FrancoSpider moves into phase II... more resurrection status

[Godfrey DiGiorgi <ramarren@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

The resurrection of a Spider from the melding of three cars is a process 
which takes a lot of time and energy. Latest report of the 78/79/82 
Spider project.

I've been up to the shop the past couple of days as the guys have been 
working out all the niggly details of the injection installation and 
other stuff, helping in my role as gofer and owner...  Well, I try to 
help! And I stay out of the way as best possible. 

I picked up a used, good condition catalytic converter/header pipe, 
lambda sensor, temp sensor, some bits for the throttle linkage, and a set 
of good condition ignition wires. The mechanic working on the car found a 
couple other damaged bits in the air ducting, etc. which were replaced. 
One thing I'm very happy about is that these ancillary components for the 
Bosch injection are generally speaking not too expensive and are easy to 
deal with. All bits have been in stock, swap in and out easily. 

The '82's electic tachometer went to the instrument shop. The base car is 
an early '79 with mechanical tacho, where the '82 engine needs the 
electronic unit. They've tested the tach, it's in fine working order, and 
now it's been calibrated accurately and fitted with a chrome bezel to 
match the other instruments, cleaned inside and out. I pick it up 
tomorrow.

All in all, the major Frankensteining is just about complete. Only a few 
details remain. The work has proceeded well and efficiently, the results 
are looking better and better. 

So now we start Phase II: make it run well.

Last thing done yesterday was a full compression check. As I expected 
given the long period of time this motor's been sitting, compression is 
off and uneven. We saw 165/150/140/150 psi on the cylinders, 
respectively. It runs with a hesitant miss at idle and pushes some oil. I 
deem it essential to fix this and the head needs a new gasket anyway, so 
it's off with its head, a quick valve job and a new set of high 
compression pistons and cylinders will be fitted along the way. 

More when.

Godfrey

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