oh noes!

Somehow the a/c belt (a/c works friggen awesome) wound up behind the timing cover. I noticed an odd sound during cranking, saw the a/c partially behind the timing cover.

I then removed the timing cover, timing belt, and then re-timed everything and installed new belt.

Now, I have -0- compression on #2 and #3.

Sad Matthew.

Updates

I got the K&N air filters on, they are currently pulling hot air from the factory airbox location (against the false firewall at the rear of the engine compartment) Once I make it back to Pick-n-Pull I will relocate the battery to the trunk, then the filters can go behind the headlamps.

With the help of Mikey, I rebuilt the carb. While doing so, I also completely removed the choke assembly.

Getting there

I've put about 500 miles on her since Tuesday morning. I went up to Ft Hood on Wednesday for work. There was a horrible stumble around atmospheric pressure. High idle and boost were both OK.

With the assistance of Adam I put in new plugs @ San Marcos, but that did not resolve the issue. It helped some, but did not resolve. Then Jonny gave me a MSD Blaster 2 and that seemed to help some but did not resolve the issue either.

Yesterday, I went out and checked the pressure pods on the distributor as the suggestion of a member of the Yahoo BiturboZentrum group. The diaphragms did not leak and they did actuate.

On the way home, I was surprised that the stumble is gone. I think the advance mechanism was jammed.

I also believe I have identified the reason for low boost, the AMAL valve leaks internally.

vac system

Vacuum system is happy now. I removed all the emissions equipment - it was all non-functional anyways.

Now you can reach in from the passenger seat, crank and it fires immediately. She idles very nice now.

Some progress

It is raining this morning, though pretty light.

I cleaned the topside of the engine w/Purple Power.

While waiting for the plugwells to dry so I can change the plugs, I checked on the Horn. The terminal that supplies ground had slipped off. I tightened the crimp and the horn now works.

I also checked on the a/c. The system has -some- pressure and the compressor is not locked up. This makes me very happy.

parts are here!

I got the parts from MIE yesterday, sadly the clutch slave was defective. It wouldn't bleed. I shot off an email to MIE and they responded with excellent customer service. A new one is on the way.

I did manage to get the clutch working by removing the piston and seals from the one that the PO purchased (in October) and replacing it with the piston/seals from the one I purchased from MIE. So now I'll have a spare. Hopefully the seals didn't get damaged when I inserted them.

I then plugged up some vacuum leaks and the car started much better. But the lights/accessories didn't work. The PO told me they were intermittent. This is the first time they did not function. I jiggled the fuse box to no avail. I then poked around some wires coming through the firewall and the lights came on.

I went for a drive & the lights came on.

More tomorrow.

Parts is parts

On the way are:

• Clutch Slave Cylinder
• Plenum gaskets
• Weber 36 DCNVH rebuild kit
• Coolant tank cap

And I picked up 11ft of vacuum hose.

The plan is to remove the carb tonight, take it to Mikey who knows carbs. He'll rebuild it for me. Then I'll start removing the air pump, air injection manifold, and other emissions stuff that no longer functions. This will help simplicate the vacuum system.

Rebranding

I did it. I finally bought an '84 Maserati Biturbo.