The good news is that I turned the ignition key for the first time in 6 weeks and the car fired right up, idled fine and had VERY crisp throttle response. I hope to go for a test drive in a little while after I get cleaned up.

It all started innocently enough; replace an intake manifold gasket to fix a REALLY bad oil leak from the back of the manifold. But while I had it out I decided to replace my mechanical advance distributor with a small cap HEI. So I had to replace the spark plug wires...and while I was at it I never really liked my wiring looms anyway. I might as well replace my valve cover gaskets since they were off and showed signed of leakage...and while they were off I might as well adjust my valves.

Since the small cap HEI is bigger than a Mallory Unilite, I had to re-plumb my fuel system to get it to fit. So I might as well replace a few more rubber hoses with -AN fitting and steel braided lines. While I was doing the "final" assembly yesterday, I over tightened a pipe thread fitting and cracked my throttle body. I had to go have it welded back together last night.

I still have not even started relocating the ignition box or installing the computer that will control the advance on my new distributor. But static timing isn't so bad...at least until after the meet.

 

Just got back from the test drive. It seems to run very well with static timing.

Now I can concentrate on getting it cleaned up...

 

i wish mine would fire right up. after sitting for few days have to crank for about a minute before she starts up. And it all starts from simple replacement and then grows into a major headache. At least that's how my balancer replacement went.

 

Man, i hate when you get seeper into you ride from something small and some crap happens that sets you back. Atleast it allways works out in the end.