Desperate Mechanics help needed
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Freshman User
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Desperate Mechanics help needed
I'm having problem with my 400 and want to throw it off a cliff. My problem is that once the truck is good and warmed up and I'm driving down the road I start to loose power, no electrically, but it feels like the tranny is lugging down and the truck is sputtering. And as soon as I stop pumping the gas, or step on the brake when the truck is doing this, it dies.
here are the specs on the truck if they help with the problem.
T-18 Manual
400 bored .30 over
.519/.519 comp cam, hyd lifters
Re-decked Heads
Edlebrock Performer 400 intake
MSD Blaster 2 coil
OEM Ford Dist. MSD cap
OEM Brain Box
OEM Fuel pump
Holley 4150 650CFM Manual Choke Carb
One more thing, I couldn't find a bell housing plate for my motor so I fabbed one out of aluminum just to cover the bottom half so water doesn't get on the clutch. By not having the OEM plat installed could this cause problems?
here are the specs on the truck if they help with the problem.
T-18 Manual
400 bored .30 over
.519/.519 comp cam, hyd lifters
Re-decked Heads
Edlebrock Performer 400 intake
MSD Blaster 2 coil
OEM Ford Dist. MSD cap
OEM Brain Box
OEM Fuel pump
Holley 4150 650CFM Manual Choke Carb
One more thing, I couldn't find a bell housing plate for my motor so I fabbed one out of aluminum just to cover the bottom half so water doesn't get on the clutch. By not having the OEM plat installed could this cause problems?
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I thought that too, but it ran fine for about a week and then I started to have problems, the motor is brad new, and has less than 200 miles on it. And even when I'm going slow the motor seems to do the same thing as I described above.
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Freshman User
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The fuel filter is working properly, I have a clear fram and can see the fuel passing through it. As for when I'm going slow I'm running about 2-2,500 RPM, I've tried two different carbs, a 600CFM edelbrock with electric choke and my 650CFM holley manual, and still the same result.
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Northern Ca.
I would check the fuel pressure, I had something very similar and it was the fuel pump. One other thought, is a fuel pickup problem, something in the fuel or blockage in the line. One other thought, do you still have the ford ignition module. I had one that gave me a misfire as it warmed up and the engine would not rev.
Wim
Wim
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: western montana
really sounds like some sort of vacuum lock in the fuel system- mine did that and it drove me nuts but what i found is someone had switched to the aux tank and i don't have one anymore- it pulled enough gas through the main tank somehow but after 5-10 minutes it would do the same thing- it would even run again after a few minutes only to do it again. Still when I would check the fuel flow it was there- odd eh? 2 weeks later I found the valve switched- still feel like forrest gump. And it has never happened again.
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The thing is I don't have an auxilary tank, I only have one tank on my '81 bronco. Thanks for the help everyone
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Postmaster
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From: Delaware
When it quits take the air cleaner off and operate the throttle, look for fuel from the Accelerator pump. No squirts means no fuel.
It could be the fuel pump or a blocked line somewhere. Tap on the carb, it could be a sticky needle valve.
If it does squirt, it may not be a fuel problem.
It could be the fuel pump or a blocked line somewhere. Tap on the carb, it could be a sticky needle valve.
If it does squirt, it may not be a fuel problem.
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My mechanic buddy mike says it's not fuel it's electrical but I've traced all of my electrical stuff and that's not the problem the carb gets fuel and it's a brand new carb, I'm just wondering since I run a bigger than stock cam .519/.519 if I need to get an electric fuel pump to give me more gas to the carb, also one other thing is that when I assembled the engine I had no spacer plate to put between the bell housing and the engine because I couldn't find one, could this be my problem? Possibly causing a vacuum issue or am I just crazy?
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,270
Likes: 5
From: Delaware
Check the accelerator pump after it dies, before you turn it over again. If it is a fuel problem, you will not get more than a few drops of fuel.
Check the accelerator pump when it is cold to compare it. Start the motor first to be sure it is running OK, then shut it off and check the ACC pump.
It is not the cam, or the spacer plate.
If it is not fuel, it is probably spark. Check the spark after it dies and when it is cold.
Check the accelerator pump when it is cold to compare it. Start the motor first to be sure it is running OK, then shut it off and check the ACC pump.
It is not the cam, or the spacer plate.
If it is not fuel, it is probably spark. Check the spark after it dies and when it is cold.