Engine Tune-up Feedback: Is It Ready For A Drive?

[91BlckGT]

After an hour of steady state running, I think I've finished burping the radiator successfully .No leaks that I can see under the car, but I'd like this forums collective feedback on these photos/videos to make sure everything is tip-top. I have a new TFI module on order, but the car hasn't stalled once, and I'm getting the nerve up for an inaugural run (just finished a H/C/I swap).

Temperature at Idle

Oil Pressure at Idle:

Vacuum at Idle:

Vacuum is interesting. It's steady at 13 Hg. It seems lower than the target 17-20 Hg.

Vacuum at WOT test (video)
https://goo.gl/photos/6MFpnDNUE1XwAFdD9

Here I rev it a few times, and it pops up to 0, then back to 20Hg. That looks normal to me. Thoughts?

Water in Tailpipes?
I haven't done my compression test, it's on my to-do list. I thought for sure I had blown a head-gasket through my misadventures installing the distributor properly, coupled with the loud "bang" and burning smell. There wasn't much white smoke from the tail-pipe, but a little bit at the beginning.

First 10 minutes: https://goo.gl/photos/MdSkH7C2iincLx5z7
After an hour: https://goo.gl/photos/VqUN9EwBJ4h9M4586

I'm concerned by the amount of water vapor coming out of the left tailpipe compared to the right. A compression test is still scheduled, but I *really* want to drive the car to experience it.

Rev Test
I've tested revving it to 1500,2000,3000, 4000, and 5000 RPM. Each time it did great, no stutter or mis-fire.


Fuel Pressure
No pic, but it's set to 43 Psi. Never fluctuated more than 1PSI when I did the 1 hour idle test.

Timing:
Timing is currently set to 14 BDTC. I run premium fuel.

 

[91BlckGT]

Well, I took it around the block a few times, just wanted to get a feel for what it would be putting down now. it felt pretty good, pulled hard in the upper RPM unlike where it used to fall off. Broke the tires loose a couple of times, but then it is 55 degrees outside and my drag radials are cold. Sounds great at least.

One thin I observed is that was more prone to stalling with the lights on then off. I have a 4ga wire pulled for the alternator, but haven't completed wiring it up yet as I was waiting for to get things working smooth before I messed with electrical wiring. I do have underdrive pullies, maybe that's part of it.

 

[General karthief]

You may want to try a smaller alt pulley or dump the underdrives altogether, oh, and keep plenty of gas and drag radials on hand. Sounds like fun.
Did the vapor from the exhaust disappear?
Does it have cats?

 

[91BlckGT]

The vapor seemed to disappear after the car warmed up. It does have cats in the Bassani x-pipe. Now the garage reeks of burnt oil. Hadn't noticed it during the idle marathon. I need to figure out how long to keep the break-in oil in the car. The instructions state around ~500 miles, but since I only put 100 miles a year on it, not sure that will work.

 

[General karthief]

You need to do better than that, come on take it for a nice long ride, I can donate some time if need, you spring for the gas and I'll put in the seat time.
Just my opinion.
BTW, I think the cats will produce some moisture, and I had a motor rebuilt years ago that had just a wiff of burnt oil first coupl times I sarted it up.

 

[Mustang5L5]

Water vapor is a byproduct of combustion, so it will always be present. You really need to go for a nice long drive to get that exhaust hot enough to heat up and evaporate all the moisture inside. Short drives never really seems to do this and as a result the moisture stays in the exhaust and begins to rust it from the inside.

That's why I typically say that in the wintertime, unless you can get that engine/exhaust nice and toasty, it's better to not start the car at all.