I thought perhaps it was time for a brief update on the tangerine targa. Although I've been enjoying the car on lots of short drives, I have also been continuing to struggle with a small oil leak coming from the base of the oil filter console, as discussed previously. Nothing I did ever completely stopped it. Every drive would end with me having to clean up a small puddle on the sill beneath the filter, and there was always a small bit dripping down into the heat exchanger burning and stinking.
So as the time came for my 1000 mile (on the newly rebuilt engine) oil change and service, I decided it was also time to take care of this once and for all. After having changed the filter console, using a new o-ring, and some mild sealant attempting to stop the leak, the only thing that remained a suspect was the tank itself. I can only guess that there's some surface imperfection, a small scratch or bulge maybe, that has kept the console from sitting flat. So I posted a WTB ad for a new tank, and had lined up a nice one within a day (Pelicans are the greatest!) I haven't received it yet, but it should get here early next week, and looks from photos not to need much more than a cleaning and shot of exterior paint.
In the meantime I'm preparing the car and doing everything else one might at 1000 miles: valve adjust, checking torque on CV bolts, head studs, suspension fasteners, etc... I think I'll pull a couple spark plugs and see what I can see about running conditions. I have the carbs adjusted on the rich side, but it does seem to run stronger there. I'm not an experienced spark plug reader myself, but the forum wisdom might be able to help assess how things are working.
After this I hope to feel confident taking this thing on some longer trips, and maybe entering my first autocross. I've been very eager to push it a bit and see what it's capable of.
Mike
