Need some help troubleshooting a '74

[rickisonline]

Greetings:
I had put up my 1974 914, 1.8L for aproximatly 3 years. I just took the cloth cover off it and am prepared to start working on it. The reason I put it up was that it would not start. I was driving in VT. on a long stretch of road that was under construction and no way to get off!!! (it was rt 89). Anyway, the car just would not restart. Prior to this final defeat, the car would backfire once and awhile when shiftin from 4th to 3rd gear or decelrating rapidly (letting up on the gas entirely from a "cruise speed" to slow down) and also, when cruising along, out of the blue, would lose power, almost like it was not getting gas. I have removed the fuel line from the pump and do not see any gas getting to the pump. Any suggestions where to begin tracking this problem?
I really would appreciate your experience and ideas. If it is more convenient to email me please do so: powerlink1@adelphia.net. Also, anyone suggest a good shop in Maine that works on these?
thanks in advance
Rick

[SGB]

Rick-
I dunno much about Fuel Injection problems (which is what I think is- or was up with yours...) I see you are new to this BB. It is a great reasource. Almost everything has been covered.... After you have navigated to the 914 bbs, In the bottom right of the screen (I think- I can't see that screen right now) is a box that says "search". Type in "loosing power" or sumthing like that and see what you get. I'm sure it has been covered before.

[24flys]

do you hear the fuel pump start when you turn the ignition on, you will only hear it for a couple seconds. i just went thur that nightmare!

scotty

[rickisonline]

SGB-Scott:
Thanks for the replies.
I was actually a member of the bbs when pelican first came on line 99/2000. I have had some SUPER experiences here with odds and ends. I must admit I have not been to the board for about 2 years, changed isp and forgot my password to my original account here under rjackson. OH WELL!


Scott, I just caught the thread where you had difficulty and am going to start running through those suggestions as well as do a search on "loosing power". I was curious if the two may be related along with the backfiring. This morning starts the fun of a three year longing to get my 914 started again. I am truly excited to hear that beautiful engine purr again. Ill update you and thanks for the help so far!
Rick

[jamcleod]

i had an enjoyable trip last weekend to carlisle PA in my 74 stock L-jet. ran fine/great until i got about 5 mi from home; when i got off the interstate it would quit for about 5 seconds then continue. it did this about 5-6 times and hasn't done it since. what i'm going to check out is dirt in the bottom of the fuel tank clogging up the little filter screen in the bottom. i figured that might affect the running when the level is low and all the sediment was down in the bottom. maybe you could do the same? i removed the expansion tank on top of the fuel tank (about 6-8 8mm bolts) and used a flashlight to peer into the tank. couldn't really tell much as there was about 1/2 tank of gas. just a thought...

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

The L-jet pump does not do the ~1.5 second "prime" thing that the D-jet pump does. It only starts running either when the starter is cranking, or when the flap in the air flow meter is moved.

As for the original problem--
You need three things for the car to run. Fuel, air (or compression), and spark.

Do you smell fuel at the tailpipe after cranking the starter for a while? If you plug a compression gauge into each cylinder in turn, do you get compression? If you tape an extra spark plug to the fan shroud and plug in one of your plug wires, so you see a spark when someone cranks the starter?

Figure out which element you're missing. If you have all three, the only questions left are "how much fuel", and "when is it sparking".

--DD