My Barn-Find Firebird Wheelies at The Dragstrip! But Does It Run an 8 Second Pass?

[@Corey-xd4kx]

Blower surge is the greatest sound humans have ever created

[@vertexjeff4318]

I appreciate that you show us that you still have regular-guy problems with your cars. A lot of people in the car world with your name recognition would't show us that.

[@lanemichaelmcconnell-hand1472]

Mike. I'm a professional firefighter, amateur mechanic, but great at dropping things all the time. Get online and get yourself a set of Mcgill forceps. Whatever you drop into the carbs, those forceps are awesome at getting small things out of difficult places. I would highly recommend them, they have saved my butt so many times.

[@thagerdorn2009]

Magill is the brand...just wanted to put that here in case someone couldn't find them through a Google search. They are insanely useful and one of the best tools I've ever bought myself.

[@MikeSmith-bb5ii]

I love that you can smile and laugh at yourself. Shows your a humble man, and thats whats missing in this world nowadays. Gob bless and take care of you and yours.

[@JamesHolbrook-eh5sp]

Anybody hating on you needs to chill out. It's encouraging to see guys like you and DF and all your buddies making mistakes and misdiagnosising stuff. Gives me a sense of hope.

[@Buck_Plankchest]

The senior moments are real, Mike. Embrace it, learn to love it, and chuckle with your friends when they happen.

[@Giftied]

don't give up on the duck. personally i find this content as more fun and interesting than anything else

[@zappy7393]

Out of all of the cars in the Finnegan fleet, this is by far my favorite. The looks alone are master class. Id put the interior back in and call it an amazing 9s streeter.

[@GabiWhite-qr6lz]

Was up all night getting the 72 f100 ready for Bandimere ford fest, Left the sight plugs out the floatbowls, and sent the old lady, and Ole Blue down the dragstrip pouring fuel, one end to the other. Good thing nobody got hurt.

[@hydrocarbon82]

I'd say always bring a Dragy unit and GET A WIDEBAND. You can verify individual cylinders with the spark plug, but you can't beat a wideband for the full rpm sweep and instant feedback.

[@randombuilds8336]

It's funny to see the polymer handle pittsburgh ratchets in a lot of people's videos. So many people are quick to trash talk HF, but for the price some of the tools are great.

[@djk91lx28]

Agreed. I don’t make a living off my tools and they have suited my needs perfectly.

[@youdan5940]

Love the duck, I could listen to it idle all day long, music to my ears. Thank you for the videos Mike!

[@MC-cy1zi]

Hey Mike, Even though you are scratching your head, for us watching this is just 100% fun. Keep on keepin´ on and you will figure it out.

[@az_natalie]

I'll never get tired of Finnegan content - I learn something every time I watch. Thank you for great content always. The comments section sure makes me continue to hate most people though.

[@leftyo9589]

simply amazing to have an engine that you had a engine builder go through, and you dont even know what kind of cam is in it, or the lash specs.... wow. to me thats just mind boggling.

[@teddyjones8027]

Absolutely love the channel, Thank you for sharing and can't wait to see what's next. My father had the exact same Datsun just a uglier yellow and shared soo many memories with him going everywhere. He Absolutely loved that car and it brought him so much happiness cruising around town. Few years ago he was diagnosed with cancer and he had to sell it and it was the only time I ever seen my father cry. I love seeing it in your videos and it would be awesome to see you guys working on it. Thank you again. Everyone keep yourselves and love ones safe and healthy and remember to SMILE 😊God Bless 🙏

[@aboveaverage007]

checklists, checklists, checklists! Beat a good man while he is down? No. Checklists are there for a reason and when you see the successful race teams, everything is labeled with the type of part and how many in each cabinet. But, they have people hired to do that every day…….! So, most people do what they can with what they have in the time available to them. Keep rocking, you will succeed and hit that 8 second mark!!!!!

[@gizmoz]

Checklist who need that

[@carracuda3920]

Thanks for making me feel better as I struggle to troubleshoot my own project car.

[@wackowacko8931]

Put it back on the dyno and have someone put a scope on the voltage supply to the ignition box and the voltage at the coil at 6300 rpm. If you take the time to pull the timing cover and remove the top gear, you can get the numbers off the cam and find out what the specs are.

[@davidfrancies8105]

That’s the car I used to absolutely and still do love and is on my bucket list .Those are by far the coolest street car in my opinion.

[@charliebudden5053]

Just wanted to mention that running carbs sideways will cause a miss fire under acceleration because it will uncover a jet momentarily to the front of carbs just a thought .and changing float levels will richen or lean the carbs I've been running tunnel rams 30 years and these things do have effects on how they run I have 2 780s on my chevy luv full roller sbc street truck sideways setup and these things do change its tune.

[@garynicholson5177]

Obviously if it's a flat tappet it won't have a tie bar between the 2 so I don't know why that's not obvious. Also no roller cam unless it's a super mild cast core street deal will work with 140 lbs of spring pressure. Easy to measure lift to get an idea what it is

[@pauleddy5146]

As archaic as the Duck is, it's waaaaay more modern than my 'Bird could ever have been. Late 70's, with affordable late 60s tech was the best a kid could do. Re-sleeved 428 block, Aluminum dual plane with single 850. Slightly built to increase longevity 2 speed slushbox with 2500 rpm stall converter. Basically stock 10 bolt. You run what you brung. Ran low 12s, the occasional wind assisted 11. Still fun.

[@LilSkunkRacing]

I appreciate Fins efforts to explain things as simple as possible as often as he can

[@ImTHATguy...]

At this point I'd say just pull that cam shaft out at some point and put in one that you know the specs on. For now, consistent mid 9's for that bird is pretty sweet.

[@dwaynemurphy814]

You said yourself, you like the challenge of working on something to make it perfect, no reason to be bored with the car. Make it better.

[@kolejohnson73]

Keep in mind in a boosted application you need to add 10% to the valve springs to fight the pressurized intake charge. I've seen professionally built turbo razor engines for desert racing that didn't have enough spring pressure and caused valve bounce, beating out the lock grooves. Same applies to any sustained high rpm engine, add approximately 10% over recommended pressure as the sustained high rpm will cause valve bounce and beat out the lock grooves.

[@GaryMathews-qk8de]

I use brass machine screws to make air bleeds .I use wire drill bits to drill out the brass screws .I start at .013 ,and open them up if needed ,using a air fuel ratio gauge

[@andhotrodshop]

@5:25 I want that Pete 379 in the background 😃😃👍🏻🙌🏼👊🏼💸💸💸💸💸 that thing is beautiful ❤❤❤❤

[@mrtjbiga1784]

same

[@andhotrodshop]

@@mrtjbiga1784 if I had that rig I could bring more project cars to the shop 🔧🔧👍🏻👊🏼🙌🏼😂😂😂😂

[@stephennadworny8401]

Great episode Mike! The Rubber Duck looks and sounds great. I admire your drive to see this car in the 8's. Life is full of lessons, some of which we learn more than once. You and Joe make a great team. Don't give up!

[@tman3831]

Make a run shut it down and tow back so you actually get useful plug read. Also first instinct was valve springs 150 is pretty light for a blown big block

[@scottimusgarrett15]

Damn, it must be nice to have that trailer to work from. Just gotta make sure it's fully stocked before you leave for the test 'n' tune sesh! Thanks, Mike and Joe for the shenanigans! ✌️❤️🙂🇨🇦

[@tedzehnder961]

I`m jealous of how nice condition your Firebird is in.I had a 400 4speed in high school and after I wrapped it around a tree, a lot of rust and bondo fell out on the ground. Totaled.

[@NarwahlGaming]

Nothing a couple more buckets of Bondo couldn't fix!

[@michaelblacktree]

A car at this level really needs some data logging capability. Even something simple like lambda vs RPM would be helpful. I'd also be tempted to open up the engine and see what's going on with the "mystery meat" valvetrain. Best of luck! 👍

[@chevyguy8]

If it ran fine on the dyno, the only difference in parameters is that big ass scoop changing air flow dynamics through the carbs. If possible, i would flip that scoop and remove the ram air effect.

[@pizzandoughnutspage7817]

Ya know this is a great vid, because you hardly see guys chasing gremlins to make the car faster. I personally learned a lot, you really have to look at the bigger(simpler) picture. Thanks guys

[@apethings7671]

Detective work one this was hypnotic. The pain of goin fast is must watch

[@UncleManuel]

Oh man, electrical gremlins are a nightmare! You're chasing ghosts for weeks and then it is simply a switch shorting out. Racecar stuff... 😁🤟

[@dragonoake]

Boost pressure pushes against the back side of the intake valve, so you're going to be losing roughly four pounds of effective seat pressure for every pound of boost so valve float would make sense.

[@HPSFRoadrunner]

NOBODY is a yellow car guy. They just end up with them.

[@holmer9413]

I love yellow cars....because the mil hates them. 😂

[@DeadnCold]

At what point do you just pull the motor out and pull it apart enough to find out exactly what you are working with? Seems that all you are doing is pissing in the wind because there are just too many uncertainties.

[@thatrealba]

I agree with this. But I guess he doesn't need to be serious with this car, given all the other "serious" builds he has going? Doesn't make sense to me.

[@therocketshop]

don't give up on this car. Its a great example of what many of your viewers will be driving

[@michaelzimmerman635]

Looking forward to a 510 giveaway. Had a modified yellow one in Redondo Beach back in the late 70s when I worked at the Datsun dealership there. Fond memories.

[@leprechaungarage]

Always love the Firebird and the content you make with it .

[@kh40yr]

Induction Solutions has Awesome pin gauge sets that go from .011 to .250, for checking jet orifices for proper sizing, or no number stamping on your ghost jets. One of the best investments I made. You would be surprised at how many jets are stamped wrong or not even close to the size they should be, even thought they are stamped for a specific size. 1 wrong jet, could cause your stumble.

[@craigcontofalsky4387]

Back in the 70s I raced a Super Stock Duster 340 auto. I had put a new Accel alternator on and I suddenly had a high speed miss around 6,800 rpm. It drove me crazy. I had the Mopar solid state ignition system and I went through the whole thing soldering all the connections. That didn't help. I tried the original alternator and it worked. Years later I took the Accel alternator apart and found a cold solder joint on one diode. I believe that was the whole problem. Never had the chance to try it because I had sold the car Years earlier. It was the only thing changed from 1 season to the next. Maybe try another alternator? Good luck with your car.

[@neilperry2224]

Label your cupboards with a check list Finnegan. Please !!! Hell I'll even fly out and do it for you.

[@KMills84]

Sweet trailer Mike, stock it up in good time. If your shows were without a fail here or there... we all love it.

[@shawn5185]

Don't give up on the "Rubber Duck"! I think you guys should giver her more attention, she can definitely be a high 8 second car, pull ypur cam and lifters and see what you got, check blower for worn too.

[@cjcoleman7372]

My suggestion for you would be to devote a cabinet or however many needed to each car. That way you know you'll have what you need regardless of which car you put in the box.

[@TucoBootsBeefCake]

I want it!! My husband always watched you on Roadkill and now I am like where’s Mike!? Miss you!

[@recoilrob324]

Clogged air bleeds can prevent fuel from discharging because the emulsion wells need the air mixed with the fuel to lighten it so the pressure differential in the boost venturi's can lift it up and into the motor. So an initial lean condition then when the pressure finally gets high enough to lift the mostly liquid fuel it's going to go rich and also not burn well because the emulsion wells start the vaporization process so the fuel will burn in the motor. Carburetors are fun things to play with! And the idle speeding up could be the plugs are cleared of fouling now...unless the blower gasket is proven to have blown that might be all it is. The jetting is sure to be off too if it was changed with the high speed bleeds clogged....so a trip back to 'square one' might be in order just so you know where you are at. The idle surge would irritate me and we'd smooth that out as it can be fixed. The idle feed restrictions dumping through the transfer slots give them way too much fuel...but you can easily tune that with the idle air bleeds being adjustable. If you can't kill the motor by turning in the idle fuel adjustment screws...it's running on the transfers and that needs to be corrected. Great set of carbs there...that need some love.

[@caspar0777]

very instructive again! Thanks for sharing the work on this nice car

[@vincentfauconnier1460]

new cam and spring time + o2 sensors

[@pauljesionowski1626]

Are you running power valves? And if so, Are they referenced to manifold? If not, If the carbs are small, the blower could be making too much vacuum below the carbs and closing the power valves at the upper rpm range.

[@ClassicStreetIron]

I think it's about time to tear into this motor and find out for sure what it has.

[@tompaoletti690]

The struggle is real great video! You’re so close pulling for you guys

[@MikeRay1978]

Old man Bill would have been so on this immediately. It’s his thing. He loves it.

[@MikeRoth-ex1wk]

Just admit to the fact fryburger built the engine with used chevy parts, and din't tell you.

[@ThePalikka85]

😂😂😂

[@drdanimalsize]

absolutely love this car, glad you're finding issues and fixing things

[@THEREEFREPORT]

Hey Mike , I didn’t notice something on your engine camera review on the passenger side of your last pass. It looks like your blower was wisping air twice, go back and review the footage. I bet you your hunch about the blower gasket blowing was correct.

[@ronbelanger4113]

Sweet, right up to time for turning.

[@shannonfracisco4074]

The custom Pete behind you @(5:08) is Sweet! Hell is that a reefer on the trailer? The cabinet looks massive just to church up your average thermo king... Maybe the ? Should be is that trailer a reefer? or is that setup the custom "Mullet" version of the toter home that Ol' Cleeter "Should have" ?

[@scottakasprite]

Not a reefer, full generator/climate control unit

[@huskzx6280]

Love your vids Mike, I watched ep 23 of roadkill at 6 and was hooked on the charger and have been following you for past 11 years

[@Steelythestacker]

Dude I instantly thought valve springs right before you said that after that pull at 11:35. It absolutely sounded like the valves were floating. It sounded good on the way up but then it just dropped to dog shit at the top.

[@jamesjournell867]

& add blacked out rims & add black ⚫️ racing stripes & use the logos that are on the cylinder head manifolds 😮

[@alanjanderson9789]

Mike if you have the time give the guys at RPM data loggers easy to use and doesn’t cost the world and is US made they will help you out any time of the day Cheers

[@bradinch1563]

mike ,check the vent on the gas tank, to see if its big enough for the new bigger pump.

[@thagerdorn2009]

Mike, i feel your pain brother. Im having a third colon surgery done tomorrow... so im gonna completely be out of the game. I'm gonna try and catch up on all fhe Finnegan's Garage videos and order me an FSM shirt as i don't own one and i sure as shit should.

[@larryalexander4833]

Sorry to hear that prayers all goes well. I have a appointment tomorrow as well to see gi doctor to have a colonoscopy cause of colon issues from diverticulitis and ?

[@jeffmooers2174]

This is a real deal fellas! Take time to take care of yourselves! Put together your care team of specialists and Good luck to you!

[@c0wb0yTV]

that pete behind you is sick, looks like the steer axle is on bags

[@alvinpowell6189]

You have a real conundrum on your hands! If you get it figured out, it might just be an 8 second car, every time!! Good luck!!

[@TheMoparman94]

Legitimate question, why do the majority of carb guys not run an AFR wideband gauge? It's an extremely useful tool, especially when you're responsible for fueling, not a computer.

[@geoffreyveale7715]

AFR and maybe exhaust temps and fuel pressure. More information would stop a lot of guessing for not a lot of cost.

[@PHILLY214]

Because it’s obvious to tell when it’s not right…

[@TheMoparman94]

@@PHILLY214 apparently not too obvious as they've been fighting fueling issues for the last two episodes of this car and still don't have it dialed. A wideband is nothing more than a tuning tool.

[@codybreecher9680]

I have the same spark plug gapping tool and I torched 2 sets of head gaskets before I figured out when setting a plug gap it was pushing the electrode into the spark plug. Measure one compared to a new one !!

[@hazeljustice307]

Hey Mike put some type of data saver on the car and once you get what happened fixed you can take it back to the track and run and get your 8 pass out of rubber duck thanks for the video today and the struggle's you are having with the car can't wait for the next video hopefully you get it lined out

[@charlieposey5078]

I would pull out the degree wheel and the dial indicator and find out what cam you have and figure out what valvesprings you actually need. I highly suspect the ones you have aren't adequate.

[@plants8164]

I'm thinking blower gasket, ignition coil issues or valve springs. All of the above probably lol

[@thespicemelange.1]

Wow listening to that first run with headphones on is visceral

[@jasonsapp792]

I know it's money and logistics... But Kevin at KSR is really good at the fine tuning of a car... He is really good at adding data sensors also to make reading what is going on possible

[@robertjohnson4784]

Let's not give up guys I want to see the rubber duck go in the Eights let's get that blower gasket on there and get back to the track. By the way you have plenty of room in the cabinets don't forget

[@Chrisesterly-fx2or]

The Blower is over powering the valve springs. Multiple the area of the intake by the boost, I bet it's greater than your seat psi.

[@chillville2938]

Yall keep talking about this mystery engine builder, why dont yall cam it, and put some valve springs in already,😂😂

[@CoachDanNM]

The guy went out of business and can’t be found.

[@chillville2938]

@@CoachDanNM do they not no what make the engine is? Lol I'm sure parts still exist for it

[@foreman0909]

He’s not out of business..he just moved locations

[@PHILLY214]

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it

[@OutlawChevy2]

A roller cam and good springs couldn't hurt a thing!

[@chevy4life203]

I am leaning towards ignition related. Which would also explain nasty plugs. It may not be pig rich. It may just be the plugs not firing properly.

[@billhagerman4475]

Stuff some paper towel in each venture above the throttle plates so air bleeds doesn't drop in the carb when changing them. Dropped a few myself, until I learned. .

[@danmyers9372]

When he started pulling those out with the carbs in the engine I cringed and was totally waiting for him to drop one down into a carb.

[@Canadianchucknorris69]

I was going to go back and watch the old video, but didn’t you pull a bunch of timing out, maybe it’s time to verify TDC? But thanks for the entertainment Sunday morning! It’s becoming a ritual before heading out to fix my own trash!

[@Turningwrenchs]

Few very important tricks for running Carb s float bowls sock dry you need larger needle and seats .surge tank

[@edlattina2638]

Sure wish had my 67 firebird back ! 67 was my birthday

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Rubber duck sure has come a long way since y'all pulled it out of a barn, Mike! I'm thinking a nice solid roller and upgraded springs would get you into the 8's... Good luck! Scott/The Bulletproof Garage

[@brandongreene3213]

I know it's money, but maybe have Pete Harrell take a look at it? I hear he's real good at doing stuff.

[@zach_diecast_mansur]

One of my favorite cars you've done, and I'm a MOPAR guy! So that says a lot! Nah, I just love cars... Just MOPAR more than others. 😅

[@davidkennedy2075]

I would kill for a car with a gigantic blower that did nines my dude. But the Cadillac is one of the cooler builds.I am more anxious to see finished.

[@therocketshop]

You know Mike, I really like this car and i really want you to continue with it. Sort it out, learn what it is saying to you. I honestly don't think you are gaining much, if anything from that blower. This might not sound popular, but a NA 540 thats well built but not crazy, should deliver similar if not better results at the track. Are you using pump gas or race gas ? If you are using pump gas then thats impressive, but if you are using race gas then i would consider getting rid of the blower, taking apart the motor to learn what you actually have, then putting it back together with about 13-1 compression, the right cam, and maybe a tunnel ram, and it will go faster than it does now. The parasitic loss of driving the blower, plus the weight of it is barely overcome by the power it makes as compared to a well built NA 540. As far as just plain coolness ya we all like the blower. In my area of Canada i can get AV gas cheap and i have successfully used it above 13-1 CR for a cheap alternative to race gas. I really want to see you succeed with this car. Its the first car I've seen in awhile that i think lots of gearheads can relate to.

[@larrythomas3624]

These last couple of videos leave me conflicted. On the one hand, they make me feel a tad less stupid that these things can happen to guys with soooooo much experience and so many connections, it’s not just me. On the other, if they have so much trouble, I don’t stand a chance and I should probably take up stamp collecting.

[@pscgmail]

Just race for YOUR fun...as soon as you start racing for real, you will quickly be wallet racing

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

Yeah, I'm gonna be rude,...but,.. WTF, the dyno guy observed it changing mixture, but didn't do anything about it? That means that whole dyno session was pretty much wasted, as any adjustments they made to 'tune' the engine are biased by it not having proper mixture and atomisation. @Finn - you need an Awl to rescue those air bleeds. (for anyone who doesn't know what an Awl is, imagine a screwdriver, but with a pointed hook on the end.)

[@dirtymuleracing5321]

Has to be electrical, as you mentioned, not using oil, no smoke, no oily plugs, more importantly no back fires, check battery ground, ignition grounds and carb work you did helped compensate for the electrical so that’s a win. It’s a new gremlin since dyno day as it was revving much higher. Maybe change out the shifter and go with a switch panel.

[@danmyers9372]

Could also be the blower strips are worn. At faster speeds it becomes less efficient and doesn’t create as much boost. Only way to know would be using a boost gauge.

[@castekracing]

You've got a consistent 9 second bracket car 😅 guarantee if you enter into a dyo class dial in a 9.1 it'll go 9.0. Then go for 9.0 and you'll get your 8! Always happens😂

[@bobqzzi]

I really like this video- adventurous day at the track chasing problems

[@DvsCxnt]

that little 510 datsun would be every datsun lovers dream. sadly not mine. but i wouldnt mind having one just to say i had one of those.

[@soulcontractor1641]

Finnegan is doing alright! I like the " Yellow Bird "! The Cadillac should be Fun! Should be Good for Picking Up Chicks! Dean( Soul) Toronto

[@herbiederby3394]

Struggling but things are coming around again.... to be continued 💯 😆👍🙏🏁

[@egodeathplease]

Runs great stationary on the Dyno. Add G force acceleration I think it's leaning out. You can't see it on the plugs after driving it back. I'd try raising floats, appropriat jet extensions. Can you get wedge shaped carb spacers?

[@mjay6245]

Bruh did you watch? Pretty sure he said 5 of the floats were way too high.

[@egodeathplease]

@@mjay6245 half video comment. Being to rich does make sense since his motor isn't melted.

[@JohnW1711stock]

The fuel pump on the dyno is good. The fuel pump on the car can't keep up? Too much or not enough fuel? I chased a bad ground for a while.