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81 surging issue

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Old Aug 9, 2018 | 02:20 PM
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Default 81 surging issue

81 corvette surge driving steady speed , code 45 rich exaust , mc dwell 55ish if I open a large vacuum hose the mc starts to go down close to single numbers o2 goes to 1000, I dont feel like its a computer related issue ... before I go crazy any thoughts on a metering rod issue in the carb ? Only surges at steady speed not idle and it does smell a little rich ...
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Old Aug 9, 2018 | 04:19 PM
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the 81 uses both the tps and iac sensors to control mix but the cpu only controls this at idle position, if the tps is reporting the throttle is at idle when your actually past idle then the computer will try to take over mix, the o2 sensor can also be sending bad info. past that and assuming its not ignition coil or module it could be a leaky vac line somewhere most especially in the dizzy advance.
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Old Aug 9, 2018 | 04:21 PM
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erm forgot to ask, is the dwell fixed or does it expand with rpm? if dwell doenst change then that's the issue.
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Old Aug 9, 2018 | 04:30 PM
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Thanks for the replie , maybe I should have mentioned all sensors are in range , I dont beleive the o2 is giving bad reading I can smell a little rich odor and the readings indicate a rich mixture , tps,baro,map,o2, mc, all in range doing tests . Only other thing I thought of besides a metering rod I should check the evap purge to make thats not an issue. This carb does not have an iac thats for fuel injection.
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Old Aug 9, 2018 | 04:32 PM
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Originally Posted by sambrand
erm forgot to ask, is the dwell fixed or does it expand with rpm? if dwell doenst change then that's the issue.
mc dwell ? Thats working , maybe your meaning ignition dwell I dont remember I will check thanks
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Old Aug 9, 2018 | 06:33 PM
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81 uses a e4me carb, Idle Mixture Control Solenoid not iac, thanks for the correction said one thing was thinking of another. heres a couple links on the e4me but you stated all sensors in range so I dont know if any of these will help, because if you know the range and have checked them you know about the carb. if all the electronics are good only other thing it can be is dizzy related because issue is not constant but rather sounds rpm based.

http://www.early3rdgen.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=25


the second link user also has rich problem, maybe worth reading.
https://cliffshighperformance.com/si...p?topic=1814.0
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Old Aug 9, 2018 | 07:01 PM
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Thanks ! I ordered a carb rebuild kit , o2 and new egr cause everything is orig ..
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Old Aug 9, 2018 | 10:25 PM
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Old Aug 9, 2018 | 11:03 PM
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Also check your timing. When I was experimenting with mine, I encountered surging which went away when I retarded it a couple of degrees.
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Old Aug 9, 2018 | 11:06 PM
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diagram says to test from mc soloniod, however the 81 has diagnostic link that does the same thing no need to fart making an adapter to fit the mc plug. the diagnostic link is the single orphan wire coming out of the harness alongside the passenger side valve cover, just slightly forward of carb and towards the overflow bottle. its usually green.
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Old Aug 10, 2018 | 07:40 AM
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Originally Posted by CA-Legal-Vette
Also check your timing. When I was experimenting with mine, I encountered surging which went away when I retarded it a couple of degrees.
crap I put a new distributor when I tore down the top of the motor to regasket I did not throw a light on it damm car ran so good forgot thats going to happen today
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Old Aug 10, 2018 | 07:45 AM
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Originally Posted by goldata81
I did that test on the scanner yesterday it checked out ok , Thanks tho
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Old Aug 11, 2018 | 12:08 PM
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Originally Posted by av81
crap I put a new distributor when I tore down the top of the motor to regasket I did not throw a light on it damm car ran so good forgot thats going to happen today
it was quite advanced when the surging occurred. You’re kind of stuck on the stock 81s with measuring advance at idle with the plug disconnected, but I recall having issues above 12 degrees advance. Other than the surging, it ran great.

Last edited by CA-Legal-Vette; Aug 11, 2018 at 12:09 PM.
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