[T3] A new T-34 owner?

Fri Jun 17 05:34:22 PDT 2011

Update time..... 

I got the Ghia all put back together and running.  Never did find a definitive cause for the clutch issues.  The pedal cluster was fine. The cable was fine.  The only issue I found in all of it was the missing clip for the throw-out bearing.  I suppose it could have caused a problem if the errant clip bounced around in there or something.  I don't know.  Doesn't matter since it is all good now.  I did put in a different clutch disk.  Going from a rigid disk to a spring disk.  The pressure plate is a Sachs multi-finger unit, not the 3 arm version. I lubed everything up good. 

I am still happy I went through the trouble to pull the engine since I found and was able to fix a bunch of little things. 

I did have some trouble with the new 67 distributor.  I now believe it was all operator error on my part.  I installed the rebuilt 67 distributor, roughly static timed it and with a little encouragement she started up.  Wouldn't idle very good eventually died when I tried to go from the gas pedal to the back of the car to keep it running.  After that I could not get it to refire.  It was like it wasn't getting spark....so I hooked up my inductive timing light and sure enough...no spark.  I check all the connections and such and still no spark.  I swapped out the coil...still no spark.  Pulled the distributor and swapped out the condensor with an extra that I had.  Tried it and had spark...at least briefly...and then nothing.  As a sanity check, I pulled the 67 distributor and popped the 009 back in.  I couldn't get the timing close since I had moved the drive gear and the condensor was hitting the fuel pump...but it at least tried to start and run and I had spark.  

One thing I did different when putting the 009 back in was to wrap the electrical connect between the green condensor wire and the short extension that had been installed between it and the coil.  The green wire from the condensor was too short to start with.  I had used this little extension in all the previous attempts and was starting to suspect that maybe the exposed connectors were shorting to the engine tin and destroying the condensor.  Reasonable?  Possible? Probable? 

Of course, now I did not have a proper, known good condensor for the 67 distributor. (will be sourcing some soon)... So instead I pulled a known good FI Type 3 distributor and popped that in, rearranged the plug wires properly, static timed it, didn't need the wire extension for this one and she fired right up.  Adjusted the idle up a little to around 800 or so and timed it at 7.5 BTDC.  She idled away happily for as long as I wanted.  This was about midnight last night, so I did not take it out on the road for a test drive, but all seems good for now and will certainly be good enough for the couple of block drive over to Greenfield Village for the show over the weekend. 

I will swap in the proper distributor once I source a new condensor. 

Happy Ghia and happy owners... 

Later, 

John Jaranson 

www.carartbyjohn.com
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