This engine is really pissing me off!

[Eat-um-up]

ive had this engine in my car for about 6 months now.. Everytime i get it to work it breaks a valve spring or something stupid. so it never runs correctly for more than 3 days. This last time it seemed to run fine and sound great. but after i drove it around the block a couple of times the ignition just killed over and died. i wouldnt start back up. i went home and jump started it with another car.. it made it about half way and did it again.. anyone ever experiance this problem? i cant figure out why it just dies..
it is a carberated motor and compression is between 85-90 (yeah its warn out but it should still run)...
im really gettong tired of this thing and im plumb outta money.. if anyone has a good running engine they want to get rid of i have a 1.7 long block (needs rebuilding) this 2.0, and a tail shift tranny if someone wants to work somthing out

-- James

[paulhagedorn]

The jump starting it seems to be a clue.
Try charging the battery fully, then starting the car and put an ammeter across the battery terminals. Sounds like the alternator may be shot if it worked off of a jump.

Paul

[Eat-um-up]

well i know its not that couse the carging system works.. after the car would die itll turn over for a while but then quit. im lost

[bowlsby]

Hmmm,

Its probably either fuel or spark related.

Have you changed the fuel filter recently? or are there kinked hoses under the fuel tank?

Only a block or two sounds like just the amount of gas in the lines...

[paulhagedorn]

definitely good that it isn't the charging system.

I would say it might be time to pull the gas tank and check the screen for blockage. Do you have an inline filter before the fuel pump? You might want to put a glass see-through filter right before the carbs to see what the color of the gas is, as well as if particles are coming through.

Water in gas is another possibility of what is wrong.

Has the car ever sat for any extended period? How long have you owned the car? Have you ever pulled the gas tank?

[CoolTool]

When I got my 76 2.0 running again and started driving it, it would run like a top for about 20 minutes and then die. It would turn over forever and wouldn't start. For some reason, I swapped out the ignition coil and have had no more problems!

[Eat-um-up]

Hmm i might try that.. well see what happens

[Arlen]

My '75 2.0 would start up no problem, but after about 5-10 seconds of acceleration it would backfire, or choke up and die. Put-put, cough cough, ugh dead.

Replaced the fuel pump three times, turned out to be a kink in the fuel lines.

[Eat-um-up]

My car has an inile fuel filter and its clear glass.. fuel seems to be alright passing though it without any problems.. im going to crosss my fingers and hope its the coil

--james

[MASSIVE TYPE IV]

Repeatedly breaking valve springs is a sign of a serious problem in the valvetrain geometry, or you r agoing on coil bind......check into that!