Well, I finished up the conv. about 2 hours ago. Mods are as listed in the signature (also have removed every bit of emissions and running premix only) but the critical problem(s) are the following and im not sure if they're related or not:

A) Difficulty starting

B) Burning something

Now for the backdrop:

Yesterday, I put the manifolds together hand tight just to see if the car would fire up and it did. It would fire VERY quickly everytime, maybe within .3 seconds but wouldnt stay on for more then 3 seconds or so due to the vacuum leaks. The longest it stayed on was for about 4 seconds but it never hinted at burning anything. So these problems werent present yesterday running it like that in any way, shape or form.

Today though, I plugged in the TPS and tightened the manifolds down completly and the car had a hell of a time starting. It would always get ever SO close, on the verge, but not start, like it was flooded. I had to pull the fuse and crank to clear everything and then it would fire up. And it ran perfect, idle was a little low but just some of the kinks I figured. I then noticed it was giving off some kind of smoke. Im very familiar with each type of smoke (coolant (previous engine had a complete oring failure), fuel, oil (had a bad oil seal on old engine)). This was at night, but as much as I hate to acknowledge this, it looked white but the smell somewhat differed from coolant, it almost smelled starchy. Im also running about twice the amount of premix recommended so im not sure if that could be it.

Now for the things which are really confusing me: Even though its burning whatever (and a good amount as well) theres no coolant on the plugs, just the smell of fuel.

The car starts better when we create a small vacuum leak.

Im not losing any pressure from my coolant line.

I really dont know whats up but im hoping this isnt worst case sceniro (o-ring gone) even though it very well may be. Im gonna check coolant again tomorrow, fill everything if need be, drive it again, and see if I lose anything. Any other hints or tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys.........

 

Which manifolds did you not completely tighten down? Upper -> lower, lower -> engine block, etc.

 

Two hints:

Car starts better with manifold leak

Exhaust smells like fuel


What injectors are you running, your sig is not showing.

 

I didnt tighten down the upper to lower manifold when it started better.

Injectors are 680 secondarys and 550 primaries (all cleaned by RC). Im also using a Walbro fuel pump and FCD.

 

Glad that TPS I sent showed up

Are you sure the burning is not just oil left on from holding either the turbo or the exhaust with dirty hands during assembly? or oil or water, fallen into the exhaust during assembly?

 

Thanks a lot! Got it this afternoon


Im not so sure it could be things burning off still cause it did so after about 10mins of being driven so im not too sure. But likeI said, I hope its not a oring after all this work but at this point im trying to figure out if I should rebuild myself or have it sent off..............

 

Any fuel controller?

 

I dont have any type of fuel controller. It idles ok once on, just is a bit difficult getting it there.

 

Probably running a bit rich then, especially with the 680's and the walbro without a fuel controller, probably explains the hard starts. As for the smoke, could be because you're burning more gas than usual and that you have too much premix in there, so you're burning more premix more quickly than you should be, if that makes sense

 

Yea make sense.......I just hope more then anything its not the oring. Its white smoke so I really dont know. Facts point in both directions, its white, smells kind of like coolant, but on the other hand, im not losing coolant and when I get into boost, it stops. Im gonna look at one of the leading plugs right now to see if theres coolant on it.

 

Well I just checked the leading plug and there was nothing on it........ The car is tilted to the passanger side a bit because of the street but I couldnt even smell it on the plug. I do however, smell coolant in the engine bay. Guess I'll have my definete answer tomorrow.

 

blown turbo?

 

I dont know, it seems to boost well. I dont think it can be a coolant feed line though.

Today though, I crank it, and it fires right up. But its a bit difficult to hold idle. Other then that, its doing ok. Still was letting out a little smoke but I suspect it could be premix? Would it burn at idle? Thanks.......

 

Barely smoking at all today. Not sure whats up...........

 

it could just be getting used to the new setup.....i'm no mechanic, so i don't know if that could be it or not. hope all works out well for ya.

 

well, i could be wrong, but i believe the double premix would make it harder to start, oil does burn, but its harder to ignite than fuel, so having twice the premix that is supposed to be there would probably make it start slower, but run ok after it was already running. just my .02

 

Well, the 680's wouldn't make a lick of difference in starting, since they are secondaries.

The Walbro, however, will make it run richer when cranking, that's why the vac-leak facilatates startup.

What you CAN do if you want, is to hook one colenoid back up, and hook it up to the ECU pin 1C, which gives out 12V while cranking. Hook it to manifodl vacuum, and just leave the other end open vented- this will give a vac leak while cranking.



Smoke is probably just from reassembly and such.