I'll start off by saying, I'm a girl with a husband that doesn't know how to fix cars. I grew up with older brothers that fixed everything for me. I've got the manual for my car and I've got the headlights where they don't blind the cars in the other lane now. I've got all of the lights working but one-I think it's a ground problem that I haven't been able to track down yet. (I teach college level general physics and grew up next door to my grandfathers dealership watching them work on stuff, so I sort of understand how things work, but I don't know what anything is called).
This is something that just started today:
When I accelerate it almost dies. It sounds like it's not getting gas. I've only had it about 3 weeks and I do know it has lots of California emissions stuff on it. It sat for about 5-6 years before I bought it. My dad is coming out to visit for a week after Christmas and I'm sure he'll help me figure out a some of the issues.

I read through a number of the threads, and I'm thinking the tune up that I read about a few threads down. My first clue about the tune up is that the spark plugs look like the one in my lawn mower when it wouldn't start. So, I'm going to pick those up tomorrow. Could it also be the emissions stuff being clogged as well? How can I check this?

I'm leaning toward taking it to a local that was recommended to me from a couple guys here in town. In the long run, it'll take much less time and probably work better! I'm much better at fixing wiring, interior, and things like that!

(It's a 77, that's got about 120,000 miles on it. Everything is original and it sat for a long time before I got it. It's only getting about 7-8 mpg)

Thanks for your help!
LeAnn

 

After sitting for that length of time the hesitation on acceleration is likely the carburator. They get lacquered up from sitting. It could be the accelerator pump on the carb or the carb needs a rebuild. A tuneup is always a good idea. Plugs, wires cap/rotor, points, condenser. Fresh gas and a new fuel filter is also a good idea.

 

A new fuel filter couldn't hurt and its cheap. Who knows what the old gas did while it was in there. If you haven't already done so, I would go ahead and drain the tank and purge the gas lines of all the old gas.

I am going to step out on a limb here and suggest a basic carburetor cleaning and rebuild kit. If its an accelerator pump issue, sticking or other, this would clear that up as well.

The tune up is a good idea. Have your dad bring his timing light and read over the timing post in the stickies.

 

Take a look at this website, if you don't already have it. Look at Fuel for Lars paper on tuning a Holley. If you have a Qjet, probably something on that too. Then look at Timing and look at his paper on setting timing.

Probably a carb rebuild and timing will do wonders.

http://www.lbfun.com/Corvette/Tech/vettetech.html

 

Thanks, guys. I've purged the gas. I'll get the plugs, wires, fuel filter, and rebuild kit for the carb this weekend. I'll have to wait on my dad for the timing. I've helped my brother rebuild a carb on a go-cart, so I've seen the green yuck from the ethanol gas and what it does when it sits. The local guy that works on old vettes here in town told me he would look it over for me and give me a list of things that need to be done on it now (and later) and a price list for each that needs to be fixed. He said he would do that for no charge and we could go from there. I'm thinking I may get him to rebuild the carb and the timing if my dad's not up for it (He's 73 and my brothers do most of the work on the cars now).
Thanks again!

 

As stated in one of the above posts carbs don't like setting for long periods of time without fuel running through them.....very well could be the accelerator pump has dried up and isn't allowing the carb to give the engine the squirt it needs....I would definitely go through the complete carb to eliminate any issues there....Fred

 

What you should do is ditch your husband and get with me. I know a little bit about wrenching on cars, and I know enough about physics to know what Dr. Heisenberg said to the cop when he asked him if he knew how fast he was going!

Seriously, tho, try this: replace the fuel filter and spark plugs, take the air filter off and spray some carb cleaner down in the fuel bowl. It will be a tube sticking out of the top of the carb with a slant cut tip. Let it set for a few hours. Fire it up, and you might be pleasantly surprised. Or not, but it's worth a try. Good luck!!


Scott

 

After you try all this and it still does what your describing, check the fuel pump. I have a 77 also, when my pump went "south" the car would idle fine and drive fine as long as I was not heavy on the accelerator. As soon as I put my foot into it, it would die - starve for gas. Replaced the pump and all was good.....

 

That's funny, my husband's name is Scott! Can't do that, he's a pilot and he does laundry And, I love to travel (with clean clothes).

I had a friends drop off their camper yesterday to our house so that they can clean their garage. I was working on it and he helped me with a couple things. The carb needs some attention, but he also found a problem with the exhaust.

 

What id try , is a can of SeaFoam which you can get at any auto parts store or walmart for about $8-9 . It is a superior cleaner meant for carbs and the intake and follow the directions on the can. Pour it slowly down the venturis as well as the bowl vents (2) and the air vents (approx. 4) of the Carb. You do this with the car at a fast idle. Go to : http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...1056l2.1.3l6l0 ..... and youll see the procedure on actual cars including corvettes. It has been around for over half a century and is highly favored with seasoned mechanics. I use it in my 1970 Corvette, 2002 Hyundai SUV, lawnmower, weedwacker , and generators . It will dissolve the gum buildup in the little passages of the Carb and open them up fully. This is the first place id start to at least get it running decently . You may need additional repairs / overhaul but do SeaFoam first . You should see the car idle better and be smoother as you accelerate. Let us know how it worked for your 1977 . If youre interested, you can make your own homebrew of Seafoam for about $1.60 per can since its only 3 common chemicals in certain blended amounts -- i got the brew instructions from a chemist off of his website.

 

How 'bout the recipe,Dave???

 

That's pretty good response-very good.

In my house I work on the cars and my wife does the laundry.
No her name is not Scott.

As for the car, new fuel, tune, fuel pump and carb rebuilt IMO all in order after sitting so long and with so many miles on the car.

 

http://hildstrom.com/projects/seafoam/index.html . Ive tried it out in everything i own and it does a good job. Just like the original stuff. (I used his 'Recommended Brew' ... and not the cheaper one found at the bottom of his page)

 

I'm going to pick some up today. I've looked it up on YouTube and on the company website but I think I'll wait until one of my friends can come over and help me do this. I'm going to pick up a little for my son's go-cart while I'm at it!

 

Le Anne; I had to start laughing, you could be my daughter, She takes care of the car, her husband washes the clothes, but he is a cop. When she was about 6 years old she was "helping" me tune up her moms car. A neighbor came over to see what was going on. He made some comment to her, her reply was " Me and my dad can handle this just fine-Thank You". Today she helps me from time to time when I need a hand on my '82.

 

You can check the accelerator pump by looking down the throat of the carb (engine not running) and moving the linkage on the carb all the way like you were flooring the gas pedal very quickly. You shoud see two strong streams of gas squirt into the carb. If you don't see any or if they are weak or sputtering then the accelerator pump is bad. If it is bad then you should rebuild the entire carburator since you have to take it pretty much apart to replace the accelerator pump.

 

Well, LeAnn, that sounds like a pretty sweet deal to walk away from, but hey, ya can't blame a guy for trying, eh?

For those of you who are wondering what Dr. Heisenberg said to the cop when asked if he knew how fast he was going, it was "No, Officer, but I know exactly where I am!" It's an old physics joke that has to do with the Uncertainty Principle, discovered by Dr. Werner Heisenberg. I saw it on the Discovery channel!!!!!!


Scott