Today's plan was to sync the ITBs.
Sounds simple, doesn't it?
Act I: Ad Lib
Well, I read and re-read Clay's ITB syncing guide from his ITB/EFI build thread.
Then I gathered the necessary tools and went out to the garage.
I opened up the garage door and as I belly'd up to the engine bay, I remembered how much fun it is to have my open headers burn my legs while I stand [precariously] between them and attend to the engine.
So I did some really janky isht.
These are resonators from a late-model Audi. I got them to use the resonators and bends to build an exhaust from. But it occurred to me that I could [sorta] bolt them to my headers and get most of the exhaust (and a fair portion of the heat) behind me instead of directed into me. It looked ridiculous. But it tamed the rowdiness of the exhaust a lot more than expected and it saved me from being lit on fire by my own car.
Act II: Drama in the engine bay
Bespoke exhaust working like a charm, it was time to sync ye olde ITBs.
So I removed the rain hats, removed the IAT sensor from the rain hat, plugged it back in, and set it to the side-ish.
Per the instructions, I disconnected all the relay rods and then fired up the hog.
Started with #1...so far, so good.
#6...not bad.
#2...NBD.
#5...killing it. Feeling good.
#4...You'd think I knew what I was doing at this point.
#3...WTF. F me in the A. WTH? How can this be? #trynottopanic
The syncrometer didn't even register on #3. Like no air moving at all. My first thought was, "Oh no. The rings didn't seat. I have to tear this whole GD thing back apart. Do I just sell it? I don't have the budget, let alone the stomach to do this all again..."
Syncrometer in place, I blip the throttle.
Syncrometer zings up like you'd expect. :/ #confusion "does it have compression?"
I decide I'll try to seat the rings. So I move Kelly's car out of the drive. Back the 911 out of the garage. (oh yeah. First drive) And take it up and down my road...twice...in first gear with heavy engine braking. Interesting looks from the neighbors. Grey car, red wheels, no windscreen front or rear, exhaust all kaddewampus out the back like a pokemon, idiot behind the [not bolted down at all] steering wheel.
Back to the garage.
Syncrometer on #3.
Second verse, same as the first. No air moving.
Shut it down. Phone a friend.
I'm ready to do compression test, he wants to know about the idle/throttle linkage.
Many texts and a picture or two exchanged.
He asks for a moment to think.
While Joe thinks, I peer into #3 and compare it to #2 & #1. It looks canted way further clockwise than the other two.
I push left bank throttle to WOT.
#1 & #2 are 6-12.
#3 is 7-1.
:/ Something is amiss.
So still holding bank 1 at WOT, I adjust the screw to roughly align #3 to the other two.
I start the car. It immediately idles different than before. #hope
Syncrometer on #3.
Readings!
I compare to #2 & #1...close, but not quite. I adjust all on bank 1 until they match.
Miraculously they match bank 2.
A quick throttle blip and it revs like a sport bike.
I shut it down.
I text Joe. All is well. My near panic attack was not for more than poorly aligned ITB butterflies. Good grief.
I sit on the wall, texting Joe and Kelly comes out.
"Hey, I'm going to get dinner. You ok?"
"I am now. I'll go with if you've an open seat."
I close the garage door and get in Kelly's car.
End Scene.
That whole isht was more stressful than the pre-first-start-jitters. I need a drink.
...of water.