PMO panic! A jetting and air cleaner story LONG

[NY65912]

After doing a few test runs with my LM-1 to better get a handle on what's going on with jetting with the hot rod SC, I come up with the conclusion that jetting is a little on the rich side. 11.8-12.3 AFR

I decide to go from 145's to 140s mains and 55 to 50 on the idles just to see what happens.

So I get my new jets from Richard of PMO the other day.

Fri PM I install the jets.....everything appears fine. I go to start the engine and sputter pop bang boom the car will not idle.

It's getting late so I stop before I get crazy and the wife and I take a little cruise with the M491 to go see the fireworks at Coney Island.

But this problem is making my sleepless. I pull out all my carb books and log onto the BBS and search about this subject till the wee hours. Which turns out has a side benefit because now I know what time my kids come home for real.

Sat AM comes and now I've got to wait until a decent time in order to start the racket again so I don't disturbe the neighbors

I change out the jets again to what were in the carbs to begin with and now not only will it not start but I've got both carbs flooding the engine. I think it's pretty strange that jetting could screw up my floats but we all know how sometimes one looses clarity of mind when the $$$hit hits the fan.

I pull the top of one carb and the float level is pefect, the floats work fine, shutting off when blown into and opening when the drop. Heights are right on.

I put everything back together and take a dip in the pool. I figure I'll start over again in the AM.

That eve I grab the laptop and again hit the BBS (while wife watches a movie that I have no interest in) and search.

Then it finally hits me.......go to PMO's site and see what they have to say in regard to technical help. THERE CLEAR AS DAY....

"The air cleaner base is the part of the air cleaner that is clamped to the top of the carburetor by the air horns. A new gasket should go between the air cleaner base and the carburetor. When air cleaner bases are installed, the Idle Air Inlets must not be covered. Check diagram. If the Idle Air Inlets are accidentally covered and the engine floods, remove spark plugs, disable CD and turn engine over before trying to start engine.

Sooo this PM I pop the decklid and go to work.

As sure as God made little green apples that's what I did, put the air cleaner bases on backwards.

I switch out the idle jets to 50's and readjust the mixtures and no more smoke and raw fuel smell at idle. I also went down a step on my mains and the car seems to have less power. I'll pull out the LM-1 and do some retesting.

Moral of the story.......IF YOU HAVE PMO's BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU REINSTALL THOSE AIR FILTER BASES.

On another note, while I had everything apart I modified the air cleaner bases by TIGing 5mm nuts to the bottom of the bases and cut SS rods that are now locked to the welded nuts. 5mm SS wing nuts complete the job.

So no more troublesome crazy PMO aluminum air cleaner studs that you can't reach the allen head screw under the bases and break if you look at the too long.

If anyone wants to see what I'm describing let me know and I'll post a few pics. My digital camera is not home, but at "Waterfest" (huge water cooled VW / Audi show and go event n NJ) with my son.

Thanks for listening,

[NY65912]

As a side question. When you change idle jets to a leaner jet ......how much of a mixture setting should occur?