Skip to main content

The 2014 Chevy Spark – Catching an Enthusiast by Surprise

So there seems to be a new trend in car rentals—well, maybe it’s an old trend, but I’m just noticing it—where the agencies snag your license and credit card and point you toward the garage telling you to “pick whatever you want” (within your rented category of car, of course). Nice spin on the “or similar” jargon when you’re signing up. And so it went when my wife Thea and I arrived at the Fort Lauderdale airport on a recent nice sunny weekend (a wonderful reprieve from this past New England winter) for a friend’s wedding and a couple of recreational days in Key West.
...

http://goaheadtakethewheel.com/the-2014-chevy-spark-catching-an-enthusiast-by-surprise/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

On "Microsquirting" the Porsche 914

Bosch D-Jetronic The Bosch D-Jetronic system is pretty cool, especially when you consider it was designed in the 1960s. "Computer"-controlled electronic fuel injection with manifold pressure sensor, intake temperature sensor, crankshaft (well, distributor) angle sensor, and throttle position sensor/switch. It uses constant fuel pressure and flow, so only injection duration needs to be modified to control air/fuel mixture. It measures incoming airflow by monitoring the intake manifold pressure; engine speed, temperature, and other factors are monitored for the purpose of fine-tuning injection duration. Ignition is by a standard cam-driven distributor with an internal D-jet-specific pickup for the crank/cam angle position. This "speed-density" D-Jet system was used on many cars of the period, including Volvo, Jaguar, Volkswagen, and of course, the Porsche 914 (1.7L and 2L engines only; the 1.8L used L-Jetronic -- "L" for "luft" or "air...
Post a Comment
Read more

On "Microsquirting" the Porsche 914 - Part 2, Which Aftermarket Fuel Injection System?

Which Aftermarket Fuel Injection System? Return to Part 1 Scenario: two Porsche 914s, one 2L 4-banger street car with stock engine, one 2L 4-banger race car with modded engine. Greg's street 914 The street car engine has a fully-functioning Bosch D-Jetronic system, but as noted in Part 1 I don't trust it. It seems to work great at times but every now and then, usually when I'm an hour away from home, it'll have this massive burp and run bad for a bit. Makes me nervous. And it seems to be extremely sensitive to fuel selection; a couple times it just did not like the fuel I got from some stations. The race car's engine is modified and uses dual Dellorto carburetors. I have given thought to preparing prepping it to SCCA's Limited Prep Production regs, which requires fuel injection using the stock throttle body and intake manifold. Combine the two needs and maybe I can mod the street car and learn something about EFI in the process that could apply to ...
Post a Comment
Read more

An Interesting GTSB (Greg Transportation Safety Board) Report

An Interesting GTSB (Greg Transportation Safety Board) Report (Subject to revision) On August 29, 2024, at approximately 6:30PM (EDT), the engine in the #33 Porsche 914 suddenly stopped as it was slowly driving away from the town green of Falls Village, CT. Hearing a large noise (discernable by nearby onlookers), the driver immediately disengaged the drivetrain via the foot clutch and car coasted to the side of the street. Initial attempts to restart the engine were met with a starter that would not rotate; attempts to push the car while the transaxle was engaged were met with full resistance. It was quickly determined that the engine had locked up. After minimal roadside investigation, it was determined that the dry sump tank oil valve, which supplies oil to the engine oil pump, was in the closed position and it was obvious that the engine had been run without a supply of oil. As a result, the car was "flat bedded" back to Lime Rock Park and retained as a paddock display for...
3 comments
Read more