Problems with a Mutant

[LawtonMK@aol.com]

I'm having 2 problems with my mutant 4000 quattro. It has a 5000 turbo engine 
in it (not the MC I should have found, but an earlier one - Hitachi MAC-07 
Computer if that helps identify the engine). Ned Ritchie has modified the 
computer, and provided "the stiffest wastegate spring he could find". 
However, he doesn't seem to respond to my direct e-mails, so I'll pose the 
questions I have, to the collective.....

1. I cannot seem to get the engine to develop over 12 pounds of boost, no 
matter what I do with the wastegate screw. We have tried disconnecting the 
entire exhaust system, and we still could not get more boost. Therefore, I do 
not think that it is exhaust-restricted. The boost is developed well, up to 
11-12 psi, then it just stops building, and remains constant. 

2. The car has terrible starting issues. They seem to be most evident when 
the car is warm, but not hot. The car will turn over, and turn over, with no 
sign of fuel ignition. I think it is flooding, because there is a strong 
smell of gasoline, and the only remedy is to let the car sit without cranking 
for a few minutes. The engine does run rich - people following have noticed a 
strong fuel odor. Why, if the engine is dumping this much fuel, won't it 
start up when first cranked? When started cold, it runs very roughly, and 
often will stall.  But once it warms up, it runs fine. 

Now for the good news - in a previous e-mail, I was talking about taking the 
car to a PCA event, and complaining about terrible understeer. The suggestion 
from SRS was to remove the front sway bar. What a difference.....that is the 
best example of addition by subtraction I have ever encountered. The steering 
is lighter, turn-in is MUCH better, understeer is gone, roll hasn't increased 
perceptibly.....All that improvement, and it was FREE!!!!!! I'm not sure how 
it would affect a car with stock (or near-stock) springs and shocks; but with 
the coil-overs, it's a BIG improvement. 

Thanks for any help you all might have with my mutant.......

Mike Lawton