In addition to the A/C repair (Which is still working great) I have been fiddling with the T.
I have really neglected this car - and I have been fixing a myriad of basic issues. Even after all these years of TR ownership, I still learn something new every time I work on them.
In no particular order...
After fixing the A/C - I took it for a few drives. Some all out WOT blasts, as much as I could with the lame transmission. I noticed that whenever I went into boost, the A/C would start coming out of the heater vents. Fine - I have a vacuum issue.
I ended up replacing almost all of the vacuum lines - I had let them go WAY too long. I checked the vacuum line to the vacuum reservoir - it had come off. Cool, I fixed the problem.
After taking it for a test drive, I see I had not fixed the problem, my HVAC panel was still losing vacuum any time I got into boost. I kept blowing out the "S" EGR vacuum line too, and would push some other lines off occasionally.
For shits and giggles I checked the vacuum check valve in between the hard lines and the EGR system. I pulled it out, blew through each end (Calm down, Earl) and noticed I could blow through either direction. One more than the other though. I wasn't sure if this was intended or not. I ordered a new one for $7.49 from Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000C982H2/ AC/Delco PN# 14047619
I did the same test with the new on, and there was NO airflow allowed in the correct direction, it was working correctly. I installed it yesterday morning. I held the old one up to a light, and noticed I could see light THROUGH the old check valve - I would say it's toast (Pics below)
If you haven't replaced the factory valve, or don't know if has been - CHECK THIS. I'm not running my Scanmaster yet - I hear this causes high BLMs at idle too.
Have you ever had one of those repairs that made a huge, dramatic improvement in something you were working on?
This was one of those times.
After finally getting ALL of the vacuum leaks fixed, and replacing that stupid little fucking valve - it drives like a brand new car. Never before have I had such linear boost on acceleration. A/C keeps blowing out of the top vents under boost. The boost ramps up so smoothly, but will scream if you put the pedal down. It idles MUCH better. I can honestly say this is the smoothest TR I have ever driven. I wonder if all of the valves are bad in the cars I have owned.
I took 2 random drives yesterday toying with it. It was wet out, so I took it easy. What a blast to drive now!
I tried to pry the old check valve apart - it was so brittle it broke apart with little convincing. There must have been a backfire or something - a hole was blown clean through the valve diaphragm. Good to know I was pressurizing almost the whole vacuum system for probably YEARS. I need to check all of those items too.
After I fixed the A/C, and when it was running with the fan on high, etc - the alternator started squeaking. I finally figured out the belt was slipping - something I hadn't seen in a TR before. It was a Goodyear Gatorback, about 7 years old. No dry rot, I can still read the print on the belt - but I think it hardened from age and lack of use. It looks a bit glazed, and if you look close at the pics below - in the valley of an outside rib - you can see where it wore the belt down, you can see the underlying belts/cord. I pulled a new Dayco off of the GN motor and installed it - all is well now.
I installed a home-made ground strap:
I repaired the alternator exciter wire, it was damn near severed, very close to where it comes out of the loom on the valve cover.
Replaced the return line above the gas tank, it decided to split a nice leak. I blame ethanol.
Whyhellothar:
There's more, I will update a bit when I get a chance. And yes, I have been wrenching on the GN too.
