DeTomaso Mailing List: April 99, Message #112

John P.;

You make very good and valid points, kind of analogous to shock absorbers 
very gradually going bad on the family car -- you don't always realize how 
bad until you install the new ones and immediately feel the difference.

That's why when Dave D. was in this area I asked him for his 'seat of the 
pants' opinion; which is nothing like verifiable numbers, but more calibrated 
than MY seat..........   [Of course, maybe he didn't want to, in effect, say 
that my baby is ugly!  So THAT'S why he said 'seems about right!]

I would not be surprised if my carb is not optimized; and if I were to guess, 
I'd say it might be too rich under load, but I know it's not rich enough to 
foul plugs.   I would also, here I go again, GUESS that my ignition is (or at 
least was last year) pretty close.  Then, anyway, the ignition 
settings/results matched what I have consistently seen discussed here on this 
forum, and the check procedures I used I got from a truck mechanic who works 
for me, and who builds and races Cleveland Mustangs.  I probably need to 
hornswoggle this guy into going with me to a race shop around here with a 
good dyno set up to check and do the Holley, and whatever else needs 
adjusting. 

What I REALLY should do is talk up a dyno day with the local Mustang (and 
Ford powered) Club folks, as I am a member.  About a half dozen in the group 
do autocrosses every so often, but I have not heard any mention of dyno 
testing.  I would  assume that even here in the Des Moines metro area there 
would have to be dyno services available, but I have not checked yet.

I do not feel like you picked on my post, and you just may have spurred me to 
do the dyno thing.  When I get that done, I WILL post the results.

Right now my priority is continuing to get resumes out in the local area, 
since I resigned March 4, and my last day in the current job is April 9.  
That's good news for me for a number of reasons, and one of the ancillary 
ones is that I turn in the employer-owned GMC Jimmy sport ute that I must use 
as a daily driver, and will need to buy a used something of MY choice.  It 
will NOT be anything resembling a truck!  Likely to be a five liter Mustang, 
preferably improved from stock, etc.  That's at least one incentive to get 
the new job, because then I will need the daily car. 

Thanks, John, for your input.  I KNOW I do not have 340 RWHP, but would not 
mind getting there.  That, I suspect, will take MORE than dialing in my carb!

chris bupp


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