Finally started + background (sorry so long)

[scphelps1]

Thanks to all who helped me sort out my fuel problem. After receiving the new front fuel pump, we finally installed it last night and upon turning the key you could hear that musical sound of the pump coming on to pressurize the system. Then, just a crank of the engine and it fired right up. It sputtered a little bit, but I'm sure that was due to any air trapped in the lines. Then it settled into a nice steady idle. The ticking noise, that can now be definitively attributed to the valves, is gone. A couple of other small items to finish up and it will be on the road. I can't wait! My wife came out to the garage when she heard the engine come to life and said she has never seen a smile so large across my face! Wait until she is sitting in the passenger seat under full boost; I wonder what my smile will look like then!

Just for background, this car has been in our family since ~ 1986. I grew up riding in the back even when I was probably too big to! My dad performed things as they needed to be done on the car (a cracked piston, multiple clutches, etc), but a point came when he needed to use the car as a commuter 70 miles each way. Things started to slip by that he normally would have been right on top of (shocks, valve adjustment, etc). He just had to make sure the car could go when Mon came. Things have changed for my parents and they decided they wanted to buy a boat. They wondered if I would be interested in buying the car. Would I ever! The car had pretty much been sitting for 2 years. Without even starting it, we knew it had to have the valves adjusted. With the engine out, we proceeded to change the trans fluid to Swepco, change all the filters, change the plugs, cap and rotor, and change the rear shocks. After putting the motor back in, it would not start. After the new pump, it did start right up, though. Now, I am itching to drive it!

Sorry this is so long, but I thought for those interested I could let you know how this saga began! Thanks to everyone for posting such valuable information to this board, and thanks to Wayne for maintaining it.

[Thomas Owen]

Congratulations on getting the engine started. It is also great that the car, with it's history, is staying in your family. Get some pictures posted and let us know about the 'first drive'.
Regards,