Hi Jay and Ross. Happy holidays!! Distributor is clamped down tight and the plus is indeed there (I remember that one, so I always remember to include that area (read of the intake) when I check.
You guys may find this amusing (as I did after a bit). After going over all areas again where a possible vacuum leak could happen.... literally for about the 25th time, I called FiTech again. This time, I got someone new. Not the usual 3 guys I speak to. I have to say before I get into this that the usual guys aren't bad. I actually think they know their stuff.... But as you guys know as you try helping me without being able to see the actual engine, its educated guessing.
So I explain to this new (to me) tech how I resealed the intake manifold, checked all of my vacuum port plugs on the throttle bodies, reset the ECU to the factory tune, etc..etc..etc. I also explain to him that this all happened after one little "innocent" burn out in the driveway! The first thing he asks is.... are the throttle blades closed. I say to him, "yes, I have backed the throttle blade adjustment screws all the way out on both throttle bodies" I said, "after the screws are backed all the way out, they stay a little cracked, but I was under the impression that this is normal to prevent binding." He says, "No, if you back the screws off all the way, they should be shut all the way.... no small crack at all!" I explain to him that I have the throttle adjustment screws backed so far out, that they are almost able to come out! LOL. So he thinks for a second and asks me, "You have the throttle linkage removed right?". I explain to him I don't, but Its not holding it open as its super loose (Lokar) and I can jiggle it all around and the throttle blades don't close any further." So he explains that its not written in the instructions anywhere (and he doesn't know why not), but when they are testing these units or tuning their own engines with the dual quad set up, you have to do it with the throttle linkage completely removed. He said it wont make sense, but just do it.
I go in the garage and give the throttle linkage a little jiggle, and still loose as anything. At this point I think I am wasting time, but desperate, I disconnect the throttle linkage and put it aside. As soon as I do, I am able to close the throttle blades all the way. This guy was right, it makes no sense. Even if you back the throttle blade adjustment screws all the way out with the linkage attached, there is no way for you to get them closed enough. As soon as you remove the linkage, it lets you close it the rest of the way.
He said they( and now forever going forward- I) should get the car started, warmed up and the IAC's dialed in before even thinking about hooking up the throttle..... GREAT TO KNOW this little tid bit that is no where to be found anywhere in any directions / manual.
To give credit, Ross did tell me a few months ago that the throttle blades cracked open in the amount I described was too much, but since I couldn't post the pictures I took on here, I emailed them to FiTech where an unnamed tech emailed me back telling me that they look fine and he believes that they look all the way closed to him.
Anyway, got the car running, got the RPM's back at 1000 Warm and the IAC between 5 and 7 when warm. After the holidays I will re-dial in the timing (since I'm sure it moved a little since I replaced the intake manifold gasket). One of the most frustrating issues thus far LOL
Thank you guys again for hanging in there with me and throwing out ideas!