hey guys ran into a problem yesterday and i need some input. ok so i finished rebuilding my engine and had it tuned so it was running well...it started up great warmed up fine and idles well. ok maybe the idle was a little high,but anyways. so i drive a few blocks to get a haircut, and im just babying the engine (making sure to keep it below 4500 for the break in) at this poing the car is having no problems it feels responsive and is running well. after my haircut i leave to drive back up to school and as i get on the onramp i notice im not getting much power at all...i downshift and it helps a bit but still no power even as im flooring it. the engine sounds fine but it just doesnt want to go any faster. as i pull onto the freeway i go through 3,4, and 5th gear trying to see if i can find some power but im still stuck cruising at around 55 mph. this is when i notice im loosing power a lot faster and my oil pressure is dropping slowly. i think, hmm this isnt good and keep going since my oil pressure is still up there, but it keeps dropping so i say f**k it and decide to pull over before it drops too low. as im pulling onto the shoulder the car just shuts off. i wait about 5 minutes and try to start her up again. the engine turns over fine but just wont catch if i press the pedal it seems to make it worse so im guessing fuel delivery isnt the problem. i need to know whats going on here guys so if you could hook me up with some advice or things i can have my dad take a look at (since im stuck up in riverside and the car is in san diego) i would appreciate it greatly. sorry to bust out with a long post like this but i wanted to explain it thouroughly and vent a little too. thanks again...
-joe

 

Do another poor mans compression check. See if u get the poof noises. Loss of mpower, maybe ur rebuild didnt hold up(hopefully this isnt the case.). After that i would check fuel delivery. Is ur car a 12a or 13b?

 

oh sorry its a 83 GS with a 12a everything is stock except a k&n filter and a RB lightened flywheel...

 

ok my dad did the ghetto compression test and my seals are all still there. he started the car up and it idled for a about 5 minutes before dying, it will start back up again but wont idle longer longer than a few seconds before dying again. does this sound like symptoms of flooding?? my dad said the idle sounded a bit rough. what about the fact that it started dead cold without hacving to use the choke or press the gas? thanks guys...

 

It could be an ignition problem. Mabey a problem with a weak or bad coil. Another problem might be a lack of fuel. Is your fuel pump running fine?

 

as far as i can tell it is...the window in the float bowl is showing fuel. ok another update...my dad pulled the two bottom plugs out and turned over the engine and the front rotor had a flame coming out the spark plug hole. not constantly just intermittantly(and it was just the front rotor)what does this mean? am i getting a bad seal from one of my apex seals?

 

If its only intermittent on the front rotor but not at all on the rear, it could be fauly ignition on the front and totally screwed up on the rear.

Did you replace or check any of the ignition components?

 

the ignition was working fine before i rebuilt the engine and my dad checked for spark on all 4 plugs. all 4 were going strong. what else should i check?

 

Fuel Pressure, Fuel Filter?!?

 

Also while you're at it go ahead and check the oil once more too. I was told that when you first rebuild these motors that you have to add oil frequently in the begining.

 

teh fuel filter is brand new so it shouldnt be that all have my dad check that and the fuel pressure and also the oil just to play it safe... thanks guys keep the advice coming i want to get this 7 back on the road!

 

Make sure you have the leading wire going to the leading plug and the trailing wire going to the trailing plug.