I've yet to start a thread for my "83 S T2 repaint and/or other 2012 projects" so you both have me beat... lol

 

I just passed the 500 photograph mark on this most-recent rebuild project...

 

can't wait to see this beauty back on the road, one stunner of a car. really hope to admire it in person one day. keep up the great work

 

Still playing peel-and-stick with the engine bay harness... The area up against the firewall is particularly difficult. Near-zero access without disassembling the brake and clutch masters, which I'd rather not do at the moment.

I really, really wish MTA (Mass-Termination Assembly) connectors had been around at the time of the SAs. This would be so much easier if I could just decouple the whole 'in-pane' harness at the firewall and work on it on the bench.

But hey, if it was easy it wouldn't suck enough, right?

 

Day 1282

The State of the Crate, A picture being worth a kilobyte of text:









Next up, refinish and mount front rotating accessories, ratsnest, and smog regalia.

Then, into the carb we go.

 

Lovin the intake manifold block off lol

 

I'm really liking the look of the new motor.

 

That's my lucky tool and fastener deflector! I've been using that same piece of cardboard to prevent awshits whenever the carb's off, for at least 10 years. It has it's own spot on the workbench pegboard and everything.

I've also got a white plastic lid from a Costco almond jar, which having a proper hole bored in the center, is a perfect cover for the top of the carb when the air cleaner's off.

I worry about dropping things in there, you know.

Thank you, sir. I'm real happy with it thus far. I just hope it runs as good as it looks, after all this work. [crossfingers]

 

I'm sure it'll run great after all the time you've put into it. Kinda funny how we all have some random tools or whatever that we consider lucky. I've been using the same glass tonic bottle to catch brake fluid when I bleed brakes since 2003. It's filthy and beat to hell, but I still keep it around lol.

Any pics of the stuff you painted with the HVLP gun?

 

one of the outstanding features of the nikki is that there are no stock parts that can actually FIT thru the carburetor.

 

Yep:


















Did the hinges, too. All visible in that last bay picture, but they match so well you'd not spot them.

 

Lookin really good. You're really going to town on this! Glad you got your paint gun setup correctly.

The question is, will I have my paint job done before your car is back up and running, the race is on!

 

I figure I'll be ready for startup sometime this week, barring incidents. Hopefully the new floats and needles don't give me too much grief settling in.

Once I'm ahead on time, I'm going to have to copy a dozen posts from the "today" thread into here, just to catch this thread up.

 

If you're that close to startup then you'll beat me. The weather has been less than stellar and that's put me behind schedule.
Oh and yeah that today thread is long as hell, I stopped reading it lol

 

I love that color! Gotta keep that in mind

 

DD you do some awesome work you can see the care and attention to detail and it looks just stunning, I've seen less attention to detail in some full on muscle car restos, just beautiful sir.

 

Thanks.

Now, I just need it to start.

Got fuel (can see wetness on throttle plates, & can smell it - bowl levels are good), got spark (tested both leading plug lines, nice strong regular sparks), got strong rotation, "whoosh" test seems to say I have compression. What I don't have is operation.

Sigh. Time to check timing first, I think.

 

Timing was what it finally was on my dad's el camino, do th 80's have the points on electronic, if points we had to get the dwell too.

 

it always comes back to timing...pull the distributor and get it over with...

http://api.viglink.com/api/click?for...13367105090001

this is what happened after I did

 

80's were the first year with electronic; system is different from all other years.

Timing looks to be dead on; when the pointer is on the yellow (leading) mark, the star wheel (reluctor) is aligned with the Lead pickup coil.

Known good so far:
Spark on both systems
Timing
Bowl fuel level
Accel pump
Brand new plugs
Pulled plugs; wetted by fuel (cleaned them) which means some fuel is entering combustion chamber.
Rotation seems fast enough.
Seems to be making compression.

Possibilities (just throwing things against the wall):
Seriously improper mix (rich/lean)
Plugged carb channels due to use of sealant on base-to-body gasket
Low compression

Things to try:
Starting fluid (don't own any)
Small amount of engine oil down intake (to assist sealing esp. while metering lines are not yet filled)

Suggestions cheerfully considered!!!!

 

Hit it with some starter fluid...if it trips you know your headed down the right road,

alot of guys say the first start after a rebuild can be tough...pullstart etc...might just be the 12a being stubborn...too much glue on the corner seals????? ask me how I know...looking foward to the start up video!

 

This is my fourth 12A build; the other three started within 30 seconds of first crank-over. Maybe I'm just spoiled.

I think I know what caused this - - even if I don't know what's wrong yet.

This happened Wednesday night while setting bowl levels:



...Seven years...

 

I spent hours on my rebuild turning it over. Starting fluid didn't work, but a small capful of 2-stroke in each of the intake barrels started it right up.

 

Glen, you going to be around this weekend playing with the car? I am free Friday, Sat, Sun.... give a buzz and I can come over. 865-332-7752

 

DD does it sound like it's trying to fire?

May seem like an exercise but maybe restab dizzy anyways

power to ignition sytem when both in "run" and "starting" postion?
(not sure how you are checking I know when your by yourself some things can be tricky)

Vaccum lines are all good?