Just an update 'cause I know you're all just dying to hear what's up with the car.

This morning I got up and decided to put the manometer on the stacks - since I know they worked hard on the idling. They were WAY out of whack... so I balanced those up and the motor smoothed out considerably. So that was a super easy fix - provided you actually own a manometer! :unibrow:

If you're playing with 8 stacks this is no less important than owing a timing light or a screwdriver.

Leaned out the idle AF ratio to 13:8 -- idle got crisper note and was steadier

I already reported that with ONE adjustment - the parking brake issue was resolved (so far). Prior to that adjustment - if you turned left - you'd swear you were driving with an exploded posi unit. Just terrible noises! So after studying the set up a bit - I made an adjustment - then went out and drove the car down a hill while using the handbrake a bit - on and off -- drag the car down and release gain some speed and hit it again. This is NOT an emergency brake -- but could be used as one. It's a simple parking brake but the little bitty pads are brand new and they needed to be bedded in and scrub off some of the nubs and newness.... after that they have not made a single peep. :woot:

Now -- let's have a simple class....

A PCV is what class?

That's right -- it's a controlled vacuum leak.

How many of you would "T" into a controlled vacuum leak to get vacuum for the MAP sensor or the Fuel Pressure Regulator?

GOOD CLASS! You're way ahead of these guys! 'Cause they T'd into the PCV line in order to pull vacuum on something that wants a solid steady signal!


Okay class now that you're on a roll --

If you wanted to get a car to idle down would you?

A) Advance the timing

B) Retard the timing


That's right... "B" you would RETARD the timing

If you retarded the timing - even just 2 degrees - would you then have to adjust the idle settings in order to achieve the desired idle RPMS?

YES! You're right again! Man you guys are good!

But here's the trick question....

If you mess with idle settings on EFI -- do you?

A) Reset the Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) settings in the ECU

B) You have no clue so do nothing and expect the ECU to understand the
new voltage readings it's getting so it no longer knows it's at idle (closed throttle)

So it's the little DETAILS but you first have to have a CLUE and if you don't have a clue - pick up the phone and ask someone that does... but then that would be embarrassing to admit you're clueless so it's better to just screw it up and let the customer do it correctly. :woot:

Greg, on a side note I gotta stop by and see this car sometime. I'm over at my son's quite a bit who lives in Kirland (really enjoy the eating establishments downtown) where I'm currently sending this message from in the wee hours of the morning. We'll have to hook up one day this summer for a bite. What a weekend here in the great state of Wa... Oh and I've actually been hitting the car pretty steady the last couple of weeks:yes:

Lenie -- You've got my cell number! Call me buddy and let's hook up!

My wife is in europe -- it's sunny -- I'm home -- and it's hot rod weather!


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Greg, all the above simple tweaks you've listed just shows that although very talented as fabricators they know very little about the mechanical workings of a car. In other words they can make it real pretty, but it may not drive down the road very well.

The problems you described are things that an average gearhead knows (other than maybe the efi as many have never touched one) and surprisingly they did not. It's like they're real good at someone bringing them in a fully sorted car for new paint and some sheetmetal mods, but they wouldn't be able to build a car from scratch.

Glad you have things on the right track. The car is gonna be a ball to drive.

Jody ---

At this point -- and it's really just sorting through some little silly things -- I have to just chuckle to myself and shake my head. It's comical now... I'm over being disappointed.

I totally agree with your assessment of the situation. It's a show car shop. I've learned from this.

What gets me is that they repeatedly told me about all the high dollar returning customer cars they've built - as in - "this is the 5th car we've built for this customer". So either they HAD people in the past that knew how to finish a car and they're gone - or the customer NEVER drives them... and when I think about the cars this shop has built... I've never seen ANY of them on the road - and after the "show circuit" you don't see them in the magazines such as GG Gazette so that tells me they're just tucked away in someones collection.

It also shows me to choose better the next time. Next time I will choose a shop that not only builds the cars - but takes them out and beats on 'em just to prove they can move and groove.... Making events like Optima etc even more important in my book.

I think you need to open a shop. One that's different from 99% out there. Does great work, on time, and with the knowledge about how to build these cars for more than just a car show; build them to be driven. :thumbsup:

It really sucks that after the second attemp that your still not happy with the way it turned out.
Not only Steve's, but any shop should be embarrased to have the car not right the second time. I wonder how many of his customers are on hot rod message forums?
You have the tools and the skills to fix the stuff. It won't take you long to get it done.
So when you bringing it down to Beaches Cruise night? After your done with the Camaro?

Thanks! But I don't need any income - and I sure as hell don't need a job!



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yeah, but think of all the fun you'd have........... :lol:

I'd have the very finest tools in the shop money could buy.... and no customers. The first customer that was a butthead - I'd point to the door and tell them to get the f out of here....

I'm just not into dealing with bozos and wannabes.... and besides that.... work has a way of interfering with my social life.:willy: :D

Cars are only fun when you're doing it for your own personal satisfaction. Doing it for pay - no thanks... There's only like one Foose for every 100,000
"guys" out there trudging away.