This may be long, but I'll try to keep it short....

I just got my '84 GSL about 3 weeks ago... the car itself has about 207k miles, but RP has done a lot of work to it (before I got it) including an engine rebuild about 40k miles ago... so here's the problem.

Let's say I'm on the tollway (before I got my tolltag) and I stop to pay toll... So, the light goes green (yee-haw!) and I'm off! Full-throttle acceleration is fine in 1st and 2nd (just about to redline/buzzer) but as soon as I hit 3rd (and sometimes in 2nd too) the car hesitates A LOT. I used to be able to back off the throttle a bit and it would stop, but obviously won't accelerate as good. Now it's to the point (in about a weeks time) that I have to back off A LOT off the throttle... I can't drive 55! (literally... sometimes that's the top end at full-throttle).

Now that you know that and may have an idea what's wrong, let me throw this wrench into things....

If I'm cruisin' down the tollway again (about 4k RPM's in 5th) and I give it full-throttle, there are NO problems there. If traffic sucks and I'm cruisin about 30, and then I get free and clear and upshift and go full-throttle, STILL no hesitation problems. It only seems to happen if I go full force from a dead stop.

Now, I spoke with Ari up at RP, and his first thought was fuel filter. I have nothing against the guy, or think he's wrong, I'm just trying to get other opinions (the more the better.

As far as mods to the car goes, RP put a Bonez Hi-Flo cat on it a few years ago (and by the way, for another thread, the damn thing won't pass inspection either, but the cat is fine... it's the OTHER numbers that failed MISERABLY) anyway, uh...there really aren't any mods done to it, come to think of it, with two exceptions. The coasting valve has been blocked off (I could care less about the puttering when letting off the gas) and the belt for the smog pump has been removed (and BOY! What a difference in power THAT made!) Ari said that shouldn't have anything to do with this acceleration hesitation problem.

So, you guys (and gals) have any other ideas?

Thanks in advance for all your suggestions!

--Jeff

 

back to basics here, have you checked your fuel filter? under load sometimes sediment rises causing blockage. we can go from there and find out when the last tim you put in plugs and wires and a cap and rotor. also, without a smog pump belt, you will melt your converter. the smog pump feeds fresh air to the cat to keep it cool and to mix air in with the emissions for cleaner burning.

 

Have I checked the fuel filter yet? No, not yet... good info you gave though... didn't know about all that (I know computers in and out, but cars, I'm just learnin')

As for the plugs/cap/rotor, I would have to assume they (RP) did it about 40k miles ago when they did the rebuild... I have the paperwork at home, not here.

And about the cat getting melted, I'm not too worried about it right now anyway. I know I have a short time until that happens, but if/when I can get the inspection to pass the cat's comin' off anyway. (and speaking of inspection, the belt WAS on when it was tested... I forget what the numbers were, but they told me that the numbers for the cat were just fine... it was the top two numbers that were WAY out of whack and I have NO idea what to do to fix that... but that's yet another post. Thanks again!

 

Fuel Filter. Change it First. I just had about the same problem.

 

It looks like a fuel starvation problem. Changing the fuel filter is a good start and might handle it. If not, do a fuel pressure and volume tests and if numbers are not right, it's either a partially blocked fuel line or the fuel pump is failing. After that next thing to check would be carb.

And BTW, I wouldn't drive the car with a cat with no air pump. It'll cook it relatively fast. Either put the belt back on, or remove the cat.

 

Fuel filter first, then look inside the dizzy cap and look at the contasts, I had one that was about eaten away. changed that and the filter. now we go like a bat outa hell. WHEEEEEE!

 

Is it fuel injected?, if so also check the Throttle position sensor

 

It's a GSL, so is most likely not fuel injected.

 

I dunno if anyone's mentioned it yet, but the fuel filter would be a good place to start.





(Man, where else can you get help like this? These guys are great!!! )

 

Ok, well, it looks like I have a fuel filter to change out then. Thanks for all your help!

Now for a related question... I'm a why? person, meaning I always want to know why? (how else ya gonna learn, right?) So here's my why question:

Why does this happen from a dead-stopped start and not from any other type of "pedal to the metal" acceleration? If they are both full-throttle, and both I go pretty darn close to redline, and the problem is typically when I shift into 3rd (and rarely, but sometimes in high RPM 2nd too).... so again, why only from a dead-stopped starting position?

Again, thanks in advance for your help!

-Jeff

 

because santa says it must be

nah sorry mate, you got me on this one,

-Cheers

 

You may have an accelerator pump issue...clogged or misadjusted. But you can't proceed with any kind of troubleshooting without changing the filter first.

The usual symptoms from something wrong with a carburetor are compounded by a clogged filter, and so the symptoms can then take on a whole differnt look and have you chasing your tail.
You simply must start with the basics and go from there.

 

It could be that the rate of flow being hindered by the fuel filter being clogged doesn't completely empty the float bowls until you reach roughly 55 or whatever from a dead stop. Which should only take a matter of seconds. Which would indicate a VERY clogged filter. Conversely, when you are already cruising, the bowls have then had a chance to fill back up at the trickling rate allowed by the filter, but I'd be willing to make a small wager that if you stayed on it, after punching it from a cruising speed, then you'd still run into the problem.

 

Changing the fuel filter seems to have resolved the problem! Thanks to everyone for your help!... now if I could just figure out how to pass emissions..... (another recent post)

 

Here's a good way to pass emissions, just pretend that it doesn't exist.

I just gave up on it.

 

find someone like WACKY in ur area....there's got to be someone like him...


























with the right connections.

 

it's a idea but it does work.. just gotta know the right "connections"