Ahhh, the joys of engine development. After fiddling with getting the timing set (thanks to y'all for this info) I was able to start my new engine.  I ran it for a few minutes while checking for leaks etc.  I was thrilled it started again.....however........

 

I found one leak coming from the top of the engine where I had a heater hose inlet sealed off.  It was tapped out earlier but only clamped closed so I installed a bolt with some sealant on it and recovered it with a end hose piece and clamped it shut.  This proved a better choice.

 

The larger concerns are this.  When the engine started the Engine Monitor was on, and I kept a diligent eye on it. After a couple of glances at it in the cabin while looking at the engine I realized that the monitor was not "monitoring".  I grabbed my handheld laser temp monitor and pointed it at the engine and temp was still ok.  At first I just noticed the RPM was not regersting (my first thought was I was gonna get the NOP signal), then that the temp was not moving.  After shut down, I turned the monitor off and back on and instantly the monitor started working again.  Hmmmmmm.  The monitor was mistakenly left on overnight and I am guessing it "froze up" during this time, but I would have not thought leaving it on would have done this.  It also worked on my three subsequent short starts. Of course my hope is that this was an anomaly, but will stay aware that it did happen. 

 

However the biggest problems follows. When the engine started it was running a little fast, but did not seem too bad and I throttled back and it slowed a bit. When I noticed that the monitor was not processing data I grabbed the mixture knob and turned it to slow the engine and to see if it made any difference.  Damn, the mixture knob was not doing ANYTHING.  NOTHING.  Turning it from left to right made no difference.   Damnit.  I cut the fuel at this point, too many issues.  BTW, the prime function, cold start switch and A/B inputs all seemed to work and would make a difference when operated.  But not the mixture knob.

 

After letting the engine cool a while (the temps did rise pretty fast per my hand held laser temp gage and I was pushing 220 after several minutes on a hot/humid Houston summer day) I restarted to see if the engine monitor was working.  It was. However, the mixture know was not.  I re-checked the other inputs and they all worked.  The engine was running pretty rough......gee, the mixture actually makes a difference <g>.

 

After shut down I disconnected the batteries (I have installed master battery cut-offs) and then the control module and ECU and checked the wires between the two.  This was just a quick continuity check and the wire was good.  I then took a meter and in my non electrician mode attempted to check the actual knob.  I place leads on the two prongs that seem to be soldered to the control board and turned the knob.  The numbers changed up and down as expected when I turned the know....so it seems that the knob itself is not the culprit, and the wire seems ok.  What else should I check and/or try?  I kinda need the mixture control to work.

 

Is there a way to test to to test to determine if this knob is actually doing anything when the engine is not running??????

 

Of course my timing sucks as Tracy is about to hit Colorado..  So any solutions y'all may be able to provide should prove especially useful.

 

I anxiously await y'alls response. 

 

Maybe I should just go ride my loud motorcycle to think thinks through. <g>

 

Thanks again.

 

All the best,

 

Chris Barber

Houston