new 3.2 fired up!!.....plus stinky smell mystery.

[cubby911T]

Well, after a summer-long 3.2 conversion project (with LOTS of help from you guys along the way) I finally turned the key for the first time this evening on my '77 targa with an '87 3.2.

First crank: no joy. Second crank: VROOOM!!!!

I raised my arms in victory and savored the moment. Gauges seem to work....oil pressure is good.....no melting wires under the dash....awesome!! After the immediate euphoria passed I realized that I couldn't establish an idle speed of less than 3000 RPM. I wonder if I need to make a throttle linkage adjustment. I think I had to pull the throttle spring back a touch to mate with the ball connector inside the engine compartment. Task for tomorrow.

The other thing I noticed after a few minutes was a bit of smoke escaping from the driver's rear wheel well. Didn't smell like exhaust or even hot oil....more like hot paint. I replaced both of the heater flapper boxes while the engine was out. They are the aftermarket variety, painted black. Could this be the source of my hot paint stink? Is it normal for there to be a "curing" period for these new flapper boxes?

[Aurel]

Best way to find out is to disconnect the heater hoses from the flapper boxes. If the smell goes away, you got your culprit!

Aurel

[billybek]

Probably degreaser, solvents or chemicals and paint heating up.
It is a heady mixture when you fire up a new (to you) or a fresh overhaul.
Keep an eye (nose?) on it though and keep us posted....
The thrill of victory!!!
Congrats!

[dentist90]

I had my motor out to repair an oil leak recently. Had oil dripping onto the exhaust crossover and heat exchangers, so had that burning oil smell every time I came to a stop. While it was out I took the opportunity to clean and degrease the engine. After the first drive I had a worse smell and smoke whisping out from the rear fenders. My first thought was 'Oh, great! Another leak!'. Everyday it became less and less, after a week it was back to that beeootiful hot air-cooled motor mystical smell ( y'know.. the good one). All the Simple Green and Gunk degreaser had left a nasty residue all over the heat exchangers. Like Bill K says, keep your nose peeled. Maybe keep a fire extinguisher with you for awhile, just in case.

[cubby911T]

Thanks guys....you make some good points about the solvent residue. I used quite a bit of Simple Green, Liquid Wrench, and mineral spirits throughout the process so maybe I've got to burn that residue off. I'll have to report back after a few drives.