Forgot how \"fun\" this hobby was(n\'t)

I got the car back a week or two ago, all the interior and trim dismantled. It's actually been a good thing to have it all come back in pieces, since it's forcing me to really look at stuff and replace some tired old parts as needed. Totally enjoyable.

But, I also quickly remembered it wasn't running as strong as I wanted when I sent it to the body shop a year ago and I'm chasing my tail trying to figure it out. Totally miserable. Not sure if I have one big problem with a million symptoms, or a million little ones. Here's the short list:

1) No power. Started out just sluggish on top, but now I can't even light up the tires from a standstill. It used to roast them through first and halfway through second.

2) Burning oil, about a quart per tank. Heads are basically brand new, so thinking rings.

3) Maddening whining/whistling sound coming from the engine, only when hot, and only when not under load. It goes away as soon as the vacuum drops below about 10. I thought it was the PCV, but replaced it and it's still there. Sounds like it's coming right out of the carburetor. No idea what it is.

4) Car wont go into first gear about half the time. Sometimes I wind up starting from 3rd from a dead stop.

I think I was better off when I just had my bicycle around to work on [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_frown.gif[/img]
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On 2005-05-15 18:27, 69convert wrote:

3) Maddening whining/whistling sound coming from the engine, only when hot, and only when not under load. It goes away as soon as the vacuum drops below about 10. I thought it was the PCV, but replaced it and it's still there. Sounds like it's coming right out of the carburetor. No idea what it is.

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I know how you feel buddy, i am still mad at my strange noise too.
[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_evil.gif[/img]

I hate it when nothing seams to workout right it always seems that way for me too. That whistleing noise could be from the exhaust manifold, headers or even the intake manifold. I had a straight 6 in a F150 out of the blue it started whistleing an would be real load when it was at idle. I just happened along it as I was putting some Triflow spray around the pulleys. The noise seemed to be comeing from th front of the engine sounded like a bearing in the alternator. Anyway the spray hit the area were air was being sucked in and changed tones so i looked a little closer and the bolt needed to be tighten. Once tight the noise went away. Well I hope your luck takes a turn for the better and you find some of these problems.[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]
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Mine was whistling only after it was good and warmed up and then not always except if it was a hot day. In the end I found out it was the spacer under the carb that was warping or something when it would get hot. Changed spacers and the problem is gone. So far. It was running a little warm yesterday and probably close to 90* out and no whistle so think it's gone for good. *knock knock knock*

Deb

At least you guys are driving! I'm still stuck in a Focus. YUK!
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I realized today that part of my problem is that when I sent the car into the body shop a year ago I was in NJ at sea level buying 94 octane gas down the street. Now that it's back, I'm in Utah at 5,000 feet, running 91 octane. So, I guess if it feels slower, it's because it is slower! I took some initial timing out of it tonight in the hopes that it was just some weird pinging - then the rain started so I parked it before I could figure it out.
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I almost never have problems with my 65 Stang with a 408 in it and 85% of my ride is custom...I don't understand all the problems you folks are having...I buy new custom parts and they always just go right on [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img]....yeah-right.
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the only thing that did not work, was my new mini-starter.
otherwise it's all good [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_tup.gif[/img]
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I left one out - the wire to my temperature sending unit has gone AWOL - I'm telling you, it's just not there any more. Weird [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_bicker.gif[/img]
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Whistling has got to be a vacuum leak. Maybe your sending unit wire took a trip with a vacuum line.