Re: Tom's V8

[tsm1@domain.elided (Tom Mandera)]

>I would sure think it's the power valve.  It opens in stages as the
>manifold vacuum drops.  If it were defective in such a way as to dump loads
>of raw fuel into the intake, then that would sure create a situation like
>Tom has.

I want to buy some vacuum line, and snake a hose into the cab, to hook up my
"test" vacuum gauge.  This was one of the tests I was thinking of doing but
haven't yet.  

With the gauge in hand, I'd then get up on the highway and head to MacDonald
pass, and see 1) can I get it to start fouling on the straight, at what
speed (75+), and at what *vacuum level*

2) climbing the pass in 4th, with my foot in it, at what point does it start
missing and what vacuum level?

3) back off, how does it go in 4th, what vac.?

4) downshift to 3rd, and again, find that point where it starts missing and
see what vacuum level I'm at.

My thought was to see if that vacuum point is consistent, and if that
matches the point my power valve should be at.

>However, I seem to vaguely recall the he purchased and installed a new
>power valve early on.  Tom ought to try installing a different carb...
>maybe borrow one... to see if the problem goes away.

I haven't installed a new p/valve yet.. I was going, but I was informed that
I had the new style non-blow-apart-when-backfiring power valve, so I
(wrongly?) assumed it was OK.

I think I'm going to grab a full rebuild kit from NAPA this week, hook the
on-board air up to my storage tanks, charge it up, and then dismantle the
carb again... and maybe soak it overnight in my carb dip.  Then reassemble
(n' use the compressed air to blow it out), and see if I can make things any
better.  

Hey, I have yet to rebuild a carb and have it work better aftewards... and I
already tore this *NEW* carb apart once a few weeks ago...

If that fails, I'll go borrow a Holley 2bbl from a friend... hmmm.. I wonder
if he even *has* any 2bbls... I did see a pair of matched Dominators on his
wall the other day... ;)

Fun fun fun... 

At least I *know* it'll do 13mpg... if I keep my foot out of it, and take it
easy, I can cruise 65/70mph and keep 13+mpg.  Which meets my stated goal of
doing better than the 12mpg the 196 got (now, had I decided to keep my foot
ouf ot the 196, and go 40mph everywhere, I'm sure 20mpg could be achieved
once again... as it was, to hold 65, I was always deep into the throttle,
and frankly, sub-65mph is just NOT an acceptible highway hauler!)

One of these days, I'll get this right, and I may even have an idea as to
what I"m doing when I'm done!

Thanks, all.

-Tom (amateur mechanic wanna-be)