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What now- need help

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Old Sep 15, 2001 | 12:56 AM
  #1  
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Default What now- need help

Driving home the other night, I stomped on my vette to see how the rebuilt carb and new distributor were working to run into another problem. After I stopped at a light and drove away again, as soon as the car shifted into 2nd gear it started to stumble. Drove home to park the car and it would not idle in drive. The tach jumps up and down from 600 rpm to 700 rpm and back again. I figured I developed a vacum leak. Place hand over throat of carb and engine sped up. Checked all vacum lines and intake with propane torch and couldn't find any leaks. Engine runs in park but as soon as I put it in gear it starts to stumble and then stall. What could my problem be as I have checked all lines including headlight plumbing. The engine has only 900 klms on it. Please advise as I am running out of ideas. Iam getting frustrated with this car :mad :mad :mad
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Old Sep 15, 2001 | 01:15 AM
  #2  
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Default Re: What now- need help (Joe 80)

Joe, my '80 ran like your's two years ago(would'nt idle, would stall)and I ended up rebuilding the original Q-jet with new float, needle and seat, accelerator pump and all gaskets and that solved my '80's problems. Just one suggestion or possibility. :yesnod:
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Old Sep 15, 2001 | 01:24 AM
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Default Re: What now- need help (Paul Borowski)

Paul- this is the second carb on the car. As soon as this problem happened I pulled the carb off and put another rebuilt on it. Could it be 2two bad carbs. The first carb wouldn't run unless I had air/fiel mixture screws out 4.5 to 5 turns. The carb thats on it now, the screws are only out 2 to 2.5 turns. :confused:
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Old Sep 15, 2001 | 01:53 AM
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Default Re: What now- need help (Joe 80)

Joe, the car was running fine before you jumped on it? Is the engine making any metallic (internal engine) noises now? When the car is in park, does it idle okay and sound okay? Is there any smoke coming out the back? Do you have a vacuum gauge to measure how much you actually have?
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Old Sep 15, 2001 | 11:33 AM
  #5  
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Default Re: What now- need help (joeveto)

Starts fine - idles o.k. in park - no smoke - no metalic noise at all. I think I should just put the cover on it and forget about it's problems for this year. This is driving me :crazy:
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Old Sep 15, 2001 | 12:22 PM
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Default Re: What now- need help (Joe 80)

I do not care for 'rebuilt' carbs. I had 5 different carbs (Hollys and Carters) on my engine before I just spent the $$ and bought a new one. Problems are gone. Rebuilt carbs often have idle holes plugged with debris, you also deal with porosity on older ones. This is where the pot metal in the carb innards will allow fuel/air leaks between areas that should be sealed. You cannot see it with your eyes in most cases. Also you run into worn accelerator pump holes so you don't get a good shot when stepping on the gas. Anyway, my guess here is that after stomping on it, you got some minute debris up in an idle circuit somewhere. Needs a re-clean at the least. Got my new chrome plated 650 dbl pumper from Summit for under $300 shipped right to my door. Bolted it on and went with only minor adjustments to suit my engine.
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Old Sep 15, 2001 | 01:16 PM
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Default Re: What now- need help (Joe 80)

I had the same thing happen the other night after carb (Holley) kit and new plugs. Tach jumping in idle and ran pourly -- got home and found a spark plug wire loose and dangling. I let the header cool down re-installed the wires and the "nothing fancy"'77 was back to normal.

Might not be your problem - but, hopefully yours is as simple.

good luck
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Old Sep 15, 2001 | 06:11 PM
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Default Re: What now- need help (Joe 80)

Had the same kind of problem with a rebuilt carb, had to take it off and poke wires through all
the little holes, blow it out etc. every once in a while then ran OK, ended up buying a new carb
now I don't have the problem.
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