440 problems!!! HELP!!!

[Bearcuda]

So much for that solution. Man, this thing is driving ME nuts now, lol. I'll keep turning the cogs.

[MusclecarsDK]

So much for that solution. Man, this thing is driving ME nuts now, lol. I'll keep turning the cogs.

Yeah i don't know were to start now if I have to fix it myself. I've been on it for some weeks now and it seems like I tried all. I don't know if the pro's have some sort of vacum leak tester or something like that to eliminate that as a problem. Is it normal to have a vacum leak under the intake? That's the only place i can imagine it to be but I changed the intake gasket but maybe there could be something wrong with the intake or heads.

[Dave-R]

I just saw this thread. The first thing I thought of was the distributor.

I know you have tried taking it apart etc but my advice would be to try a known good one.

I have seen this on a friends 318. I took the dizzy apart, cleaned it and filed a worn part so that the weights would not stick.

It worked!

But only for about 10 mins and then it started sticking again.

It was a contact points type dizzy anyway so I hit my mate on the head with it for even thinking about using a points dizzy and ordered him never to darken my doorstep again until he bought a new electronic version.

[Dave-R]

Just wanted to add.

It could still be a Vacuum leak though! Check your plug color.

But if you cannot find a leak borrow a distributor because it is worth trying and I don't like the sound of the timing changing.

[PlumCraZRT]

Just wanted to add.

It could still be a Vacuum leak though! Check your plug color.

But if you cannot find a leak borrow a distributor because it is worth trying and I don't like the sound of the timing changing.

What they do at shops is use propane to find vacuum leaks by running it around all the vacuum fittings/hoses/intake/carb/heads, until the engine starts to increase idle.  When you put it in a spot and the car revs up you found a vacuum leak.  Go buy a rebuilt dist from Kragens for $20 bucks... its a good sanity check and again it doesnt hurt to have one lying around.  Unplug all vacuum hoses and try the car without them to see if it still acts weird.  You said you had taken most off, but not all vacuum accessories at the same time (right?).  Take em ALL off.

Good luck

[matt63]

I had this problem once.  It turned out that the fuel pressure was too high.  I had an aftermarket mechanical pump.  You'll have to mount a gauge to check this.  There may be other less safe ways of momentarily reducing the fuel pressure to see if the idle returns to normal.

[Dave-R]

The idea that someone would use an aftermarket fuel pump without a regulator and pressure gauge frankly shocks me.

[MusclecarsDK]

I tried with another distributor but that didn't fix the problem.

There's an electric fuel pump (a blue Holley i think) right next to the gas tank. There's no gauge. the level in the carb seems to be alright but I don't know much about carburators.

Will those intake paper gaskets be any help to insure that there's no vacum leak under the intake?

[EVIL72]

 The Blue Holley Fuel pump is supposed to come with a fuel pressure regulator, if yours doesn't have it, get one along with a gauge to find out what kind of fuel pressure you have and adjust accordingly.

[matt63]

If you've got no regulator you will definitely have a problem.

[MusclecarsDK]

If you've got no regulator you will definitely have a problem.

What does a regulator look like??? As far as i know, the level in the carb is fine.

[FC7VERT]

Is this a race motor or a street motor? If its not a race motor, why run an electric fuel pump in the first place?

[matt63]

Check the Holley website http://www.holley.com/12-501.asp  I wouldn't worry about float level so much.  The regulator is often mounted underhood on the inner passenger fender.  A simple pressure gauge will tell you if there is a problem or not.  You'll have to buy a a suitable tee to mount the gauge.

[MusclecarsDK]

Is this a race motor or a street motor? If its not a race motor, why run an electric fuel pump in the first place?

It's only for the street.

I bought the car last fall and the engine was in pretty bad shape when i got it. They have done some crazy things like the electric fuel pump, solid engine mounts and so on. My plan is to get an mech. fuel pump but since this one seems to work, i have concentrated on getting the engine to work properly.