i got a 76 with a 302 and it idels fine in park but if i put it in any other gear it starts to die like its out of gas. does anyone know what would cause this??

 

Vacuum system leaks ?

 

sounds like you are too lean could be vacume leak or carb needs rebuild. Does it idle at correct rpm and smooth when in nutral? If it idles rough check EGR may be stuck open usualy causes rough idle.

 

Check for vacume leaks and EGR stuck open but this should make it run rough at idle or elevated RPM. you are too lean for sure carb may need rebuild if it is 2150 motorcraft they are very easy to rebuild and kit is cheep.

 

Double check your wires. They may be on in the wrong order.

 

thanks guys ill check it out and get back with ya

 

well i have no vacum leaks and i put a new egr on and it still does it the carb is a holly 4barrel and it looks to be new. i ideled it up to were it would stay crunk in nutral but its blowin white smoke out my exhaust (runing rich)and it still shuts of when in drive or reverse

 

white smoke is usually water. like a head gasket leaking

 

come to think of it i did just replace the thermastate /water outlet gasket cause it was leaking pretty bad. could that be my problem? water in the motor?

 

its been along time since ive been in one of these motors but idont think the therm or riser outlet is connected in any way to put water in the combustion chamber like a blown head gasket could. you might wait till one of these other guys gets on here to answer that, they are extremely knoledgable about this stuff. is that spelled right?