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

please help with motor.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 8, 2009 | 10:22 PM
  #1  
amf133's Avatar
amf133
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
From: Langhorne PA
Default please help with motor.

I finally fixed my 1981 corvette and got into it to drive it. I drove down the road then back home and parked it in the driveway. I sat in it the car for about 5 minutes with it running and all of the sudden the rmp's drop and the car shuts off. I let the car cool off and tried starting it again after dinner it fires up with your foot on the peddle and then dies. (will die if your foots on the peddle or not.) I got about 3 gallons of gas and out that in thinking it might not have enough, but it still does the same thing. What could it be? Just replaced all the vacuum lines, rebuilt the carb, new egr, new plugs, new spark plug wires. Also replaced the heater air hose today. after replacing it filled the radiator up with water so i could test the car. What do you guys think it could be? Car ran a total of 20 minutes between the time i started it and the time it died on me, not more could of been a few minutes less. Please help.
Thanks
Amf133
Reply
Old May 8, 2009 | 10:43 PM
  #2  
SIXFOOTER's Avatar
SIXFOOTER
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime Gold
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Default

Is the choke pulling off after its warmed up? you can tell because the choke plate will be open. Check to make sure the choke has power with the key on. Are there any codes on? Check Engine light on? Can you hear any vac leaks?
Reply
Old May 8, 2009 | 10:48 PM
  #3  
amf133's Avatar
amf133
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
From: Langhorne PA
Default

Originally Posted by SIXFOOTER
Is the choke pulling off after its warmed up? you can tell because the choke plate will be open. Check to make sure the choke has power with the key on. Are there any codes on? Check Engine light on? Can you hear any vac leaks?
No vac leak, and choke works. Also check engine light does not turn on. Runs the same cold or warm.
Reply
Old May 8, 2009 | 11:04 PM
  #4  
weimer20's Avatar
weimer20
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 945
Likes: 0
From: Ventura California
Default

Sounds like fuel starvation. (Just a hunch but worth checking into). Check for clogged fuel filters. How long did the car sit with little or no gas?
Reply
Old May 8, 2009 | 11:35 PM
  #5  
amf133's Avatar
amf133
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
From: Langhorne PA
Default

Originally Posted by weimer20
Sounds like fuel starvation. (Just a hunch but worth checking into). Check for clogged fuel filters. How long did the car sit with little or no gas?
2-3 weeks it sat but had gas
Reply
Old May 8, 2009 | 11:46 PM
  #6  
weimer20's Avatar
weimer20
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 945
Likes: 0
From: Ventura California
Default

Hmmm. Fuel, air, compression, and spark is what you need. Safe to say compression really didn't change... Air didn't change. Spark is there otherwise it wouldn't fire at all. Only thing I could really suggest at this point would be to get a pressure gauge on the fuel line going to the carb to see if you are getting good consistent fuel pressure. The rebuilt carb concerns me just a bit... I would bet a cold six pack that you are suffering from a fuel delivery issue. If you can read the fuel pressure, you can isolate the prob.
Reply
Old May 9, 2009 | 12:53 AM
  #7  
ramair_bryan's Avatar
ramair_bryan
Safety Car
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Active Streak: 60 Days
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,873
Likes: 25
Default died.......

weimers right.......fuel, spark , air and compression. but one more...........all at the right time........unplug the distriutor from the computer (at the dist) and see if i starts. electric spark timing is a drag when it's not operating correctly. ..........ps........did the check engine lite work at all? like key on, engine off?....if so , better ditch the $79 computer and start over. .......at least it will throw a code and you can trouble shoot from there........back in a sec......bryan.
Reply
Old May 9, 2009 | 10:27 AM
  #8  
SIXFOOTER's Avatar
SIXFOOTER
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime Gold
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Default

Does the Check Engine light come on for a bit when you turn the key on? Its supposed to. Make sure it works, since thats where your going to get code indication. I also agree with the fuel starvation thing but it could be spark control, got to check both
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To please help with motor.

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




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:21 AM.

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