We started up the 968 jigsaw puzzle for the firat time today. Ran like crap, wouldn't rev, then started POURING white smoke out the exhaust. We shut it down and did a compression test. All 150-165 psi. The plugs were black. Cleaned them up again and put it back together and tried once more. It started right up and revved OK a couple of times then bogged down and started smoking again, thick and heavy white smoke. The wind was blowing it into the garage and it got so thick you couldn't see so we shut it down again. This time I noticed that the smoke smelled funny, not like oil or antifreeze but more like garbage. After it cooled we disconnected the exhaust at the end of the header and started it again. THIS time it fired right up, purred like a kitten and was eager to rev. Pulled the cat off and found about 3 pounds of hicory nuts well roasted in there! The car was stored outside over the winter while we built the engine and some mice had made a home in there.

After we dumped out the charcoal and reassembled the exhaust it starts and runs well (still smells a bit though). We still need to change the front brake pads ant take it for a maden voyage, but it's alive! Time for registration and insurance!

 

Congrats!!
Very impressive considering what you guys started with. Good luck and happy driving.
Raj

 

mmmm, toasted rat! (if you're from China...)

 

Congrats!

 

Reminds me of the roasted chestnuts you sometimes get from the vendors in NYC.

Glad it wasn't a head gasket!

Jason