Fwd: <VV> engine trouble...

[Chris C, Warwick RI]

had what sounds like a similar problem.  Was driving me nuts.

Would drive fine, the act possessed.  Replaced all the tune up 
items.  Would get better for a while.  Then it would not accellerate to 
speed.  Must have been some junk in 1 of the carbs.  Start it, let it warm 
up.  Then put your hand over 1 carb, should almost die, or at least slow 
way down.  Try the other, both should act the same.  To eliminate junk in 
the tank or line, run from a gas can into the pump.


Hey guys,

>      I've got a condition with my vair that I could use some help 
> with.  This is on the 66 500 coupe with the PG.
>
>      A few months ago (after sitting for a good few months without being 
> driven) the car began misbehaving.  The engine would lose power, then 
> surge, lose power, surge etc.  While doing this the engine would backfire 
> through the exhaust.  The problem would come and go randomly, but got 
> steadily worse.  While the car was acting up I found that the spark was 
> errattic.  I replaced the wires, no change.  I then performed a tuneup at 
> the distributor, no change.
>
>      At this point I took a gamble and replaced the coil with a brand new 
> unit.  This seemed to fix the car, it ran fine afterward but I did notice 
> just the slightest sign of the engine wavering on occasion.
>
>      Fast Forward another month or two later, the original problem is 
> back full force, and getting steadily worse again.  Timing and Dwell are 
> right on, vacuum advance is working.
>
>I started the car, let it warm up.  Drove for about 5 minutes and it 
>started to act up a little.  Misfired for about a minute then started 
>running fine.  Another 5 minutes down the road the engine starts 
>stuttering and backfiring, wont climb the next hill so I pull over.  Let 
>the car sit for a minute and start it up, ran fine for the next hour and a 
>half.
>
>      I was not able to catch it misbehaving to check the spark.  Runs 
> fine anytime I try.
>
>Also of note two additional things:
>
>When sitting at a stop sign/light the idle occasionally just quits, no 
>stumbling.... just quits suddenly.  I found the vacuum advance line was 
>loose- this MIGHT be fixed.
>
>If you dont let the engine idle down for a few seconds when you stop 
>before shutting off the engine it "diesels" (detonation, preignition) 
>after shutting off the key pretty badly.  Lean mixture?  Temp light is not 
>coming on.
>
>I just ordered new carb filters and gaskets.  What ideas do you folks have?
>
>Also note that this car sat for at least 5 years, maybe much more, before 
>my purchasing it.  I'm at maybe 2,000 miles driven since I purchased the 
>car.  Ran great at first, then problems started developing.  This is the 
>same car that has the lifter tap, which I still haven't tracked down.