trouble keeping engine running

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    Author Topic: trouble keeping engine running  (Read 917 times)

    Offline jauch

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    trouble keeping engine running
    « on: April 30, 2009 - 12:34:32 PM »
    I have a '72 challenger with a 340 automatic... can't seem to keep the car idoling at all, it'll finally start to idol after the block is nice and hot, but if i even think about putting it in drive or reverse, putting a load on the motor it dies instantly, any tips on the first place to start looking to correct this issue?

    thanks guys,

    -tim
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    Offline MEK-Dangerfield

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    Re: trouble keeping engine running
    « Reply #1 on: April 30, 2009 - 01:07:51 PM »
    Will it idle without you keeping your foot on the gas? My first thoughs are a carb problem, or a vacuum leak under the carb or intake manifold. Is the carb old, or has the car been sitting a long time?
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    Mike

    1970 Challenger - SOLD
    2016 SXT+.  1 of 524 SXT+'s in Plumb-crazy for 2016.

    Offline BacardiCBR

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    Re: trouble keeping engine running
    « Reply #2 on: April 30, 2009 - 01:15:48 PM »
    Lot's of possibilities and I'm sure this thread will be filled with questions and suggestions real soon. 

    A few questions to get the ball rolling:
    - Did the engine used to run ok?
    - If so, how long ago?  Did it sit?  What, if anything, changed? (new tank of gas, new part?)
    - What have to checked so far?
    - What kind of carberator is it?
    - Is there any weird stuff coming out of the exhaust? (color smoke?)
    - What RPM is it idling before you put it in gear and it dies?

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    '70 AAR Tribute Car

    Offline BacardiCBR

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    Re: trouble keeping engine running
    « Reply #3 on: April 30, 2009 - 01:18:06 PM »
    I have also seen vacuum leaks cause this...
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    '70 AAR Tribute Car

    Offline jauch

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    Re: trouble keeping engine running
    « Reply #4 on: April 30, 2009 - 01:34:22 PM »
    the car had been sitting for quite some time, cleaned out the tank and put fresh gas in. Has an eldebrock 650 mecanical secondaries, put a kit in it and cleaned out the carb. have to have my foot in it for a while until the motor gets hot, then it will eventually idol on it's own, motor purrs good when i have my foot in it. Nothing odd coming out the exaust, doesn't smoke at all, but you can tell it's running rich. I'm still thinking its a carb problem.
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    Offline jauch

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    Re: trouble keeping engine running
    « Reply #5 on: April 30, 2009 - 01:39:19 PM »
    I also had to bump the idle up for it to keep going, once it gets hot, i can work the idol back down a bit, but rpm seems still to high at that point, don't have an rpm gauge on it, so not sure where it's at.
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    Offline burnt orange

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    Re: trouble keeping engine running
    « Reply #6 on: April 30, 2009 - 02:17:10 PM »
    Bet you forgot to hook up a vacuum line.
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    Offline moper

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    Re: trouble keeping engine running
    « Reply #7 on: May 01, 2009 - 12:02:29 PM »
    If you had to clean out the tank, did you rebuild the carb? I agree, sounds like tuning/vacuum issue. The PCV valve is good, right? Brake power booster too (if it has one)?
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    Offline jauch

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    Re: trouble keeping engine running
    « Reply #8 on: May 01, 2009 - 03:49:13 PM »
    Yes I put a cleaned out the carb and put a kit in it, was my first time doing so, pretty easy. No power booster, the pvc is pretty old, i'll pickup another tonight. I'll also pick up an new carb gasket just because. This gives me a great place to start, thanks for all the suggestions.

    tim
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