More HP than a set of stickers and some neon!!!

You ever read those car mags about building racecars and tuning engines and stuff like that? You know, the ones full of small block chevys and other 'merican junk. Seems like they always have an article about getting the most power out of your engine. First thing they always tell you is to check the basic stuff. You know, ignition timing, plugs, wires, fresh gas, etc. And as an Alfa owner you think to yourself.... "duh, I know that stuff inside and out. Hell, sometimes I pull my plugs just to look at them!! And I replace my consumables three times a year even though I only drive the car 100 miles during that time."

Ok, so maybe I am not that bad. But some of you are and you know it! My cars are daily drivers. And as such they really get worse maintenance than most garage queens. They get dirty. They sit in the sun and the rain. They get lots of oil changes. They burn out light bulbs from use, not time.

Getting to the point... I was caught out last night because of one of those "basic" items. I was working on a turn signal problem when I started fooling around with my throttle. I know, I know, the two are totally unrelated. I was under the dash poking around with the wires and started playing with the pedals by hand. After working my way from left to right across the pedals I noticed the gas pedal gave little resistance until a good ways down. Hmm. So I went to the throttle body and gave it a tug. Seems fine to me. Then I got the idea of actuating the throttle from the arm on the fire wall. So I reached over the motor to the convenient little arm on the fire wall. I pulled back on the arm until I felt and heard the gas pedal bottom out. Wait a sec!! The throttle did not open all the way!!! I did some back and forth and realized the little ball joint heads were super loose!! All of them! The total slop accounted for maybe half the travel of the pedal!! I was not even coming off idle until half way to the floor!! WTF!!!

It was time to come in for the night. So I sat down at the computer and started searching on the BB. I now have all the correct procedures for adjusting the throttle rods to perfection. Tonight I am going to make the proper adjustments and take her for a spin. I figure this should really free up some power!! Should be more power than a big wing, spinners, red hoses, neon, and stickers put together!!