[DeTomaso] Big Bend Misfire

Wed Apr 29 21:19:15 EDT 2009

For those who followed my Big Bend post.  I replaced the MSD Coil this eve 
with a spare and the engine smoothed out as the misfire went away.

I recall someone on the list recommending a Jacob's coil.  They believed 
them to be of superior quality. That's my next purchase.  Goodbye MSD coils

JT

> We just got back from BBORR and had a terrific time.  It is beautiful 
> country and my brother and I took the opportunity the day before the race 
> to go into Big Bend National Park and hike the Santa Elena Canyon 
> http://www.americansouthwest.net/texas/big_bend/santaelena1_l.html 
> through which the Rio Grand River flows through.  Spectacular topography 
> with 1000 foot cliffs on each side.
>
> The race went well for us and we added the complexity of different drivers 
> in each direction.  I say it is more complex because your initial run is 
> learning and getting comfortable with your role as either driver or 
> navigator. By flipping roles, you don't get the benefit of applying the 
> lessons learned. My brother nailed his time as driver on the first leg 
> into Sanderson.  His performance put the pressure on me to get it correct 
> on the return run back to Fort Stockton.  With Mike Frazier's help, we 
> know at our target speed of 110 MPH, how much time should have elapsed at 
> different points along the course.  We adjust our speed accordingly along 
> the way.
>
> I was a second slow about 1/2 mile out and accelerated to 120mph to try to 
> close the time gap by the finish. Based on our own stop watch calculation, 
> we thought we were close, but with 25 other competitors in our class, one 
> can't be sure.
>
> At the banquet awards ceremony the announcer stated that 1st and 2nd place 
> were represented by two of the oldest cars in the entire event.  We were 
> optimistic when we heard that comment.  Unfortunately, we were announced 
> in second place and seasoned participants who drive a Cobra, earned first. 
> As Mike Drew pointed out, they were .003 MPH off the 110 target speed; 
> however, we were only .007 MPH off the target speed.  We lost by .004 
> MPH!!!  These events are very competitive.
>
> Dan Mixon mentioned that my car ran well and it did; but not perfect.  I 
> was thrilled that efforts I had taken to elevate my PCV valve out of my 
> valve cover with a new riser. It worked at eliminating the suction of oil 
> into the base of my carb.  I had plumped in an oil/water separator into 
> the hose between the PCV valve and the base of the carb to confirm this 
> was the case. Although the best evidence was that my spark plugs were very 
> clean and not oil fouled as they generally were previously.  On the 
> negative side, my engine developed a vibration at the higher RPMs.  This 
> vibration feels as if the motor is not balanced properly - although, I do 
> not believe that this is the case.  After dropping my trailer off at Grays 
> today, I drove the car home and it had the vibration at lower RPMs as 
> well.  I have had these exact same symptoms before and it was due to a 
> misfire caused by a failing MSD Coil.  I had sent this very coil back to 
> MSD for repair and they returned it to me repaired - or so I thought.  At 
> this moment, I am confident it was the coil and will swap it out for 
> another to confirm.  Despite the misfire/vibration, the car had plenty of 
> pep.
>
> Team Pantera had a great time and I am certain the others will chime in 
> with their experience.
>
> JT
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <MikeLDrew at aol.com>
> To: <teampantera at yahoo.com>; <tipo874 at comcast.net>; <detomaso at realbig.com>
> Sent: Saturday, April 25, 2009 11:20 PM
> Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Call from Tom Di Iulio  - Re:  Big Bend ORR
>
>
>>
>> In a message dated 4/25/09 16 45 45, teampantera at yahoo.com writes:
>>
>>
>>>
>>> I just got a call from Tom Di Iulio. He said he had a blast at the Big
>>> Bend and that he and JT both finished....he thought JT may have nailed 
>>> his
>>> goal speed.....They'll get results at Awards dinner tonight.
>>>
>>
>> I just got a call from JT.   He and his brother finished 2nd (out of 25) 
>> in
>> the 110 mph class, with an overall time of 110.77 mph.   He said the 
>> class
>> winning team is a repeat winner, with a time this year of 110.003!   JT 
>> and
>> his brother didn't bother with all that newfangled GPS stuff, instead
>> relying on old-school pace notes and a stopwatch.
>>
>> But he said the lion's share of the credit goes to Michael Frazier, who
>> pre-runs the course and sets out course markers in specific locations. 
>> Their
>> pace notes then delineate an exact time that the car is supposed to pass
>> each marker based upon each speed class, allowing the teams to compare 
>> their
>> desired timing with their performance and alter their speed accordingly.
>>
>> Well-done to the whole crew!
>>
>> Mike
>>
>>
>> **************
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