C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

motor running up and down

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 15, 2008 | 07:45 PM
  #1  
wmkj69's Avatar
wmkj69
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Sylvania Ohio
Default motor running up and down

You've helped before,,,I need help again. I got a 73, I've only had a month. Ran great! Today I drove it to work, and yesterday also. No problems. Coming home today it was running fine, then I noticed the RPMs going up and down, kind of like it was surging, first a little at a time driving and stopped,then it started to get worse going up and down around a 1500 RPM difference, at stop lights I had to take it out of gear to keep it running. Put in neutral, and it would go between wanting to stall and 2000 RPMs. It has a carter AFB carb. It ran fine for the last month. Any ideas
Reply
Old Apr 15, 2008 | 07:48 PM
  #2  
Durango_Boy's Avatar
Durango_Boy
Team Owner
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Default

Sounds like it could be a few things.

First, check to see what the condition of the coil and rotor are in the cap.

Next, do you have spark, and do you have fuel?

I'm thinking the distributor might need to be rebuilt, the fuel pump might be bad, and the fuel filter might be clogged.
Reply
Old Apr 15, 2008 | 07:59 PM
  #3  
wmkj69's Avatar
wmkj69
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Sylvania Ohio
Default

got spark at all 8 plugs, plugs and wires are fairly new, it has a inline fuel filter and I can watch gas go thru it. I'm lost... how can I check if distributor is going bad
Reply
Old Apr 15, 2008 | 09:34 PM
  #4  
7T1vette's Avatar
7T1vette
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Default

My first guess would be carb problems....that's where the fuel gets metered for the engine. If it were a distributor problem, it would run really 'ratty' when it slowed down, as it would have a lot of spark misses.
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2008 | 12:07 AM
  #5  
maddmickey's Avatar
maddmickey
Instructor
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: Enterprise Ut
Default

Also check for any vacuum leaks.
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2008 | 08:28 AM
  #6  
wmkj69's Avatar
wmkj69
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Sylvania Ohio
Default r unning up & down

I'm going out today to get plugs, wires, cap, condenser, rotor,fuel filter, ??? anything else you can think of? I just bought the car a month ago. It ran beautiful!!! Till yesterday, ANY more ideas PLEASE pass them on... Anyone in the Sylvania OH area that knows carb work, let me know I'll pay for help.....
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2008 | 08:52 AM
  #7  
capevettes's Avatar
capevettes
CF Community Team
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Active Streak: 90 Days
Active Streak: 120 Days
Conversation Starter
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 19,366
Likes: 5,244
From: Cape Cod, Mass.
2025 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C8 of the Year Finalist Unmodified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C1 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2017 Corvette of the Year Finalist
2016 C2 of Year
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
Default

Originally Posted by maddmickey
Also check for any vacuum leaks.
Sounds like it could be a vacuum leak. Check around the base of the carb. Also could be dirt in the needle valves of the carb or some type of a fuel filter obstruction. I would also check the float bowl levels. Carb may be flooding. Good luck
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2008 | 09:25 AM
  #8  
tommyleea's Avatar
tommyleea
Racer
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
From: Warrensburg MO
Default

Originally Posted by wmkj69
I'm going out today to get plugs, wires, cap, condenser, rotor,fuel filter, ??? anything else you can think of? I just bought the car a month ago. It ran beautiful!!! Till yesterday, ANY more ideas PLEASE pass them on... Anyone in the Sylvania OH area that knows carb work, let me know I'll pay for help.....
Is there anything at all that was done to the car prior to the problem?

Tommy
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Apr 16, 2008 | 02:34 PM
  #9  
427V8's Avatar
427V8
C6 the C5 of tomorrow
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,665
Likes: 2
From: Twin Cities Minnesota
Default

If it's a holley check the power valve...
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To motor running up and down





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:19 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE