3.2 Still won't run, but death to Jed Clampet

[Dan Owens]

Ok guy's making some progress but still lost. The oil issue seems to be gone at least in the cylinders. I know their is going to be smoking from the exhaustr if I can ever get it to run. I changed out the DME relay, pulled the plugs and checked them no oil. Pull the aib box and rubber boot and checked for hose connections and cracks, I'm fine now did have one leak at the airflow valve to air box but sealed now. I also tested the fuel pump and it's working. I did not test for fuel pressure or folw rate though. The spark from the coil looks good and when I crank it over it stumbles while it tries to run for 2 seconds. If I jumper off the air mixture using b to c socket bridge, then try to start it, it starts and idles at a very low RPM (maybe 400) but steady and smooth for 6 to 8 seconds and then dies smoothly. If I try to give it any pedal at all though it dies immediately. I've tried to adjust the idle speed but with out it running that becomes very difficult. I'm wondering three things, Is the passage for the idle speed screw possibly clogged with oil, is my idle speed screw set way too low, and is the air mixture way too lean. If I unscrew the idle screw and blow out oriffice and then put the screw back in where is a "good" place to start the screw at? 2 to 3 full turns from bottoming out the screw? Secondly can I adjust the air mixture slightly to fatten up the mixture some and if so how much adjustment and which way do I turn the screw. If I'm barking up the wrong tree here someone yell at me.

Dan O

[APKhaos]

Dan,
This is way out there, but.......you have the oil tank breather hose connected, right?? The hose has a restrictor fitted into its bore. Trying to run the engine without that restriction will kill it almost exactly as you describe - it leans out and dies at idle, and dies immediately you touch the gas.
Just a thought - trying to get you along for the NOVA ride on Saturday.

[KNIGHTRACE]

I just read this but it sounds like a vac line leak. Usually on the 3.2 conversion there is a rubber line about the size of your finger,
If this was a conversion I bet it is a vac leak.
Thanks, William

[Early_S_Man]

Dan O,

I think Tony K is referring to the flame trap in the 25 mm breather line from the oil tank to air box. It's worth a check to see if that line is snug at both ends and that the flame trap is present!

[Dan Owens]

Hey Guys,

First off this is not a 3.2 conversion it's an '84 3.2l Carrera. The hoses are all connected and I've checked them about 6 times now and fix anything that was loose or broken so unless I'm missing one I'm fine there. AS for a flame trap I didn'r see one on the smae line going to the Airbox. There hasn't ever been one on that line and I don't believe (I could be wrong here) that that line goes to the Oil tank, at least not to the filler neck. It goes out through the fender well. There is another breather line coming off the tank and fill neck but I believe that goes somewhere else. It has a metal connector about 2" long inserted in the line near where it comes from the tank and filler neck. If that's the flame trap then I have one. I may be wrong here on the flame trap? Additonal description, or maybe a pic would be helpful. As for a restrictor unless this is the flame trap I don't have one in the oil tank breather hose that goes to the back of the rubber boot above the throttle box.

APKhaos, I would love to run with the guys on Saturday and if I ever get this F'n thing running you can bet I'll be there.

Dan O

[addictionMS]

I would check out the fuel again, check the pressure, and then pull a bank of injectors and look at the spray as you turn it over, becareful as it is gas spraying out at high pressure and it is designed to be highly explosive.


I have had a car that would idle rough but not run and it was fuel pressure that was killing me.

Jim

[Dan Owens]

Well Jim,

A good fire might go a long way right now if you know what I mean. Yes, pressure and flow rate is next on the list. I've never pulled the injectors out before? It doesn't look too hard. Any tips?

Dan

[bell]

to prevent excessive spray from the injectors goto your local hardware store and pick up some clear tubing (CLEAR so you can see the spray) that the injector will lightly snug into.
the run the clear tube from your injectors to a gas can for recycling, i've done this many times and it works like a charm.
i also secure the clear hose to make sure it doesn't pop off and make a mess.
i haven't had my 3.2 injectors out yet so i'm not sure what size hose you'll need if do this.