Chugging in low gear
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles CA
Chugging in low gear
Hi all!
I seem to have a horsepower problem with my 1871 small block 4-speed- sort of out of nowhere. The car feels different to me since I got it back from the shop today. It was in the shop because my shift linkage was a bit loose and it would fall out of sync every now and then when I would shift it to reverse. Drove it to and from work today- no more problems with the shift linkage.
However, I noticed that the engine chugs now. Especially noticeable in first gear. When I accellerate from a stop, I feel a drop in horse power, the engine seems to rock heavier than usual, and it almost feels like that feeling you get when you up shift too soon. I haven't changed my driving style, so this seems unusual. I also notice a subtle loss of horses in higher gear... I think. The engine overall seems to struggle more in general.
On the way home, I checked the oil and it was pretty low, so I topped it off at a nearby gas station.
Any advice would be incredibly helpful. Looking for a trust worthy mechanic in Los Angeles, CA to spill this to, but this forum has been really helpful in the past, so I figured I'd ask.
Thanks so much
I seem to have a horsepower problem with my 1871 small block 4-speed- sort of out of nowhere. The car feels different to me since I got it back from the shop today. It was in the shop because my shift linkage was a bit loose and it would fall out of sync every now and then when I would shift it to reverse. Drove it to and from work today- no more problems with the shift linkage.
However, I noticed that the engine chugs now. Especially noticeable in first gear. When I accellerate from a stop, I feel a drop in horse power, the engine seems to rock heavier than usual, and it almost feels like that feeling you get when you up shift too soon. I haven't changed my driving style, so this seems unusual. I also notice a subtle loss of horses in higher gear... I think. The engine overall seems to struggle more in general.
On the way home, I checked the oil and it was pretty low, so I topped it off at a nearby gas station.
Any advice would be incredibly helpful. Looking for a trust worthy mechanic in Los Angeles, CA to spill this to, but this forum has been really helpful in the past, so I figured I'd ask.
Thanks so much
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,524
Likes: 61
From: Medina Ohio
Weird if all they did was mess with the trans/linkage. How is it at idle? Maybe check to see if they pulled a plug wire partly off. Vacuum advance come loose / check all vacuum lines?
Just going to have to start process of elimination. Fuel filter, plugs/wires, timing, etc.
EDIT - How "LOW" was the oil? How did the oil look? Color and any shiny sparkle flake to it? ...hope the shop didn't go out and joy ride and now you have an internal/valvetrain issue.
Just going to have to start process of elimination. Fuel filter, plugs/wires, timing, etc.
EDIT - How "LOW" was the oil? How did the oil look? Color and any shiny sparkle flake to it? ...hope the shop didn't go out and joy ride and now you have an internal/valvetrain issue.
Last edited by Ibanez540r; Sep 23, 2015 at 12:44 AM.
Drifting
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,353
Likes: 44
From: Calgary Alberta
Sometimes they do feel like they were made in 1871 I guess.
I would start looking for vacuum leaks - a hose knocked off or something. The shift linkage is external to the transmission, so there's really not a lot a shop could do in there to cause the issue you're describing.
I would start looking for vacuum leaks - a hose knocked off or something. The shift linkage is external to the transmission, so there's really not a lot a shop could do in there to cause the issue you're describing.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 18,640
Likes: 121
From: Farragut,TN
Sometimes they do feel like they were made in 1871 I guess.
I would start looking for vacuum leaks - a hose knocked off or something. The shift linkage is external to the transmission, so there's really not a lot a shop could do in there to cause the issue you're describing.
I would start looking for vacuum leaks - a hose knocked off or something. The shift linkage is external to the transmission, so there's really not a lot a shop could do in there to cause the issue you're describing.
