My 1984 Gsl is not running as it sould. It starts right up and revs between 2k and 3k, depending how much I choke it, but if you push the accelerator the smallest bit, it starts to sputter and then dies. I just replaced the fuel pump, fuel filter and spark plags and am 95% sure I don't have a vacuum leak. I know most of you are going to say it's a problem with the ignition system, but any specifics would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for anything!

 

maybe the trailing ignitor? This cuts off power to the fuel pump... Check that all your plugs are getting spark

 

disconnect the fuel lines and put them in a coffee can or something and turn the ignition on and check how much flow you are getting. Has the car sat around for a while?

I had a '79 (I sold it to hades12) that the lines coming out of the tank were COMPLETELY clogged and had this **exact** problem. Even after we changed the tank the carb needed to be cleaned.

 

I'd go with not getting enough fuel. Perhaps the distributer isn't firing correctly whenever you give it throttle (not changing timing correctly). Check the timing? I'm just throwing out stuff right now, but from the sounds of it, I would think it's not getting enough fuel.

 

It's either not getting enough fuel or getting too much fuel. If the car starts up easily, then the problem probably isn't ignition. It still could be ignition, but it's more likley a fuel problem. Check the easy stuff first. Check for good spark by pulling the plug wires off the spark plugs and lay them along the inside of the fender. Crank the engine over and watch the spark jump from the end of the wire to the inner fender. I wouldn't bother checking the spark plugs, if the car starts easily they are good. Pull off the fuel feed line and test it's flow into a cup or something. If that's good, then pull the ugly blue thing off the carb so you can see down the barrels. Have someone else start the car and play with the pedal while you look down the carb. Watch how much gas is flowing through the carb as the engine stalls. It'll probably either be almost nothing, or a shitload, either one will stall the engine. If the carb checks out good then start looking for a vacuum leak. If there are no vacuum leaks there's one last thing I can think of. It probably almost never happens, but it is what was keeping my car from running when I bought it. The cat converter can get so clogged that the engine can barely start, and if you try to rev it at all the exhaust is so restricted that the engine will die. If your air pump is still connected to the cat I really doubt the cat would be a problem, but if it's disconnected then it easilly could be.

-Matt


EDIT: My bet is that it's actually getting too much fuel, since you said it sputters then dies. When an engine runs lean, the rpm's usually increase, then when it goes too lean it'll die. If it's running too rich it'll sputter and drop rpm's then flood and die.

 

I would think that he would have to unflood the engine everytime he stalled if it were getting too much gas, would he not? Or would the engine burn all the fuel before it stops spinning/firing?

 

it's easy to check your carurator ;....Go and bay a starting spay... then start up your car and let an assistant spray some in your carb ,is your car running better then there is a fuel problem..

 

Does it behave like this before or after being fully warmed up?

Another possibility is the accel pump. Defective or needs adjustment.

 

The piece of crap fuel pump that was on there before was only rated between 2 and 3 psi, the new one is 4-5 psi so i guess it could be geting too much fuel. I think i'll borrow my friends timing light sometime this week and check that. I just had some teeth pulled so i won't be going out soon to do anything major. How would i go about checking the accel pump, and know if it needs replacing? Thanks for the info so far guys.

 

 

you're right, 4-5 psi with no fuel pressure regulator might be too much.

 

Where would i get a fuel pressure regulator? Would they carry something like that at a local pepboys?

 

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...N=120%20300725

You'll also need a pressure gauge.