What a Difference a Day Makes with RedBird

[Redwing]

There are Two screws on the Tach Jai.  The one you can see in the front and one underneath the dash. you would have to lay down on the floor board to see the one underneath. It's not that hard, but it is awkward for sure.

Well, that puts me out of pulling the tach. No way can I contort myself to do that.

Fooey...

Thanks...

[SteveJ]

Before everybody gets too worried, I suggest we allow Jai to bring her car over to my house. I should have enough free time next month to accommodate her. Right now, a 70 hour week is a short work week for me. I would like to control the number of variables and eliminate problems.

[siteunseen]

if the fuel system is not venting properly, you could run lean - if she dies, after checking the fuel pressure then loosen the gas cap and see if the "whoosh" happens again and if that helps her re-start. a simple test, costs nothing...

 

the fuel-soaked gravel, pointing to fuel leaks are worrisome, as the fuel injection system is at a fairly high pressure and a pin-hole leak from a loose fitting or cracked hose can squirt a bunch of fuel quickly. please, please don't check with matches! s30 driver and i were working on his car right before he left for a long trip and just wiggling his fuel rail caused the injector hoses to crack (they were old) and it was spraying fuel all over the place. the fuel leak may or may not have anything to do w/the stalling, as the pump may generate more flow/pressure than the leak, but it's still something that needs to be addressed. if i recall from early posts, your fuel hoses have been replaced by a previous owner - the hard lines come up the body on the passenger side right under the battery, and many have found corrosion on them due to leaky batteries over the years - worth a check.

You might throw a fire extinguisher in the red car.  Right under the front of the driver's seat is a good spot.

[Redwing]

if the fuel system is not venting properly, you could run lean - if she dies, after checking the fuel pressure then loosen the gas cap and see if the "whoosh" happens again and if that helps her re-start. a simple test, costs nothing...

 

the fuel-soaked gravel, pointing to fuel leaks are worrisome, as the fuel injection system is at a fairly high pressure and a pin-hole leak from a loose fitting or cracked hose can squirt a bunch of fuel quickly. please, please don't check with matches!- the hard lines come up the body on the passenger side right under the battery, and many have found corrosion on them due to leaky batteries over the years - worth a check.

rossiz...

Good idea about checking the gas cap for whoosh, after checking the fuel pressure. I will for sure do that.

As to the match lighting the gravel. I live on 6 1/2 acres, and for sure was planning to go wayyyy away from RB and the carport if I tried that. Please not to worry about that, I'm savvy there!

Thank you for your comments.

Jai

[Redwing]

You might throw a fire extinguisher in the red car.  Right under the front of the driver's seat is a good spot.

Site...

That is one thing on my agenda. Fire scares me, especially if in close proximity with fuel. Uggggg.....

Steve...

Thank you again for your commitment to RB, getting her safe for me. Hope for you, that your work schedule gets more realistic in the future. ☺

Jai

[Jai Ramsay]

With the clutch pedal fully depressed, then slowly lifting the pedal, at what height does the clutch start to engage or the rpms drop? Floor level? 1/4 up from floor? 1/2 way? etc.

Trying to rule out a few things. Separating the chaff from the wheat.

I checked the height at which the clutch engaged the other day. Before when I reported, was using muscle memory, this time it is exact. The clutch engages at 3/4 way up from the floor. Much better than half as I mentioned before. Yay.

Thanks for asking Mark.

BTW The gas smell in the carport is quite apparent. But inside RB, with the windows up, there is no odor in there. So if a leak (?) It is outside the cabin.

Thanks all,

Jai 😇 🚘

Edited December 22, 2015 by Jai

[Redwing]

Pfooey.   I filled up with gas on Sat.  I was thinking that was quick to have to fill up so soon, (remember, I fill up before the gauge gets down to showing half a tank full) only 2 days had passed since I'd put gas in, but not a half tank.

So today I was out in the carport with RedBird, and happened to notice gravel that looked like it had gas on it, square, right under the middle of the tank.  There came the pfooey.  Got some of the gravel out, yep, gas.    The gravel coated with gas this time is larger, about 3 inches in diameter.

Now what?

Thanks all...

 

 

 

[psdenno]

Now you get to be a detective.  From underneath the tank, look to see if the gas is dripping directly from a small hole in the bottom of the tank or running down the side, then to the bottom middle, and then dripping.  Is it a static drip or a pressurized drip when the car is running and pumping fuel?  Did you fill with gas up to the top of the filler neck?  That when mine used to leak due to a cracked filler neck.  Good luck tracing the source.  You may end up dropping the tank.  Be safe.

Dennis

[Redwing]

Dennis, 

I will have to check for the answers for most of your questions.  

But to say for now, I never fill more than when it clicks off.  Or if I am doing the filling, I stop before it gets to the filler neck.

That has always been a habit, even way back with Redwing.  Just seemed prudent.

Thanks, will try to get help with the rest of your questions.  Might be a bit, they are forecasting some snow and ice tomorrow.  Then more snow to accumulate later this week/weekend.  I won't be out on the roads until it all clears, I'll get others to take me wherever.  Not sure when I'll get help to answer you.

Thanks again,

Jai

[Mark Maras]

Jai

  I've found that many gas pump nozzles will over fill? the tank because of the large diameter Z gas cap and hose. You may want to try shutting off the gas before it clicks off. My 71 datsun pick up had a bad hose from the cap to the tank. Everytime I let the pump shut off on its own, I left a puddle of gas on the pavement at the station. I was not very popular until it was repaired.

 If making snow angels behind and under RedBird is not to your liking, (YouTube $?) you could tape a small mirror to a stick and take a look at the bottom of the tank and the sides if the light is good. Most of the fittings that leak are on the right side. If the wet spot is in the center it will surround the drain plug. Clearly visible in poor light.

[Zed Head]

17 hours ago, Redwing said:

Pfooey.   I filled up with gas on Sat.  I was thinking that was quick to have to fill up so soon, (remember, I fill up before the gauge gets down to showing half a tank full) only 2 days had passed since I'd put gas in, but not a half tank.

You seem to be implying that gallons of gas had leaked.  That the gauge was much lower than expected, at 1/2, and it was still leaking (the gravel was still wet).  If the tank is leaking and the gauge is at 1//2 then the filler hose is unlikely as the source.  Could be one of the hoses to the fuel pump.  

[Redwing]

Zed,

A bit confused,  probably my fault not reporting correctly.  I noticed the new wet gravel after I had filled up on Monday.  Sorry.  I ran out for a short time this morning, and then placed a fresh white cardboard under where I saw the dark gravel.  So we shall see if I catch anything new.  

Thank you,  

Jai