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1970 383 in 1969 Charger Not Running Right

Rusty knuckles said:
I'm convinced it's a vacuum leak. Have you pulled all the lines off the intake then capped them and see what it does?
Click to expand...
That's what we lean towards as well! Haven't been able too yet, there's a plug that seems stuck in the intake. Need to spray something on it to get it to loosen up. Hopefully this weekend I can check it! We did the trick where you spray starter fluid everywhere to see if the engine revs up and all attempts at that have been futile, so this is the next step! I'll post an update here! Any tips on how to best test it in this way (other than what you recommended in your above comment)? I'm a total novice but learning a lot!
 
Use a propane torch, unlit of course, to check for vac leaks.
 
hunt2elk said:
Use a propane torch, unlit of course, to check for vac leaks.
Click to expand...
I'm very inexperienced, and I don't have a torch, although I do need to get one! How does one use that to check for a vacuum leak?
 
glrestomod said:
I'm very inexperienced, and I don't have a torch, although I do need to get one! How does one use that to check for a vacuum leak?
Click to expand...
The propane will do the same thing as spraying ether or starting fluid all over the place. Safer and less of a mess.
 
It could be your intake valkey pan gasket as the leak too. I didn't see if you'd changed that and if you'd silicone the corners.
 
Rusty knuckles said:
It could be your intake valkey pan gasket as the leak too. I didn't see if you'd changed that and if you'd silicone the corners.
Click to expand...
Thank you! Definitely need to check that for sure! I have not changed that as of yet, probably need to though!
 
Possibly wrong symptoms, but resurrecting a car that's sat for a while fuel pump and fuel filter would be other things to check and/or replace. Did you empty the tank when you got started or just add better gas until the bad gas got burned up? Just one more area to rule out at least.
 
TorRed said:
Possibly wrong symptoms, but resurrecting a car that's sat for a while fuel pump and fuel filter would be other things to check and/or replace. Did you empty the tank when you got started or just add better gas until the bad gas got burned up? Just one more area to rule out at least.
Click to expand...
Well, we had planned on checking on the gas, but apparently it was low all these years and apparently my grandfather (who passed away 5 months before we got it running again) had been treating the gas without telling me. I have put nearly 1000 miles on it since last summer, but it always had this slight miss and it's been getting worse. The gas has been clean as a whistle (see through filter) and we were thankful for that! We replaced the fuel filter, all fuel lines above the fuel pump and the fuel pump works great (mechanical pump).
 
Do you think the engine might have a performance cam in it?
Depending on how 'big' the cam is, it will idle rough.....& a rough idle would be 'normal' if the cam is big enough.

Consequences flow from big cams.....bigtime!!
You get exactly the symptoms you are experiencing.
Not saying this is the cause, but could be......
 
10 year old ignition black box, 10 year old fuel ???
You have made quite a few updates / repairs.
dadsbee and torred make good suggestions, tie that choke open, just don't dump more fuel in, pump out all the old fuel you can and get some new in it.
I would put a new ignition box on if it's a chrysler system you should be able to grab one at the parts store. While your there grab a new coil also , they do funny stuff when they are going bad.
You mentioned a problem with the plug wire swap.
Let's roll it up on TDC and make sure the rotor is pointed at #1 then once again go over your firing order.
 
Geoff 2 said:
Do you think the engine might have a performance cam in it?
Depending on how 'big' the cam is, it will idle rough.....& a rough idle would be 'normal' if the cam is big enough.

Consequences flow from big cams.....bigtime!!
You get exactly the symptoms you are experiencing.
Not saying this is the cause, but could be......
Click to expand...
Thanks! It actually had a really large cam in it before my grandfather had the engine rebuilt back in the early 2000's. It was so aggressive and didn't have a stall so it died on me at redlights! We had them rebuild it with a stock spec cam. Also, this isn't rough, it misses and gets way more pronounced, and even dies on me. It also stammers and stutters when I get on the gas too quickly. It's a General Lee and I have to drive it like a grandma lol!
 
Last edited:
1967coronet said:
10 year old ignition black box, 10 year old fuel ???
You have made quite a few updates / repairs.
dadsbee and torred make good suggestions, tie that choke open, just don't dump more fuel in, pump out all the old fuel you can and get some new in it.
I would put a new ignition box on if it's a chrysler system you should be able to grab one at the parts store. While your there grab a new coil also , they do funny stuff when they are going bad.
You mentioned a problem with the plug wire swap.
Let's roll it up on TDC and make sure the rotor is pointed at #1 then once again go over your firing order.
Click to expand...
Thanks! The old fuel is long gone and I've ran multiple tanks through it, and the fuel is clear as can be now. The old ignition box I see they have at Mancini Racing now, so if needed I'll replace it. My mechanic friend helped me and we rolled it to TDC and went through the firing order multiple times just to make sure, so we're confident that is okay. The vacuum advance is working great too. I'll try that thing with the choke for sure! Thanks again for trying to help!
 
Any flat tappet lifters that are 25 yrs old would be suspect.......
Cam lobe/lifters could be wiped. You would need to remove the intake & check visually.
 
Geoff 2 said:
Any flat tappet lifters that are 25 yrs old would be suspect.......
Cam lobe/lifters could be wiped. You would need to remove the intake & check visually.
Click to expand...
Thank you! I’m going to try and find a new gasket for the intake and see if that helps! My intake says Edelbrock and DP4B. Any gasket recommendations?

IMG_0445.jpeg
 
Hang a small gas tank from the hood.
Get a different carb for it just for the test - one that you know is good
bypass the choke
see what happens
We just started a mustang that had been sitting for over a decade. In this video you can see the small gas supply hanging there.
 
dadsbee said:
So did you unplug that electric choke yet to take it's draw off the system???
Click to expand...
Not yet, hoping to be able to this weekend! I’ll do that before replacing the gasket, but the gasket needs replaced anyway I suspect! I’ll definitely post an update!
 
vsj100 said:
Hang a small gas tank from the hood.
Get a different carb for it just for the test - one that you know is good
bypass the choke
see what happens
We just started a mustang that had been sitting for over a decade. In this video you can see the small gas supply hanging there.
Click to expand...

I don’t have another carb, but maybe a friend might. If I can get access to one and try this I’ll let you know. Good idea!
 
dadsbee said:
So did you unplug that electric choke yet to take it's draw off the system???
Click to expand...
We made sure that the top butterfly stayed open by sticking a screwdriver down there. Once that's done there is no air restriction. The electrical contact can remain in place.
 
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