Engine lacks power when accelerating?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,861
Likes: 8
From: DC Metro
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Engine lacks power when accelerating?
My '63 340hp idles fine but seems to lack power when accelerating or under load. Around town, nothing seems amiss. The engine doesn't miss but seems sluggish when pushed. It's particularly noticeable at highway speeds, climbing hills, etc. 
Engine was rebuilt ~2 years ago, ~2K miles. The sluggishness is recent, last <100 miles.
I was thinking fuel filter maybe clogged, maybe the timing is off. Your thoughts on causes/cures?
Engine was rebuilt ~2 years ago, ~2K miles. The sluggishness is recent, last <100 miles.
I was thinking fuel filter maybe clogged, maybe the timing is off. Your thoughts on causes/cures?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,061
Likes: 7,145
Army
Fuel filter, bad gas, low fuel pump pressure, restricted exhaust, bad timing/advance, worn engine internals, carb accelerator pump, gas tank vent or cap clogged/missing, and on and on. Prob time for a visit to someone knowledgeable for a diagnosis. Many shops will do it for free in hopes of getting the work.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2012
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From: Western Massachusetts
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First thing I would do....check the timing. I find engine builders/installers like to give a fresh motor back to a customer with the timing retarded to keep the customer from detonating it during break-in. Put a light on it & set it to spec before you do anything else. Not enough advance does exactly what you describe.
Dan
Dan
