[danbeck]

Ok, so I got in my '66 Mustang last Friday morning and cranked it up and the engine had this weird idle. It was as if I was stomping my foot on the gas and immediately letting go, like I was trying to rock the car using the engine. Sort of a VOOM ... VOOM ... VOOM. Trying to give it gas sort of calmed the voom ... voom down, but it had a hard time idling. I'm at a loss as to what would cause this and it's tough to explain to people because it's so odd. It's not a gradual rev up above idle, but it's a hard rev. A amateur mechanic friend suggested I try replacing the fuel pump, but I was wondering if anyone here also had any suggestions?

[Jmark]

Maybe your neighbors cat is playing with the linkage? LOL (just kidding)

What carb is on it?

It's possible that the carb is dripping from the nozzles and causing a rise in rpm's. Start it up and let it idle and look down the carb for drips. If it's a Ford 2bbl carb, the power valve may be bad. It's externally accessable from the under side of the bowl, under a small square cover held on with 4 screws.

Mark

[danbeck]

wow, quick response. =)

It has an Edelbrock Performer series 600cfm carburetor with an electric choke that's about 2 or so years old.

I wouldn't really call it a rise in rpms though, it's really as if I was stomping the gas and letting go immediately, but it never revs up enough to call it an idle. I guess it's almost as if it runs for a half-second, then dies, then runs, then dies. I'm sorry I'm having such a hard time explaining what it's doing, but it just so bizzarre.

[Jmark]

That's a pretty bullet proof carb. What ignition is on it? Could be a condensor problem or ????????? May be time to find an older shop with an old Sun scope that can "see" what the ign is doing.

Maybe a bad torque converter trying to lock up? I dunno! LOL

If you drive it, how does it do? Ok? Surge? anything odd?


Mark

[justold]

try disconnecting the vacume advance , if it goes away it is probably a bad pigtail or pickup coil lead

[danbeck]

Ok, I disconnected the vacuum advance and the problem entirely went away. Thanks much, justold.

Ok, so, you say it may be a bad pigtail or a coil lead. I'm really an amateur here, can you go into more detail as to what you mean? This is the second issue I've had with the distributor in the past few months. I had to replace the control module in it about a month or so ago. It's a HEI proform distributor from Summit. Blue of course. =)

Oh, also, this is a daily driver. If I plug the advance on the carburetor, can the car be driven until I can get this fixed?

[SSedan64]

Originally Posted by danbeck

Ok, I disconnected the vacuum advance and the problem entirely went away. Thanks much, justold.

Ok, so, you say it may be a bad pigtail or a coil lead. I'm really an amateur here, can you go into more detail as to what you mean? This is the second issue I've had with the distributor in the past few months. I had to replace the control module in it about a month or so ago. It's a HEI proform distributor from Summit. Blue of course. =)

Oh, also, this is a daily driver. If I plug the advance on the carburetor, can the car be driven until I can get this fixed?

You can drive it. It just won't get quite as good gas milage.

[justold]

the wire going to the pickup coil inside the distributer is broken in the distributer . the pickup coil moves back and forth when vacuum is applied ,if you take the cap off and pull on the wires one at a time one is going to stretch .you could run without vacuum but it is going to quit on you , but when!

[Jmark]

Justold............GOOD CALL!!! I used to see that alot way back in the day on HEI Pontiacs. I made the wrong assumption that he was still running a points dist.! LOL (kinda dates me huh?)

Mark

[94dangerranger]

You know what happens when you assume....you make an *** out of you and me...J/K