Whats that black smoke???? Holy S@&t I'm on Fire

General chat about the car goes in here.
zachmac
Posts: 1278
Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2008 9:20 am
Your car is a: 1978 Spider [1979 2 ltr engine]
Location: Aiken, SC

Re: Whats that black smoke???? Holy S@&t I'm on Fire

Post by zachmac »

Mark, thanks for the input. First time I've ever heard the starting advise on the gas pedal. Certainly not something discussed in the (Ford) installation guide that comes with the unit.

I get that all (or most all) such units are waste spark units but they all came along well after 99% of the industry went to FI as well. Given the much greater odds of excess fuel from a carb it just seems maybe the advanced technology of a coil pack with waste spark is better paired with a FI system? As you point out there are certainly modified behaviors the driver needs to observe if using with a carb.

My personal opinion, and its just that, opinion, is that for a FI car I would always run the Computronix. For a carbed car probably only if running a fairly mild or stock cam with a single carb. Seems like using it with multiple carbs, hot cams and adjustable wheels is asking for trouble. I assume there is no way to eliminate the waste spark as it is a function of the trigger unit internals?

Seabeelt; what was your experience prior to the fire?
Jeff Klein, Aiken, SC
1980 FI Spider, Veridian with Tan (sold about a year ago), in the market for another project
1989 Spider, sold
2008 Mercedes SL65
2008 S600 Mercedes V12
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seabeelt
Patron 2019
Patron 2019
Posts: 1614
Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2008 4:22 pm
Your car is a: Fiat Spider - 1971 BS1
Location: Tiverton, RI

Re: Whats that black smoke???? Holy S@&t I'm on Fire

Post by seabeelt »

Prior to the fire, no issues at all with the unit or its paring with the dual IDfs. Warm start was as Mark said. Just turn the key. Cold start depended on how long the car had been sitting, Over night or a few days. Overnight, two pumps and she would fire, then feather the pedal a little till she started to warm. A few days I think was more of an issue of fuel draining back toward the tank, as I would have to do the double pump thing two tor three times. Only very occasionally would I get any backfire through the carbs - usually number 3 cylinder, and usually when cold, meaning not fully warm with the temp gauge up to 180. Other than that no issues at all. PITA to install and remove with the dual IDF manifold though. Requires removal of the manifold and studs to get the manifold on/off with the unit in place. If I had had an option at the time I bought it I would have gone for the cam mounted model, knowing what I know now. I'm sure its not an issue with regular single carb manifolds from everything I have seen and read. Mark should be getting my unit today and will be doing the troubleshoot thing on it. Fingers crossed.
Michael and Deborah Williamson
1971 Spider -Tropie’ - w screaming IDFs
1971 Spider - Vesper -scrapped
1979 Spider - Seraphina - our son's car now sold
1972 Spider - Tortellini- our son's current
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