I'm having a problem with my engine (carb?). Can someone offer some diagnosis assistance? I'm good at taking things apart (and occasionally putting them back together), but I don't have the experience to identify this problem.
The engine is a 289 HiPo. It has a Holley dual bowl NASCAR carb (750CFM?). The points were replaced two years ago with an electronic unit that hides inside the distributor.
I haven't driven the car since December. Today was the first time I tried started to it and it wasn't happy. With the accelerator pedal to the floor it would start, but as soon as I lifted off the pedal, the engine would die (or sometimes as soon as I let go of the starter button). If kept my foot to the floor it would eventually catch, but at first it wouldn't rev high even though my foot was all the way down. Occasionally it would initially sound like it was running on only four cylinders before it came to life.
I decided to be brave and take the car out for a short drive on the highway, with the hope that it might clear out the problem. On the way to the highway, it stalled at a stop sign with a knocking sound (clatter?) as the engine came to a stop. After driving for a mile or two I got off the highway, and halfway up the off ramp it stalled again with the weird noise. With my foot to the floor, I got the engine to start again, but I had to be careful to keep the revs up. On the next bit of highway, the car stalled once more, but I was able to use the momentum to "push start" the car.
Before I set out, I replaced the spark plugs with a new set of Autolite 35s (0.028 gap). The old ceramic tips were brownish and dry (the threads were wet). When I got home (after about 8 miles of driving, half at highway speeds), I pulled one plug and it was still white on one side and a slight tan discoloration on the other side.
Fuel pressure is around 4 psi.
The air filter smells like gasoline. Staring down into the bowls while I moved the throttle I saw the two front jets squirt gas (the rear pair of butterflies appear to use engine suction to open up).
I don't think it's associated with the problem, but the battery light never went out while driving the car with the lights on. The voltmeter stayed slightly below 0.
Any suggestions will be welcomed. I was hoping to go to an event tomorrow. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Thanks.
The engine is a 289 HiPo. It has a Holley dual bowl NASCAR carb (750CFM?). The points were replaced two years ago with an electronic unit that hides inside the distributor.
I haven't driven the car since December. Today was the first time I tried started to it and it wasn't happy. With the accelerator pedal to the floor it would start, but as soon as I lifted off the pedal, the engine would die (or sometimes as soon as I let go of the starter button). If kept my foot to the floor it would eventually catch, but at first it wouldn't rev high even though my foot was all the way down. Occasionally it would initially sound like it was running on only four cylinders before it came to life.
I decided to be brave and take the car out for a short drive on the highway, with the hope that it might clear out the problem. On the way to the highway, it stalled at a stop sign with a knocking sound (clatter?) as the engine came to a stop. After driving for a mile or two I got off the highway, and halfway up the off ramp it stalled again with the weird noise. With my foot to the floor, I got the engine to start again, but I had to be careful to keep the revs up. On the next bit of highway, the car stalled once more, but I was able to use the momentum to "push start" the car.
Before I set out, I replaced the spark plugs with a new set of Autolite 35s (0.028 gap). The old ceramic tips were brownish and dry (the threads were wet). When I got home (after about 8 miles of driving, half at highway speeds), I pulled one plug and it was still white on one side and a slight tan discoloration on the other side.
Fuel pressure is around 4 psi.
The air filter smells like gasoline. Staring down into the bowls while I moved the throttle I saw the two front jets squirt gas (the rear pair of butterflies appear to use engine suction to open up).
I don't think it's associated with the problem, but the battery light never went out while driving the car with the lights on. The voltmeter stayed slightly below 0.
Any suggestions will be welcomed. I was hoping to go to an event tomorrow. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Thanks.