GTV returns

["Giller,Bruce C." <bgiller@domain.elided>]

	The GTV returned to the fold on Friday evening looking quite good after
it's Jan. accident.  Of course, the shop lost a few items, like the knob
headed screw that holds the fuse box cover on (how they lost THAT, I
don't know), and a metal strap that bolts to the front section that hold
a tray that is just in front of the radiator.  I'm going to make a list
of what I need for I'm sure it might be a bit longer.  Spent some time
on Sunday between the rain storms to hose out the engine compartment
because of all heaps of bondo particles.  And the new front bumper
really makes the rear one look bad....probably end up getting it replaced.

	Of course, true to form, the car died about 3 blocks from the body shop
and had to be towed home - I was reminded why I don't go to McDonalds to
buy anything edible whilst waiting for the tow-man or someone like him. 
At least the weather was warm and dry, and my wife was excellent company
to spend 1.5 hours on a Friday evening.

	So I tried to get the car running on Sunday and could only get it to
run reasonably well by disconnecting the short SPICA arm and allowing
more air into the cylinders AND have the timing quite advanced.  The
plugs were all black and my wife had mentioned that, when following me
for the brief time the car was running, lots of black smoke was being
emitted.  If I returned the timing to near what it should be, the engine
would die.

	Wes I. sez that at idle, all the air to the cylinders should be coming
thru the idle circuit and not the butterfly valves.  Since the pump was
rebuilt by Wes, the pump is not suspect.  I'm athinkn' that the cut-off
solenoid is set to "way toooooo" rich which accounts for the need for
more air and (I'm hoping this is true) the advanced timing.  I think
that in the AROC SPICA manual, there is a cut-off solenoid preliminary
setting (something like 7 turns in) just to get the car running.

	And those faithful readers who remember that I had mentioned previously
that I had only one brake circuit and blamed it on blowing out a seal in
the brake MC, I must say that I was wrong in that diagnosis.  Turns out
that a brake hard line to the rear right caliper blew out (the one on
the tranny).  I removed the brake line and the connector at the brake
line distributor on the tranny was rusted solid to the line and I just
twisted the connector off the brake line.

	Now I'm thinking that I should replace all the brake hard lines in the
car for they are probably of the same vintage - old.  IAP has a kit that
requires bending but neither Centerline nor Alfa Parts mention any brake
hard lines.  Is this where I I buy several lengths of brake line tubing
(I think it is 3/16" - does anyone know the size?), a tube flaring tool,
tube bender, and just make my own?

	Bruce 

	PS and last week the fuel pump on the Spider went south and had to be
replaced.  This makes 2 tows for two different cars in one week!  I'm
upgrading my AAA membership to Plus as soon as possible!

	'86 Spider
	'73 GTV - recovering in the driveway
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