The title of this thread was told to me at Carlisle this spring after I had given my go at the autocross. Some will recall that after that event, or actually during the third and final heat of that event for me, the car started acting very funny. Would run, but not well, and not at speed. Lots of missing at interstate speeds. Something was broke, or at least a little bent, seemed like. But it got me home. So what has happened since, you might ask. Engine-wise, I bought a new coil and a new Pertronix, and swapped those out w/ what was in there. I did find that the little screw that held the old Compufire unit down was a little loose, but still engaged. Whatever. I also checked my valves (they were mostly a little bit snug, so got all of them set as should be. While at it, I added some rocker shims to take up a bunch of slack in the rockers on both sides. I could slide the central shim tube back and forth and make a click-click sound that I am sure was happening when running. Now have about 0.002" slop in that lash up, where was 0.020 or more before. There is another thread here about how I have toiled to improve my headlight switching arrangement, which task was time-shared with this engine work. Anyway, I also changed the oil, as that was due. So how did it all turn out w/ the engine? I am happy to report that the engine fired up almost before I turned the key. Like instantly. Seemed to run just fine. Took it out for a spin on my private back road course, and was going to get some fresh gas. Really, things were going quite well. Smooth power, plenty of go, all seemed pretty good. I was at it for about 15 mins. The heading down the road to gas station, about a mile or less from there, I see a cloud of grey smoke behind me. Huh?? Did the guy who just went by the other way have a problem? Looked again, and he seemed clear, but the cloud was still behind ME! And attached firmly to my bumper. Well fu*! what is this about? Just like that. So I decide to press for the gas station, got out to have a look while engine idling, nice as you please. No smoke at exhaust pipe exit, so that is good. I look under the engine and oil is just pouring, and I mean a steady stream out onto the pavement from left side valve cover. Again, WTF?? Turn it off, push it to the side, crawl under and can't find anything to indicate that it is other than the valve cover. I just had that off, inspected, looked good, and replaced. And the oil that is now all over the place is what I just put in the engine an hour previous. In about two minutes, it had pumped out at least a qt. Three folks stopped to offer help, and admire the car. One guy lives only 3/4 mi down the road, and offered me his shop if I needed. He is just finishing a '66 Mustang, and his next project is a '76 911 targa. Well, no sh*#. Anyway, I call my sweetie as I am only about 10 mins from home. She picks me up, and I take the VC w/ me home, do an R&R w/ new VC gasket, she takes me back up to gas station, I snap that bad boy back on and drive away -- no leaks. Now, I am pretty used to VCs leaking a bit, and making a mess here and there. I have never seen one just up and blow out like that presto-changeo. Upon inspection, there is very little to see on this old gasket. It is one of those Fel-Pro rubber/fiber jobbies that last and last, in my experience. Apparently they do this until they don't. It is still whole, not broken. Does have some very fine cracks that appear to be related to what polymers do at high heat over time. Anyway, this proves once again that no good deed goes unpunished. You screw around and fix one thing and there is another thing just waiting for you to finish, and be all proud of yourself for two minutes. and just when you think you have it knocked, -- zing, gotcha. One good thing here is that it was the left side, not the right. On the right is the sidewinder muffler, ,and that takes lifting the car, removing the muffler to get access. I guess it would be wise to go through all of that again, and renew the old gasket on that side, before it blows out. Hmm, will think about that one.
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