Won't stay running - help me figure this out!

[Petros]

hit the bolts on the converter with penetrating oil (ATF works excellent), you might be surprised that the nuts and bolts will actually come off in the normal way. I have found this usually works, rarely have I had to cut them off. AT worst just cut the bolts and replace them, no welding required.

I would still consider getting the correct fuel pressure gauge on there. You may indeed have a bad cat, but that could have happened because it was running too rich. Replacing it means you will just bundle up the next one unless you fix the upstream problem.

Good luck.

[Snax]

WD40 did the trick on the cat bolts, but it's not the cat! The converter is clean and clear.

I also checked the spark on all cylinders and it appeared to be good and strong.

I took the top off the carb too and checked the float bowl for fuel and debris. There was fuel in there, but I don't know if it was enough. The 32/36 DGV specs. say 46.something mm for the float level, but I would peg the amount in the bowl at about 25 mm with the floats removed. I have no clue how to measure it.

Looking into the float bowl, fuel covers the primary and secondary jets fully, but there is another hole just above the secondary jet that does not have a jet in it and is not covered by fuel. Any clue if that is normal?

[Snax]

Well this is confusing . .

http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/produc ... RecId=5846

35mm float height??

Ok, nevermind. Found the answer to that here - http://www.webernorthamerica.com/pdffil ... ations.pdf

DGEV is apparently not the same internally as the DGV.

So plastic floats = 35mm

[Snax]

Update: Fuel flow test looks pretty good. 3 seconds of cranking dumped a solid ounce of fuel into a jar. The carb inlet screen is also clean.

[takza]

Stuck PCV valve?

[Snax]

I thought about that, but I wasn't sure how to check it or if it would cause symptoms this bad. Perhaps I should just pinch off the hose eh??

[Highlander]

Have you checked to see if the idle jet and its circuit are plugged? It almost sounds like you're not getting any fuel until you get the intake velocity up which then pulls fuel through your enrichment circuit. if you pull the idle jet and push compressed air backwards from the throat of the carb through the idle circuit, you should get any junk out. Just a suggestion.

[Snax]

So I was actually able to get it to idle somewhat at 1000 rpm without full throttle, and it will rev up much higher, but it still won't idle on it's own and pops and backfires a lot now. Pinching off the PCV hose didn't change things, nor did simply opening up the line completely. I don't seem to be getting any vacuum from that line or the other main vac fitting either way though.

[Petros]

check your spark timing, search the forum on how to do that manually. Also see if your mechanical spark advance is working (hold the timing light on the mark when you rev it up, it should advance).

If your timing is way off, it could be your cam timing belt is worn and skipped a few teeth.

[Snax]

Cam timing is where my suspicions are currently, but I'm leaning toward thinking something is worn or broken. It might just be a loose tensioner too. Doubt I'll look into it tonight though. Fortunately it is a backup car for me.

Thanks for all of your suggestions everybody!

[mister.highwaystar]

Is anyone aware that there are fuel solenoids in the carburetors? There are in fact two which are electrically controlled. They must be supplied power, and be in working order, so that the carburetor can get fuel. One is for the primary fuel source (idle), the other is for the secondary fuel source (power).

[ARCHINSTL]

Uhh - yeah... The Aisan has the solenoids, but the member has a Weber, as mentioned in his first post.
Tom M.

[takza]

Cam timing is where my suspicions are currently, but I'm leaning toward thinking something is worn or broken. It might just be a loose tensioner too. Doubt I'll look into it tonight though. Fortunately it is a backup car for me.

Thanks for all of your suggestions everybody!

Had similar issues after getting water in the "air tube" when decarboning it. Finally got tired of no idle and took the air cleaner off...found no obviously loose vac lines...but put a bunch of nylon ties around any that might be slightly loose...now back to normal.

So I still say...vac leak.

[4wdchico]

Cam timing is where my suspicions are currently, but I'm leaning toward thinking something is worn or broken. It might just be a loose tensioner too. Doubt I'll look into it tonight though. Fortunately it is a backup car for me.

Thanks for all of your suggestions everybody!

Had similar issues after getting water in the "air tube" when decarboning it. Finally got tired of no idle and took the air cleaner off...found no obviously loose vac lines...but put a bunch of nylon ties around any that might be slightly loose...now back to normal.

So I still say...vac leak.

I vote vac leak as well.

[Snax]

Well unless there is an actual crack in the manifold or a screw has fallen out somewhere, I don't think that's it, as I have tried capping everything off to no avail. I haven't touched the car since my last post though. Now I'm simply afraid of what I might find .. .