DeTomaso Mailing List: May 2001, Message #130

Busted my balls all week to put my car back together after a major rear
suspension/engine compartment restoration.  Started this morning at 8 AM to
conquer some major hurdles.  I installed my replacement master cylinder.
Then I found a way around that nasty front brake pressure equaliser P.O.S.
without a kluge of brake line and joints:  I ripped the guts out, hacked off
the flange on the bottom, drilled and tapped the hole for a 3/8 pipe plug.
Then I put it back where it was.  I also bought a tube flaring kit and was
able to plumb the master into the system, after a few attempts.  In the
middle of bleeding the brakes, I noticed somewhere along the way I switched
the rear calipers around.  DOH!  That results in the bleed screw being at
the bottom instead of the top.  Off with the calipers again.  Switched them
around and did more of the up-down-up-down thing with the wife (her
favorite.)  Wanted to test the car after 2 months of no operation.  It fires
up and runs well for a minute or two, and the throttle cable snaps.
Figures.  Well, no big problem, I have a brand new fancy special one ready
to go in anyway.  How long could that take?  Two hours of farting around
with that, and I'm ready to test the car again.  Fire it up, let it idle and
warm, get in, hit the brake pedal for a test.  It kills the engine.  What?
Won't start.  The guages are all zero'd.  That's not good.  The fuses are
all good.  Start looking for a short.  Ouch!  The ballast resister is like a
million degrees.  Crap, what's up with that?  Start tearing into all kinds
of wire harnesses.  Start disconnecting everything I can.  Hey, the guages
are back.  Car starts.  Idles like crap and can't break 600 RPM.  I quit for
the day.  My hands hurt.  My back hurts.  Its getting dark.  And I hate
electrical problems.

Tony "two steps forward, one step back" D