Help with motor

newbie · Post by **newbie** » Wed Sep 25, 2002 10:39 am

My motor is running strange. It acts as if I'm running on 3 or 2 cyllinders off and on. One time I drive it, it runs great, next time, no power. It is a 1904 with dual 44 IDF's. I replaced the plug wires the last time it acted up and it ran great for two days then started running bad again. So I replaced the cap, rotor, plugs, and installed an electronic ignition. Still ran like crap. Timing is correct and pulled plug wires one at a time to see if I was actually running on fewer cylinders, getting good spark and it never died, just kept running rough. Real rough under accelleration. The other thing is that it runs worse when I'm low on gas. So I checked both glass filters and they are clean. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, the newbie

Post by **Marc** » Wed Sep 25, 2002 10:42 am

It sounds like you're on the right track - from what you've got so far it seems like a fuel delivery problem. The stock pump and line through the car should be adequate for that setup, but maybe the filter in the tank is partially plugged.

newbie · Post by **newbie** » Wed Sep 25, 2002 12:03 pm

I will check the jets and blow them out when I get home. The pump and regulator are under the tank just inside the passenger front wheel. I guess I can check the tank screen by looking through the sending unit hole? I'm also not smelling any gas like there were leaks. Seems like it might be trash in the tank like you said marc. When the tank is full it runs good, when low, bad.. I'll check these things and let you know. Thank ya'll so much.. newbie

newbie · Post by **newbie** » Wed Sep 25, 2002 12:06 pm

One more thing, while I'm down there, Do I need the regulator? Can I take it out of the circuit?

Post by **Marc** » Wed Sep 25, 2002 12:14 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by newbie:
One more thing, while I'm down there, Do I need the regulator? Can I take it out of the circuit?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I think the small Facet pump is only supposed to make 3.5psi and the bigger one 4.5psi, which would mean a regulator set to 5.0 probably isn't doing much for you. If you don't have any problems with excess pressure forcing your float valves open and causing flooding/rich running it should be OK to go without it. If you run a regulator, put it in back.

74baja1915 · Post by **74baja1915** » Wed Sep 25, 2002 3:52 pm

dual carbs may need to be sycned and cleaned
from what it sounds like.
3.5 psi is all you need for 44 webers.

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If its not broke don't fix it, but if it can be made better by all means do it!

captCRUNCH · Post by **captCRUNCH** » Wed Sep 25, 2002 8:46 pm

what if you just disconnected the fuel line and turn your pump on??? then you would be able to see if you are getting fuel from the tank...but if debree, and grudge is suspected cleaning it out is the only way to go. if your tank is horrible, maybe replace it...they aren't that expensive.

scottk · Post by **scottk** » Wed Sep 25, 2002 9:11 pm

I had similiar problems in mine. My fuel filter was getting real dirty but I was missing the fuel filter in the tank. I took the tank out and filled it up with rocks, shook the rocks around for a while to knock all the rust off then removed the rocks. (get a big chain it will do just as good and would be easier to remove)Then I poured some of the POR-15 in the tank, shook it around, moved it to get a good coating then drained it out. Now I've got a tank that will last forever!

Scott

STOKEDOG · Post by **STOKEDOG** » Wed Sep 25, 2002 11:03 pm

YOU COULD ALSO HAVE A FUEL LEAK. LIKE IN THE MAIN TUNNEL AND IT IS NOT RUNNING OUT ON THE GROUND.

newbie · Post by **newbie** » Wed Sep 25, 2002 11:26 pm

Thanks for the insight. I'm running a facet(?) electric fuel pump and a regulater set on 5. How do I get to the screen inside the tank and how do I check to see if I have a fuel leak in the main tunnel? If it is trash in the tank, wouldn't I have something trapped in the fuel filters I'm running?

thanks again, newbie

Gravedigger · Post by **Gravedigger** » Wed Sep 25, 2002 11:32 pm

Dirt in the idle jets will act up as you described, pull each one, one at a time, & look in the tip of the jet, blow through them to clean.

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Denny Anderson

STOKEDOG · Post by **STOKEDOG** » Wed Sep 25, 2002 11:47 pm

RUN A NEW TEMPORARY LINE TO SEE IF YOU ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE OLD ONE.

Post by **Marc** » Wed Sep 25, 2002 11:49 pm

If you had a fuel leak I think you'd smell it. There's a drainhole just ahead of the front trans mount that would be wet, too (a leak in front may show up at the welds by the lower beam tube first). Where is the pump? They're happier pushing than pulling fuel and the best spot is low under the tank. 5psi is more than enough pressure if the regulator's working right (note that cheapo regulators are merely restrictors - another place for crud to catch).
The tank strainer can be intact, just blocked by loose rustflakes & junk that may fall away when the fuel pump isn't pulling - can cause random restriction.
Besides the idle jets themselves, look at the tops of the carbs in the corners outboard of the mainjet stacks - if there's dirt there it can block the idle aircorrection drillings and disrupt the metering too.

GhiaMonster · Post by **GhiaMonster** » Thu Sep 26, 2002 1:35 pm

I'd vote for ccrap in an idle jet.

Mine (40 IDFs) did the same to me. If you gave just a little gas it ran pretty good. More gas and it misses and stumbles. Take the carbs off, tear out all the jets and blow them out with compressed air. Then hit all the passages.
It took me two tries to get whatever was in there out, but they run great now.
Doesn't take much to clog an idle jet!

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Mike
'69 Ghia - Primered but it's mine!

newbie · Post by **newbie** » Fri Sep 27, 2002 5:52 am

Thanks for all the help. The tank and the carbs will be coming off this weekend for a good cleaning. I pulled the jets under the air cleaner and they appeared to be clean. I'll be doing the idle jets this weekend. Again, I really appreciate all you guys being so eager to give out your knowledge. I'll let you know how it goes after everything gets put back together..
the newbie...