Project Mickey Mouse - Build thread of 79 SC I bought on eBay

[Jonny042]

Yes!!!!!!

[LJ851]

Fantastic!!

[IndyAlex]

Originally Posted by Focker

My post yesterday didn't make it through, but...


IT STARTED! IT STARTED!

My eldest son had baseball last night, so I was on pick up duty. I got home around 8:30, moved the plug wires and reinstalled the XDi box. That took about 10 minutes.

I live in a typical suburban housing development where typical lot size is 4500 sqft, so I was getting close to being noisy loser neighbour.

I pumped the throttle about 5 times, did a quick hail mary and turned the key. Maybe 2-3 seconds of cranking and it fired right up. It was popping and spitting and didn't want to idle, but god damn, it was running.

I OWN A RUNNING PORSCHE! WOW!!!!

I didn't let it run more than a minute or so as I need to break in the cams and it was getting late.

I walked back in the house with the biggest ***** eating grin I've had in a long time, the weight of German disappointment lifted from my shoulders.

My kids who were already in pajamas ran down stairs shouting "THAT SOUNDED LIKE A THUNDERSTORM! WAS THAT YOUR CAR?"

Huge thank you to everyone on this forum that gave advice and support.

Thanks Jon for reading and rewriting the XDi instructions. Reading your post is what turned on the lightbulb. Not going to lie, I started reading that post with a "Yeah, I know, that's what I did!"

Then, to borrow a phrase my oldest son uses too often, I had the "Wait, what?" moment that highlighted the wrong firing order.

OMG you guys have no idea how good this feels.

SO AWESOME! I'm right behind you and will experience the same feeling here soon. Congratulations on getting the engine to fire. So happy for you!

[chrisbalich]

Originally Posted by Focker

...IT STARTED! IT STARTED!
...
It was popping and spitting and didn't want to idle, but god damn, it was running.
...
I OWN A RUNNING PORSCHE! WOW!!!!
...
I walked back in the house with the biggest ***** eating grin I've had in a long time, the weight of German disappointment lifted from my shoulders.
...
My kids who were already in pajamas ran down stairs shouting "THAT SOUNDED LIKE A THUNDERSTORM! WAS THAT YOUR CAR?"
...
Huge thank you to everyone on this forum that gave advice and support.
...
OMG you guys have no idea how good this feels.

All of these hit home pretty hard.
When I started my car after the 5-week engine rebuild, I just sat there in my garage chair. I couldn't talk. It was all I could do to hold back tears.
I know very well the relief you feel when it finally starts and runs after a drawn out uphill battle.

I am so very happy for you. Hold on to that feeling of triumph as long as you can.

[Hulley]

Oh hell yeah!

We do need a vid though, you know, for proof.

Congratulations, I'm stoked for you!

[Focker]

Does anyone know where I can find baseline settings for 46mm PMO carbs? I have the float height set, but all the other adjustments are most certainly out of whack.

Thanks!!

[Focker]

Found it!

[Jonny042]

Oh good!

You could probably call Ricard part as well I'm sure he'd be helpful. From what I know EMPI bought PMO but he might be answering the phone still! Also fyi I wouldn't stress about no idle at this point. Get those cam broken in, you can always stick a tie wrap und$er the idle stop on the carbs!

[Focker]

Thanks Jon! I'll do an update hopefully over the weekend.

I've been too nervous to fire it up again!

[OsoMoore]

I picked the right time to read this thread. Great work - I remember the first time I started my car after a CIS rebuild.
Basically anytime I take a part to bits and it fires up again, it makes me so happy.

[Focker]

Joy was somewhat short lived. It coughed and sputtered and tried to catch a few times and now it seems it has gotten into another fight with the starter ring.

Going to install the axles and a seat then flat deck it to a shop. I think it's time to admit defeat.

[Jonny042]

Oh no!

Any chance the battery is pooped?

[Focker]

Not the battery, but it's sounding like I munched another starter ring.

I would take a video, but I'm nervous of damaging something else. It's making the rhythmic thump when I tore up the other starter ring.

As much as it pains me, I think I'll drop the car off, have Jeff get it running and broken in on the dyno, then I can finish it up. The lack of progress is too discouraging.

I've also given very serious thought to converting from carb and wasted spark to COP and EFI. I never went down that route as I didn't want the headache of having to do all the mapping required, yet here we are...

[Showdown]

Knowing when to ask for help is not a sign of weakness or defeat.

Your goal is to enjoy this car. Anything that stands in the way of that needs to be immolated asap.

Onward!

[chrisbalich]

Originally Posted by Focker

Not the battery, but it's sounding like I munched another starter ring.

I would take a video, but I'm nervous of damaging something else. It's making the rhythmic thump when I tore up the other starter ring.

As much as it pains me, I think I'll drop the car off, have Jeff get it running and broken in on the dyno, then I can finish it up. The lack of progress is too discouraging.

I've also given very serious thought to converting from carb and wasted spark to COP and EFI. I never went down that route as I didn't want the headache of having to do all the mapping required, yet here we are...

Originally Posted by Showdown

Knowing when to ask for help is not a sign of weakness or defeat.

Your goal is to enjoy this car. Anything that stands in the way of that needs to be immolated asap.

Onward!

If you think carbs, starters, and starter rings are frustrating, EFI will macerate your mental health.

I'm with Julian. There is no defeat in getting assistance where you need it. After all the work I've done to my car, I'm punting on paint & body. I want it done to a higher standard than I know I will/can do myself. No shame in wanting it right.

If you (or Jeff) think your starter is the source of your starter-ring woes, I have the original from my car that you can have for shipping. I know it cranked the engine over the last time we tried, but that was before I even owned the car. I've never run it and it's very dirty.

[Jonny042]

You are lucky to have a place like Turn 3 to rely on and there is no shame in it and might actually be a good double check on the entire system!

I'll second the carb as being a simple and effective setup and especially combined with the xdi which has all the same attributes from what I can see. We all spend enough time staring at screens, grabbing a screw driver is a lot more fun!

Not saying EFI isn't an idea for the future but one thing at a time, I suspect once you get running you'll enjoy the carbs an awful lot....you are close!!!

Actually, Chris's excellent suggestion and generous offer might be more practical coming from the Canadian side of the border - I have two starters on the shelf that I've kept "just in case" but that's at least one more than I need! You are welcome to one of them for the cost of shipping.

[Focker]

Thanks so much guys! I think I have my old stock starter as well.

I'll leave it to Jeff to sort out.

I think the couple of grand it takes to get it running right will be money well spent.

Thanks for all the support guys.

[Focker]

Nothing much to update, so here's a picture of my baby on the flat deck on its way to get sorted out.

[Hulley]

Good luck, I can't wait to see this get sorted!

[Jonny042]

You really are SO CLOSE!!! And the car looks great. Can't wait to see it all together.