Took the Bird to a family event last evening for the longest highway cruise since the transmission was replaced. Was pleased to see the new radiator and water pump kept the engine at the 180 thermostat level at 3000rpm, running the A/C in 93 degree ambient. Temp only went up to about 200 coming in off the highway. Road manners are good and it's nice having a properly running tach. Can't complain about 18mpg either. Next challenges are the power steering pump (sounds like a coffee grinder and blows fluid out the cap everywhere), HVAC flappers that still don't change positions, and a Q-Jet that can't seem to maintain a tune on the idle circuit.
Went out with it again this morning and rolled 2000 miles on the odometer since the restoration. Can't figure out why it idles fine when cold, idles extremely rich when warm, and idles 400rpm higher (but smoothly) coming in off the highway. I'm suspecting a cracked intake manifold though.
|