No power!

CrazyHorseUK · #1 (**permalink**) 06-09-2008, 02:57 AM

Hi, just rebuilt my 93 351w after a coolant problem, replaced head gaskets.

She will start on first turn and idle fine but if you give it some gas it won't rev smoothly and when you take your foot from the gas the revs don't drop off straight away, when I take her on the road there is no power at all and it dosn't sound right.

I'm pretty sure I have all the pipes in the correct places.

Any suggestions would be greatly recieved as in England there are very few garages which will look at American vehicle let alone that I would trust.

Allan

dragogt · #2 (**permalink**) 06-09-2008, 05:29 AM

Check your Timing, sounds like that could be off.

CrazyHorseUK · #3 (**permalink**) 06-10-2008, 03:57 AM

I didn't touch the dizzy or the chain, is there anyway it could have altered? any idea's?
Allan

ksubigbuck · #4 (**permalink**) 06-10-2008, 09:40 AM

What noise is it making?

I'd check the timing just to be safe. Should be 10*BTDC

CrazyHorseUK · #5 (**permalink**) 06-13-2008, 02:21 AM

I will take a look tomorrow (Sat) and recheck the timing, do you not think it could be something on the air pipe side or egr?
Allan

Conanski · #6 (**permalink**) 06-13-2008, 08:26 AM

Sounds like you may have an air leak or vacuum leak. Use an unlit propane torch to spray gas around the gaskets between the upper and lower intake, lower intake and block, and any vacuum lines at the intake. If the motor revs you have found a leak.

CrazyHorseUK · #7 (**permalink**) 06-14-2008, 03:25 PM

Hi, thanks for the idea's, I have checked the timing and that is fine(could not do the propane thing as it's in a van and there's not a lot of room and you can't tell if the gas is being sucked in the carb). I have removed the upper and lower inlet manifolds which seem fine but cannot rebuild because couldn't get any new gaskets, hopefully they will arrive next week and i will try again, any idea's of checks to do while they are off to save time later? or parts to change which could avoid earlier problem?
Allan

Beanscoot · #8 (**permalink**) 06-14-2008, 07:22 PM

First of all, my condolences for working on an engine in a van.

Double check the routing of your high tension leads, the 351W uses the firing order of 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8.
Cylinders on right bank are numbered 1-4, front to back and 5-8, front to back on left bank. This is the same as some 302s, but early 302s used a different firing order, so sometimes there can be errors.

You could have proper timing at #1 cylinder and still have the firing order mixed up.