[cheesy]

So, for the most part, working from home this week. No phone calls or emails, so I’m out in the garage chasing down an overcharging issue on the beast. Narrow it down to the voltage regulator. Installed the spiffy new solid state VR annnnd it’s NFG. Polarized it per spec and and nothing. Triple check the wiring, nothing. Take the old VR apart and clean everything. Install it, fire up the car and still pegging the amp gauge.

Okay, deep breathes. Go back into the box of parts Dad gave me and dig out the new mechanical VR that I couldn’t get to work the last time I tried it. Put it in, polarize it, and now it works. And works like it should. I dunno.

Now in a better mood, so I decide to check the timing. Spend a good forty five minutes cleaning off the damper and marking TDC. Fire things up up again. Using a 12v timing light on a 6v system so things aren’t as bright as they could be. But, bright enough to see that the timing is retarded a good 6 degrees. Explains a lot. Fight with the distributor because it has both major and minor adjustment clamps plus a steel vacuum line. Finally get it at TDC and no more lumpy idle. No more stalling or stumbling when starting out.

Guess we’ll go for a ride this evening.