slightly, though not as bad, so I threaded a bolt into that port & it seemed to seal it up. However, after driving the car I'm finding the rear reservoir is low, and the cap on the front reservoir partially pushed off from overfilling. So it appears fluid from the rear circuit is somehow being forced into the front circuit. Time for another new MC - I might see if I can find an actual Girlock one this time, or at least a name-brand one.

Never seems to end with old car projects, does it?

In reply to Ovid_and_Flem:

Definitely not with an early and neglected C4!

I had time tonight to test out my redneck brake mod:

Surprisngly it seems to work!

I was thinking about the continuing miss, and realized I'm not sure if I ever changed the distributor springs back to 1-light and 1-medium. I'll try to do that Friday or Saturday...it looks like Aeromoto and I are going to drag it to the Nola autox this Sunday. 

Having spent more than 1/3 of my life crimping coax, the sight of those "crimpers" made my eye twitch. 

In reply to Stampie :

If it's any consolation I'm pretty sure they were free. 

In reply to Pete Gossett:

That's how the dealer gets you hooked.  The first one is always free. 

In reply to Stampie :

Now you have me pondering this...I've averaged about 1 crimp per year in the 25-years I've owned it. 

In reply to Pete Gossett :

Don't tell the other techs but I kinda secretly want a pair myself now so I can make custom length spark plug wires. 

So Ovid_and_Flem has been asking for some glamour-shots of the Vette now that I've been driving it, and I thought I'd ablige. 

Hold the phone! When did you get fantastic wheels? Those are amazing! 

In reply to mazdeuce :

Thanks! I got them in February for $200, but just got tires mounted(and spacers so they'll clear) last month. When I get closer to it actually being a racecar, and after I patch the 1/4-panel, I have a graphics idea in mind for it that'll tie in the yellow & red with the body. That's a long way away though. 

You NEED a pair of yellow Vans for driving shoes. Need them. 

Looking good. 

In reply to mazdeuce :

I need a pair just because they exist! I'm a shoe-whore FYI, though SWMBO still has me beat. 

Unique color combo...actually it looks good.  Plus you can now park in loading zones thanks to UPS livery.

Photo op of vintage c4 in front of Walmart...CLASSIC!  Good move on protecting such an exotic by taking up 2 parking spots.

In reply to Ovid_and_Flem :

Lol! It's actually inside the lines...well the nose is hanging over in front just a bit. Still getting used to all hood/no trunk. 

Pete Gossett said:

In reply to Ovid_and_Flem :

Lol! It's actually inside the lines...well the nose is hanging over in front just a bit. Still getting used to all hood/no trunk. 

Won't be a problem when you drive the 138" B&S c4.

Dang those wheels are awesome. Definitely gives it a better vibe than "has been 50-something guy who hasn't let go of his short lived glory days in 1984" that most C4's exude. 

Please don't take that as an insult to you, it's directed at all the other pedestrian C4 dudes out there. You've done great work saving this one and I'm guessing once you have it sorted it's going to be super rewarding to thrash on. Have fun at the autocross! 

In reply to Gunchsta :

No offense taken at all - fortunately the 80's weren't all that glorious for me! ;-) From the little bit I've driven it, car-guys definitely check it out...I presume they're laughing their asses off or rolling their eyes once they drive past, but that's no concern to me. 

E36 M3's about to get real. Probably real broken, but eh whatever.