A couple of different questions

[00sportsman]

I have a 79 spider 2000 (carb) and initially found this site looking for the answer to whether or not I had to pull the motor in order to get that confounded third starter bolt out. (I've since found that others manage it, but until I've got it out, I won't be convinced.) Looking around the site, I can't believe the amount of knowledge and help available.

My question is this: could someone tell me what vacuum lines NEED to be left alone? There is a whole bunch of junk that is attached to this motor that I can't believe is necessary for the thing to run well, and fortunately we don't have any emissions testing in Maine, so anything related to that can go. I'd love to clean it up a little bit, and expect that removing some of it would probably increase the performance a little bit.

[00sportsman]

Oops, looks like that was really only one question. (Got interrupted and sent it by mistake.) The other question was this: does anyone know if the conversion from the automatic transition (which is fine, but in a sports car?) to the 5 speed is simply a bolt-up? I have a parts car with the 5 speed, and have given serious consideration to making the swap, but the thing goes so well right now, really, that I don't want to mess it up. (And, since there are no cup holders, it's easier to drink your Dunkin Donuts if you don't have to shift once you get going.)

[majicwrench]

That is the first thing my wife noticed--no cup holders.
As far as the vacuum lines, I feel all that stuff is there for a reason, the car ran well originally with all that stuff, why mess with it?? On the other hand, I got a look under the hood of a carbed 78 the other day, and you are right, what a bunch of junk!! I can't tell you right off what you really need, hopefully someone else can. If you have a vacuum advance on the distributor, you need that hooked up. All the crankcase breather tubes need to stay. other than that??
No comment on the trans.
I usually EAT my donuts, and drink my coffee, but to each their own.
Keith

[mbouse]

i cannot help but wonder where this country would be without the mass dissemination of the cup holder. what would we have done without some inanimate object to hold our coffee every morning? Ohh.. wait a minute. we didn't drink and drive under the permission of the local enforcement crews.

a carbureted two litre engine is a great building block for improved performance with a few minor modifications. are you able to circumvent the emission testing that others must adhere to? or must you comply with some smog regulations? if you don't need to meet any smog tests, i have a whole list of things to suggest.

sorry, cannot advise on the tranny swap discussion.

[00sportsman]

I didn't know Dunkin Donuts made anything other than coffee!


There is no emissions testing requirement at all at this point. Cars that were required to have a catalytic converter as original equipment are still required to run one (state inspection rule), but for the time being I have antique tags on the car and don't need an inspection, so just about anything goes.

[amsiegel]

a carbureted two litre engine is a great building block for improved performance with a few minor modifications. are you able to circumvent the emission testing that others must adhere to? or must you comply with some smog regulations? if you don't need to meet any smog tests, i have a whole list of things to suggest.

OH wise and brilliant Mbouse please let us know what the list of things to do to a carb'd engine that does not require smog stuff. Half my emission stuff is missing not sure if it the right parts to be missing

[majicwrench]

OK so I guess I assumed that Dunkin Donuts sold donuts??????? Can you tell I'm from a small town with basicly nothing??
Keith

[mdrburchette]

Mike should be able to give you some pointers for hp upgrades to your Spider since you don't have to comply with any emission laws.
As for swapping out trannies, you better figure out how to get that 3rd starter bolt out first or you'll never get the tranny out. You need a swivel socket and a couple long extensions to get that bolt out.
The tranny swap shouldn't be too difficult. It may be easier to pull the engine/tranny together so you can swap the flexplate for a flywheel and change the pedal assy and route the clutch cable.

[00sportsman]

If I decide on the transmission swap, I will definitely be pulling the motor.

Mike, I'd love your list of things that I could do to increase the performance, and would really like to know what vacuum stuff I can yard off the thing to clean it up.

Thanks for any and all help.

[mbouse]

note that the following may violate county, state, and or federal ... aw, heck. send me an email

mbouse AT chartermi DOT net

i don't wanna mislead anyone into breaking the law!