i know nothing about cars but know that my car needs some work and i would like to get the ball rolling. I've got a 78 that i bought about 6 months ago but havent gotten to it much due to my wife being pregnant and some out of state trips. below are some pictures of my engine and of the interior in case anything is blatantly messed up or should be a priority. some problems that i've had are that the drivers side headlamp is slow in rising, usually popping up after i go over a bump or after about three minutes. Also the idle has had a tendency to fluctuate between about 500 and 900 rpm. before my last trip i also encountered a new problem where the car shutoff at a stop light and i couldnt restart it. i tried again about two hours later (pushed it into a parking lot and walked home to get my other car and wife) and it started without a problem but stopped again at the next light on the way home. This time it started again after about 5 minutes. any and all help/ ideas on where i should start would be greatly appreciated. My first real goal is to make the engine more reliable and then i'll start with making it look good but i dont know what i should be looking into in the engine to do that. if you can happen to see anything in the pictures that looks questionable i can easily take a closer up picture to help you help me. Thanks for any help you can give.

 

Hello,
Welcome. I think I would start with changing the fuel filter. If it is plugged, it may create the kind of problems that you are having.

I would also do a tune up if you haven't done so already. That would be spark plugs, plug wires, distributor cap and rotor.

Is your temperature gauge working? If so, is the car running at a normal temperature (180 - 200 degrees)?

 

i cant say for certain but i think i remember it running hot before, what would that mean if it was?

 

Yep, for unknown status the best thing to do is start with basic tuneup. Also follow all the vac hoses end to end and fix the leaks you find, there will be some. The headlight being slow to come up and the fluxuating idle are symptoms of vac leaks. Get that stuff right and see where you are, you need a benchmark

Stick a new thermostat in while your at it and be sure to get all the air out of the system

 

Your engine cutting out reminds me of the ignition module (under the rotor inside the distributor) I've replaced 3 of them over the last 3 years!!! (warrantied for life from Checker Auto) They fail when they get hot and work again when they get cool in my case at least.
ps...That air cleaner is long over due to be replaced!
JU

 

Also..on cooling good idea to check clutch fan...just start engine,and watch fan when you shut engine off...it should stop within two turns...these clutches get weak over time and then don't spin fan as they should...another is make sure your heat riser opens when vette is warmed up...look on passenger side just below exhaust manifold...
good idea to get shop manual for your vette and read up on the emission system...

Rich

 

As said before, start with a tune up. Haynes shop manual, fuel filter, plugs, wires, cap, thermostat, air filter, oil change, ignition module (don't forget the heat sink paste). You will be out a couple of hundred dollars and a weekend of getting dirty. You will learn more than you can imagine and may have many more questions after that. Best of all, you will get "The Vette Fever"

Your headlight problem and others may be a vacuum leak. Find a vacuum hose diagram online and follow all lines. Make sure there are no leaks.

If I was you, my goal would be to drive my pregnant wife to the hospital in the vette. You want it to be running right when the time comes. Congrats on the upcoming baby.

 

another question... how do you know if you have a "numbers matching" car? where do you look to find that out? i would imagine it only matters if you are looking to sell, but i am curious since i've been seeing people talk about it.

 

The last few letters of the VIN on the front windsheild post will match the numbers on the engine block on a pad in front of the passenger side cylinder head if it's a matching numbers engine.

 

Hey first of all I see your somewhat new to the forum and as it said in your post, new to the Vettes, so WELCOME !!
Also, if you need an ignition module out of my 78, it's FREE to the newbie
Remember to use the silicone under the module when replacing it (any parts store), it disipates the heat, otherwise you'll be replacing them all the time. Let me know if I can help!
Jimbo

 

I would agree with most here. Start with basics. A full tune up. And definitely consider replacing the module under the disty cap. Make sure you put heat sink compound on it per the GM shop manual. I changed it once without the compound and it lasted a year. I made sure I had the compound on the next one and it has lasted 4 years so far. I have always found that you do the basics, and fix everything you find wrong. I used to work in high end computer repair years ago and I can't tell you how many techs would logic out problems too much. The would find something broke, and say "I don't see how that would cause this problem" and keep troubleshooting other things for hours sometimes. Then they would replace that broken piece they found early and it would fix the whole problem. Start with that full tune up, replace all filters, New disty cap, plug wires, plugs, etc. and then see how she runs. I bet by putting all new key igntion components as well as appropriate filters you will stand a good chance of getting it running right and then you can start on the other things. Set a priority list and try and stick to it. To me safety issues would be next and then fix things that may cause a bigger problem. Then you can work the cosmetic annoyance issues.

 

Besides the fan clutch, check the water pump. It looks old and rusty like mine (which wasn't painted before put on the engine, but is ok) and see if the fan shaft wobbles at all. You'll need to replace the water pump if it does.
Welcome and good luck!
Glenn

 

You need to get some service manuals for the car. It definitely sounds like you have a vacuum leak.

I see you don't have the original air cleaner. I would check at the back of the carb and make sure the outlet with the red arrow in the picture is plugged. Normally, there would be a hose running from the base of the carb to the base of the original air cleaner housing.



As others have suggested change the fuel filter (located in the carb where the fuel line attaches), and do a tune up. If the above doesn't fix your idle and headlight then you'll have to start tracing the vacuum lines

Most important have fun and enjoy the car

 

checked and that tube does have a cap on it, also the tube in your picture directly above that isnt there but there is a cap there also. is that anything that i should have or could it just be due to other things not being stock?

 

If you're going to dirve around, I would start by signing up with AAA or get a good local towing service lined up.

 

Good news is its cap...bad news is now you have to hunt around for your vacuum leak. The tube above is for the automatic choke. Its probably a replacement but not correct carb. But that by it self shouldn't be your problem. Could have be converted to an electric choke. I can't see with the air cleaner on.

Change the fuel filter and see if that makes a difference.

BTW have you looked at the brakes? It would be good to check that calipers are not leaking and the disc pads are good

 

so i went and i bought the Haynes shop manual and started to look through it, but one question that has come to mind before i even really touch anything is where is the engine oil filler cap? i've been able to locate everything else in the pictures or at least the equivilent, but that has eluded me. if you happen to be able to point it out in my pictures above i would appreciate it.

 

Pull the breather out of the valve cover, fill oil from there.

 

I agree. Some of these aftermarket valve covers didn't have a place for the oil cap. Just pull out the breather filter or the PCV valve and fill from there.

 

ok, next question...(sorry but i really know nothing and you cant even imagine how many questions arent showing up here now due to the Haynes manual)... i've found a tube that is attached to a deal underneath the windshield wiper fluid container which says "Hold Engage Light" on it (picture below but you cant make out the words) and the tube is connected to nothing on the other end that is underneath the air filter and behind the carb. should it be attached to something and what would be a better name for the "deal"? probably more to come....