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- Apr 13, 2012
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Hello, get ready for a strange problem that I am having over here....
My '70 Charger has had this problem for several months but because I've been making all sorts of other changes, I haven't been able to spend time on this one very annoying problem.
I will list the combination first:
440/493 with Edelbrock heads, EDelbrock RPM intake, MP electronic ignition, Demon 850 vacuum secondary carburetor. NGK spark plugs, MP 528 solid cam, 1.6 rocker arms, 2" TTI headers, 727 trans.
The symptoms: On the first start of any day, weather in the 60s to 80s, the engine is difficult to start and when it does, it runs as if it is only hitting on 3 or 4 cylinders. The Air/Fuel gauge shows it to be running way lean, past the limits of the gauge. It feels like a misfire/misfires.
As the engine warms up, it smooths out and runs like it should.
It is certainly unrelated but this problem happened some time after I started the A/C swap including the new water pump housing, radiator and shroud.
I suspected that the carburetor could be gunked up because in this past year, I've only started it and ran it here and I've only driven it in the back yard here. The 91 octane gas is old but does not smell varnished.
I had the carburetor rebuilt and added a replacement electric choke. The car runs the exact same as before. I cannot find any vacuum leaks anywhere.
When it was acting up before and today, I've tried swapping distributors, electronic ECUs, ballast resistors and coils. I have tried bypassing the ballast resistor by using a jumper wire to connect the wires. Each time I changed something with no improvement, I shut the car down and try something else. Of course, each time I start and run it, the engine gets a little warmer and on the way to running normal again.
So, since none of the parts swapping seems to make a difference, I'm looking at what I have not done.
The gas is old but it does not seem bad.
The plug wires are solid core Taylor and seem to be in good condition.
Battery is new.
Alternator is charging normally.
I am pissed because I can't think of what conditions exist here on a cold start that go away when the engine warms up.
This is a fairly new problem. Since 2008 or so, I have run without a choke and while the engine did run a bit rough when cold, it ran okay to idle on it's own.
I thought adding the choke would richen it up on the cold start but it made zero difference.
The engine side wire harness was new in 2013. The engine is well grounded. Battery is in the trunk.
I plan to put in 5 gallons of fresh gas tomorrow but it will have to mix with what is in there now. There isn't much, maybe 2 gallons.
Any ideas ??
My '70 Charger has had this problem for several months but because I've been making all sorts of other changes, I haven't been able to spend time on this one very annoying problem.
I will list the combination first:
440/493 with Edelbrock heads, EDelbrock RPM intake, MP electronic ignition, Demon 850 vacuum secondary carburetor. NGK spark plugs, MP 528 solid cam, 1.6 rocker arms, 2" TTI headers, 727 trans.
The symptoms: On the first start of any day, weather in the 60s to 80s, the engine is difficult to start and when it does, it runs as if it is only hitting on 3 or 4 cylinders. The Air/Fuel gauge shows it to be running way lean, past the limits of the gauge. It feels like a misfire/misfires.
As the engine warms up, it smooths out and runs like it should.
It is certainly unrelated but this problem happened some time after I started the A/C swap including the new water pump housing, radiator and shroud.
I suspected that the carburetor could be gunked up because in this past year, I've only started it and ran it here and I've only driven it in the back yard here. The 91 octane gas is old but does not smell varnished.
I had the carburetor rebuilt and added a replacement electric choke. The car runs the exact same as before. I cannot find any vacuum leaks anywhere.
When it was acting up before and today, I've tried swapping distributors, electronic ECUs, ballast resistors and coils. I have tried bypassing the ballast resistor by using a jumper wire to connect the wires. Each time I changed something with no improvement, I shut the car down and try something else. Of course, each time I start and run it, the engine gets a little warmer and on the way to running normal again.
So, since none of the parts swapping seems to make a difference, I'm looking at what I have not done.
The gas is old but it does not seem bad.
The plug wires are solid core Taylor and seem to be in good condition.
Battery is new.
Alternator is charging normally.
I am pissed because I can't think of what conditions exist here on a cold start that go away when the engine warms up.
This is a fairly new problem. Since 2008 or so, I have run without a choke and while the engine did run a bit rough when cold, it ran okay to idle on it's own.
I thought adding the choke would richen it up on the cold start but it made zero difference.
The engine side wire harness was new in 2013. The engine is well grounded. Battery is in the trunk.
I plan to put in 5 gallons of fresh gas tomorrow but it will have to mix with what is in there now. There isn't much, maybe 2 gallons.
Any ideas ??