slightly off-tune? what to do?

[Soma576@xxxx]

Hey all,

my D's been running quite nicely lately, but there's just one little thing 
that could be better, performance-wise. here's the symptoms:

on the coldest of cold starts the engine doesn't seem to have any power for 
the first couple of blocks. it won't give any power even though the RPM 
gauge shows that the engine speed is increasing, and i can hear it revving 
up. but the car doesn't move in proportion to that as it does when it gets 
warmed up (after only about 3 blocks). also the first couple of shifts into 
2nd gear are jerky because the car isn't moving fast enough so the shift 
doesn't "make sense" even though the RPM's are up there. remember - after 
about 3 blocks or so (with stop signs at each end of the block), this problem 
clears up completely. the next symptom is that no matter how warmed up the 
engine is, when accelerating i can hear this nasal-y sound like 'waaah' for 
about half a second coming from the engine, especially noticeble in 2nd gear 
because it tends to be quieter as far as engine noise than 1st gear. 3rd 
gear it doesn't happen too often. when i remove my air cleaner cover and 
filter housing i can hear a whistle of air coming through the air meter 
plate, it doesn't sound normal. my exhaust smells pretty thick with gas, it 
is gray in color when you can see it on cold evenings, and i don't notice any 
dark clouds coming out. but it quite putrid smelling. i run 91 octane gas. 
finally, i just got my idle microswitch-tripping screw adjusted so that it 
always idles at 950 rpm or so when you are in neutral or the clutch is in at 
a stop sign or light. the idle fluctuates slightly a few RPM up and down 
(even when warmed up so i know it's not still 'seeking') and it doesn't sound 
quite 'right'. it doesn't 'purr' perfectly steady i guess is the best way of 
saying it. however, the engine never backfires or misfires. it runs like it 
should but it doesn't feel like it is in perfect tuning. please note that my 
fuel system is more or less brand new. my CO screw was adjusted by a tech at 
a local porsche and BMW dealer however at that time i was running 89 octane 
if that makes a difference.

any good ideas on what to check? is my CO adjustment just a little bit off? 
i hate that thing and would rather not play with it unless that's the 
problem. could someone explain if they think i'm too rich or too lean, and 
tell me how to adjust it?

thanks!
Andy

Soma576@xxxx
1982 DeLorean DMC-12 VIN#11596
Fargo, ND 58102


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