Idling issue.

Hello. I have a 66 4dr with a 289 auto. It is daily driver in nice shape, but it has been having a bit of an idle issue, and I was wondering if you had any insight. So far, this has only been an issue when the engine is fully warm. It has been starting very well, and running perfectly. After driving to the city however, (over an hour) I will park. Once I restart the car, very often it will not idle at all. It will start, and promptly die after a few seconds. I can only keep it going with sustained pressure on the gas, which makes moving difficult. *lurch*

I have never had this issue on a shorter trip, so I'm guessing it has something to do with the engine being fully warm. My guess is that the idle is set too low, but I'm not mechanically minded, and was wondering what you fellows thought.

Thanks in advance.

Just got the thing out of the paintshop, looks good!

what kind of carb are you running?

Ahh, I'm really sure to tell you the truth. It's a stock 2 barrel, but beyond that I don't know.

Thanks for the quick reply.

I was having a similar issue w/ my '63 when I had the stock engine & 2V. My problem was junk in the gas tank. Kept finding stuff in the gas filter. When I dropped the tank it was loaded w/ rust. Seem that when I'd be runnin' for a while the crap would kick up, get in the fuel line and eventually clog the carb.

Originally Posted by bluliner27

I was having a similar issue w/ my '63 when I had the stock engine & 2V. My problem was junk in the gas tank. Kept finding stuff in the gas filter. When I dropped the tank it was loaded w/ rust. Seem that when I'd be runnin' for a while the crap would kick up, get in the fuel line and eventually clog the carb.

Thanks for the reply. If that were the problem, it wouldn't simply "go away" when I let it sit for a while would it? After driving for a few minutes, the issue goes away, and it never affects me when moving, only when idling.

If that is the case, I suppose I'll have to replace the tank wont I? It looks good from the trunk, though there is some surface rust around the filler cap. I never considered it as an issue, had no problems over a 1500 mile drive a few months back, and so far it's never stalled on the road. It has only done this since I got a carb adjustment a few months back, that's why I was thinking it the idle speed.

Sounds like you may be dealing with vapor lock, or a combination of that and winter gas on a warm day.... check your fuel pressure.... should be 7-10 psi at the carb, no more, no less.

Next time it happens. Take the top off the air cleaner, turn OFF the car, and look into the carb and work the throttle by hand and see if there is s nice steady squirt of fuel.. If it flutters or only squirts a little bit then you can likely call it vapor locking or a delivery isue with the fuel... Maybe find a way to re-route the fuel lines away from the block...

Of course it could be something else entirely....

Thanks for the help, I'll definitely give it a try. Should it be an issue like vapor lock, would it require anything more than the operating heat of the engine? It has been only about 7 degrees out here, but I've still been having the problem. I'll probably be replacing the fuel filter as well, see it improves things a bit. The issue seems to be becoming more frequent with time, and I've got an eight hour drive in a few days, really don't want it quiting on the road. (Even if i'm paying over $5.00 a gallon.)

A while back, I ran one of those fuel system cleaners through the tank, do you think that could have kicked up some muck? Also, any ideas on where I can get a filter? I've never seen a dinky little thing like that for sale anywhere, suppose I'll have to order it from somewhere.


Thanks again.

You can install any inline fuel filter you want. Plus the original style is readily available from most parts stores.

No way that your engine will or could vapor lock at 7* Farenheit, not in a million years...

More trouble shooting needs to be done in my opinion.


FE

i assumed incorrectly that you were basking in the warm weather this past weekend.... sorry... I would still see what your fuel pressure is... if it runs good while your rpm's are up, that would indicated no fuel pressure at idle. A plugged filter would starve fuel at increase rpm... your fuel pump diaphram may have a pinhole(s) in it... keep us posted...