DeTomaso Mailing List: October 99, Message #125

Bolted the wheels on Friday when I got home from work.  Dropped it of the jack
stands and decided to take it for a drive around the block (the block is about 5
mi around).  Figured that way I could get the car all warmed up and adjust the
carb.  Once the car warmed up I was in a cloud.  Forgot to put the cap on the
expansion tank.  coolant spilled onto the header and then came in the interior
since I hadn't put the interior back in.  What is that clunking noise.  decide a
mellow ride was in order.  Got home and topped off the coolant tank.  Grabbed
the torque wrench to use on the wheels.  Opps forgot to do that before my ride. 
Some of the lugs were only finger tight.  Sure glad the wheels stayed on.  Time
for another ride.  Gotta test the brakes.  Run the car up to about 100MPH and
stand on the brakes.  Car kinda slows down, brakes feel a little mushy.  Very
underwhelmed.  A few more lees aggressive quick stops get some heat into the
brakes.  Tires screaming, car sliding AHHH get off the brakes.  Guess those
porterfield pads like a little heat to work.  They work much better now, but I
still haven't found anywhere to finish the bedding procedure.  A pantera at full
song around midnight is not the best time to be trying to bed in your new brake
pads.  So warm idle is 2700 rpm.  HUH? Seems the electric choke is never
shutting off.  Should have looked a little further for a place to pick up 12V
for it.  used the switch at the ebrake lever.  Now my fasten seatbelt light is
always on and I only get .5V at the choke.  Should used the new manual I just
got from POCA Store (Thanks Asa Jay!!!!).  So I lowered the fast idle to 1200
rpm.  I had to remove the car inorder to get at the fast idle screw, PIA.  It is
Saturday now and I have to do some regular chores (winter oil changes) So five
cars get there oil changed.  Of course I had to go to the parts store to get
drain plug gaskets.  Fire up the pantera.  Down to the end of the street.  Cool
the light at the next intersection is green.  Give the gas a little goose (well
a big one, but the clutch was fully released)  AHH trees, backend sliding, 
counter steer, redline shift backend whips around.  Through the light sideways,
smoking.  Come off the gas.  everything settles down.  WOW who put all the power
in the motor.  Nothing like a new carb and electronic ignition to make thing go.
 The rest of the day was spent changing oil and buttoning up a few minor
details.  Loose hose clamps and one dripping brake fitting.  Sunday -- going to
watch the motorcycle races.  100mi round trip. figure that is a good shake down
distance.  About 10 mi to the highway.  Stop for gas before getting on the
highway.  Everything looks good no drips, temp is oscillates between 160 and
190.  Up the ramp onto the highway, rev second, rev third cough sputter no
power.  It can't be  NOOOO.  Slip it into fifth figuring limp it along till the
next exit and go on home.  What back to full song, everything feels fine.  Keep
going.  Get to the toll booths.  Accelerate away 2nd, 3rd, 4th. No power again. 
drop it into fifth and the power comes back.  Get to the races.  Lady at the
ticket booth say WOW you came in that.  Yup.  Here have a pit pass so you came
take the care right on in.  Cool -- to bad it hasn't worked like that with the
babes!!!!  Had fun at the races.  Nothing like the smell of burnt CAM2. 
Uneventful ride home.  To much traffic to unwind the car.  So if you are still
with me at this point I'll get around to my questions.  Lack of power seems like
the carb is just running out of gas.  what do you think.  What would be your
suggestions.  Second is the electric choke. It never seems to shut off.  Does
anyone now how they work (btw holley 650 w/vacuum secondaries).  Should I just
wire it to a switch and turn it on and off like that?  Third is I can't seem to
get the heater core to fill with water.  I installed shut off valves inline in
the heater hoses.  I thing there open (handle in line with the valve, not
perpendicular).  Love this car.  As is typical, knocked about half this list of
things to do added about as many other onto it.  With Mike's detailed rack R&R,
this will be next.  Oil leaked out the pinion seal.  
TIA
Landis
#2672 (with tires a blazing!!!!)