Originally Posted by cth350

Hm, so I'm to only guy here can said "been there, done that?"

I too am a software engineer. Set the wayback machine to 1987 when I'm a newbie getting my prized 230/8 going (an excellent introduction to mechanics and rust) and I finally figured out that my poor engine performance was due to the little ground strap inside the distributor not being connected to the plate, so it was eating points like candy.

While fixing that, I went to replace the condensor and sure enough, I lost the little bolt down the side (oops). Got a replacement, and of course, got one the wrong size. Started her up and she ran fine. Well, sort of. I needed to set the timing and for this I convinced a friend at work to come by and help me.

I love these straight 6's at 4,500 RPM when you're head's under the hood and all you hear is that roar. But of course, no advance from the distributor. It took my friend a few minutes of Q&A to get the story out of me, since I didn't know beans out the stuff under the plate, I didn't know to mention the lost screw issue. Seems my bolt was long enough to tear off the weight mechanism from the advance.

-CTH