TireSmoke.org

I figured I would start a new thread for this year. I changed the oil + filter with Pennzoil 10W30 Full Synthetic + AC Delco PF454 just before going to KMP on 5/8. Other than that, I haven't touched anything on it since last fall.

First pass of the season was a very nice 12.18 @ 110.8 MPH. There was a good tailwind, but the DA was around 2500 I think. So there's my baseline.

The goal is to really do nothing major to this car this year, just drive it. The whiteboard in Tiresmoke Central shows a to-do list of:

Fix Key Switch -- no more start button
Fix Exhaust Rattles
Attach SS Cowbell exhaust tips
Adjust 700R4 governer to better fix 1-2 shift at dragstrip. (heavier springs?)

Supercool fun fact.. I've owned this car for almost 34 years, and it has ran more years on fuel-injection (2005-present) than the carb. (1990-2004)

The garage is a bit messy, couldn't get a great pic..

Well, I haven't gotten to any of those items, but there is a new #1 on the list:

This just developed the past week or so and makes the car totally un-enjoyable to drive. tick-tick-tick-tick.

Can I just weld over top of that a little?

Should be able to MIG weld that. The challenge will be guessing thickness to apply the weld without blowing through what is there

How about some JB Weld or some other type of goop as a temporary repair?

GM

The only thing I had on hand was some Ultra Copper, but I figured it would just get blown out. JB Weld might be ok. I do have my new welder I could try too. (still in the box)

It's not real thick there, but welding over it should be easy on a lower setting. You're not welding a frame together, just plugging a tiny hole. A little spot weld would just about do it. And it's in an inconspicuous place so it doesn't even need to be pretty. No problemo.

-BP

Since I really got nothing on the list done on the car last year, I'm just going to continue on this thread for now.

Not even on the list, I've had a hard-start issue on the first start of the day for a while. Subsequent starts would always be easier, but it turned out I had another crank sensor hit the toothed wheel. Replacing the sensor fixed the hard-start. I should re-do the crank sensor bracket in .250 aluminum like I did on Maliboost.

I took it out for a short drive last week when the weather was super nice. No surprises, it ran tip-top.

I've been driving the wheels off this thing lately, and I'm loving it! I made some tuning changes with the idle timing and accel-enrich that effect the tip-in and it has made a noticeable difference to me. It used to be hard to leave a stop smoothly, and whaddyaknow, taking away some timing there makes it a lot easier.

I swapped back to a 180* thermostat. It barely ever gets there, but since this car is basically 100% street now I'd rather have the warmer stat in there.

Hard to believe, but the ZZ383 is in its 10th year of service! I bought it at the end of 2014 and got it running in 2015. It has been a great engine. I'm also going to into my 20th year running a Megasquirt in this car. It is now the 1st year with bluetooth music from my phone.

I ran to the corner and this was the scene at the gas station.. I thought it was a cool shot with 3 very different cars. Thats an E36 BMW in the background.