72 TA : New Project

[njsteve]

Today's lesson is the principle of Occam's Razor or in Latin, Lex Parsimoniae, which translates to "the simplest explanation is usually the correct one".

I have been chasing down a tachometer gremlin for a while trying to figure out why the tach would not rev beyond 4000 rpm even when the engine was obviously going faster that that. Also, when the engine was cold, the tach would read double it's actual engine reading.

Well, after fiddling around, running extra tach leads to other tachs to compare readings, checking the distributor leads, checking point dwell... I was about to pull the coil and change that.

Guess what...the coil wire was not fully seated into the top of the coil and all this time, the voltage was just jumping across which, while powering the ignition system, was wreaking havoc with the tach accuracy.

So I pulled the coil wire, cleaned the terminal ends, pulled the boots way up and made darn sure both terminals were locked into the coil and the distributor. And now the tach reads correctly.

So let that be a lesson to everyone - check the simple, stupid stuff first. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/scholar.gif[/img]

[el hemi]

Steve..couldnt help it but I went right to Wikipedia to understand what the heck you were talking about. So I am going to pick myself up from the couch and put to use Occam's Razor and find why my MSD box works one day and not the next!!! Keep bringing us the stories Steve.

[njsteve]

Looks like we're getting some free press:

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2...to/?refer=news

[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]

[Xplantdad]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Looks like we're getting some free press:

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2...to/?refer=news

[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img] </div></div>

As it SHOULD be. You should write a book Steve [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]

[njsteve]

Well, since no project is ever really finished...

The tilt column that came in the car when I bought it, (it was a non-tilt car originally) has been making noises like a bell ringing whenever I'd take the car out for a drive (I have about 700 miles on it now). So I went on the hunt for a non-tilt column and actually found one on ebay. It was listed as a Camaro column but they are the same from 70 to around 76.

The 70-76 columns have a splined end while the 77-81 columns have a D-shaped end that interlocks with a similar intermediate shaft.






I disassembled the column and soaked the steel end in the safestrustremover liquid along with my trusty aquarium heater and pool sump pump and let it circulate or a few hours.

[njsteve]

I would imagine I am not the only husband out there who's wife always complains about my inability to throw anything away. My standard response is &quot;I may use that some day.&quot;

Well. I finally got to &quot;that day!&quot;

The wife came downstairs over the weekend and laughed hysterically when she saw the old wooden flag pole that I refused to throw out ten years ago. Guess what? It fit the column perfectly as a rotating spindle for paint purposes.

[njsteve]

Here's something I just learned: the columns are dated coded. According to the seller, this column was from a 72 Camaro. The date code confirms that: 10th month of 1971. Pretty lucky score for my December built car.