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981 vette 1980 set up.

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Old Jun 1, 2025 | 02:39 PM
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Default 981 vette 1980 set up.

Friend has an 81 vette small cam and was running poorly. Plugs fouling, has new carb. 1980 distributor. The distributor was worn and shaft was sloppy. Replaced distributor and it ran like a champ plugs turned to brown tips and was A OK. Now it is running poorly again same problem running poorly plugs fouled and black. This has been going on since last fall. Helpful advice appreciated. The distributor is vac advance and why we had to use an 80.
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Old Jun 1, 2025 | 04:24 PM
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Did your friend replace the carburetor with a feedback carburetor for the 81? I ask this because the that carburetor won't function properly with that distributor.
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Old Jun 1, 2025 | 09:01 PM
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Oily black or sooty black deposits? And, they all appear similarly?
What brand and heat range are the plugs?
How's the engine's oil consumption?
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Old Jun 2, 2025 | 05:36 AM
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I,ll get him on here to answer questions as I dio not know some of the answers. The vett ran super for 7 to 10 days then went back to misfiring. Assume carb is OK. Ran compression test all around 125. The plugs were OK before the misfire with brown tips. I have an appointment with the VA today. will get after that to him.
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Old Jun 2, 2025 | 06:31 AM
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What is the timing set to? Please post some photos with the air cleaner assembly removed!

To switch to the 80 spec, your friend needs an 80 M4ME carburetor, too.
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Old Jun 2, 2025 | 08:36 AM
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If it still has the ccc in it,I’m surprised it ran at all.
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Old Jun 2, 2025 | 11:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Golferdad
If it still has the ccc in it,I’m surprised it ran at all.
Car ran great after installing the new HEI distributor but suddenly had the problems stated above.
Problem has been solved. We ran diagnostics on the distributor and the Edelbrock avs2 carb, checked timing, plug wires and all checked good.
Only thing that came to mind was the problems started after getting gas.
Cleaned and checked the gap on the fouled plugs and put a bottle of Iso- Heet (for use in all engines) in the tank then took it for a long run and it's now performing very well.
Should also mention I am the third owner of this Corvette and the first owner had the cam installed and eliminated the computer and emissions and installed hooker headers so this is definitely not a stock 81 Corvette.

Last edited by sdl47; Jun 2, 2025 at 11:46 PM. Reason: add content
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Old Jun 6, 2025 | 04:53 PM
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After changing the hei and carb, does the trans lockup still work?
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