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Camaro won't stay running


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TikiGod77
New User

Sep 18, 2008, 8:28 AM

Post #1 of 5 (1539 views)
post icon Camaro won't stay running Sign In

I can't keep "Frankenstein" running. The car is a 1986 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z with a lot of changes. Relative to this post, it has a 1980? Corvette 350 w/ 4bbl and a 1992 Z-28 5 speed tranny. There is no computer, no fuel injection, no smog equipment on this car. I have owned it for over 12 years like this and it has been a great car. However, I bought a new truck and the Camaro sat undriven for a couple of years. Now I'm trying to get it ready to sale and it starts this.

Problem: The car will start right up and idle fine. While you are sitting still with it out of gear, it will idle smooth and rev up quick, just like always. The problem starts when you try to go. It will pull out in 1st no problem with lots of power. Shift to 2nd and still the power is there and running great. As the rpms come up to about 3000-3500 OR if you shift to 3rd a little earlier, the engine starts to pop and crack and then dies immediately. Roll to a stop, let it sit 1-2 minutes and it will fire right back up like nothing ever happened.

What I've tried: So far I have put a new battery and alternator on the car. New fuel pump, filters, even a new 4bbl carb. My buddy has even loaned me his carb off his truck but the Camaro did the same thing. Bought a new complete distributor with new coil, electronic module, cap, rotor, wires, and plugs.

Please help! I'm lost at this point.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Sep 18, 2008, 8:54 AM

Post #2 of 5 (1536 views)
Re: Camaro won't stay running Sign In

?? Does this now have a mechanical fuel pump and just the little filter at the carb inlet? Change that out for sure and see if it can produce enough fuel. Kinda seems like lack of fuel either by the filter or the pump. If fuel is that old but vehicle was stored ok (dry) then your call on solvents like SeaFoam for the fuel or drain out what you can and use fresh fuel with some good injector cleaner like Techron and let it run thru. It may take a few of those little filters if this is quickly clogging.

I can't say that this is old fuel causing this. It can make "jelly" - solvents will break that up but if you are finding real dirt/rust in filter it may take more effort to clear out if this is the issue at all,

T



TikiGod77
New User

Sep 18, 2008, 10:38 AM

Post #3 of 5 (1532 views)
Re: Camaro won't stay running Sign In

It does have a new mechanical fuel pump (because the diaphram was bad on the old one) and there is not a pump in the tank. Also, we put a new inline clear filter in place so that we could see the fuel coming it and a new filter inside the Qjet carb. The fuel pump has been tested and it pumping right at 6.6 lbs of pressure. Added a fuel regulator to cut it back as it was just too much. The car was stored with a dry tank and fresh fuel was put in. No junk so far in any of the filters.


TikiGod77
New User

Sep 21, 2008, 11:20 AM

Post #4 of 5 (1515 views)
Re: Camaro won't stay running Sign In

Okay, finally getting to work on the Camaro again today. Trying something that someone else told me to do. I have the car's rear axle sitting on blocks with the tires just off the ground. I can start the car and as usual, it idles fine. I put the car in gear, ease out on the clutch and the tires start spinning. So far, so good. I ran the car through its gears and settled on 4th gear. The car sat there humming about 2500 RPM and every couple of seconds, you could hear a sputter or a miss. I could see the fuel filter from the front seat and it stayed full so I know I'm getting plenty of fuel. New distributor so I would assume I'm getting good fire. What would cause a misfire under load?


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Sep 21, 2008, 1:52 PM

Post #5 of 5 (1512 views)
Re: Camaro won't stay running Sign In

If it help nail this down - know that the difference in RPMs vs Load is that the intake manifold vacuum (which sends that on to assorted things) will drop under load. The choke pull offs take note of this and the quadrabog carbs sense this and by a pull off allow rear barrells to open. If the vacuum doesn't get that info even though not electronic to carb then it will fight with you. Dist timing is also adjusting by manifold vacuum and either can cause "load" only issues because of the vacuum drop.

There are a few different configurations of how carb and dist could get vacuum and when via vacuum trees that could also be temp sensitive and so forth. Those are all places to look around and try to make sure lines are to correct spots.

Two ways used for dist (but not consistant with this prob right now) is that vacuum is created by carb's venturi effect and ports to that will raise vacuum by the air speed thru it when otherwise it would have dropped. Depends on what should adjust to what and when.......

T







 
 
 






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