Questions About Sick Running 1974 1.8 L-Jet

Greenguy · 06-21-2012, 11:11 AM

I blew a galley plug about 6 months ago.....at the time the engine was running great, just blowing oil all over the place. While I had the engine out to fix the galley plug I put in a new clutch, installed new crank gasket , flywheel o ring and felt washer, fixed a leaking push-rod tube and installed new intake runner gaskets on the drivers side, the passenger side was done about 6 months ago (I reused the old intake gasket). Well of course when I got everything installed and back together, the dam thing will hardly run. I've got 40lbs of fuel pressure, good spark, valves adjusted and timing close, I was sure that I had no vacuum leaks, but since I was running out of possibilities I started that process. On You Tube a mechanic talked about using cigar smoke to find vacuum leaks, I didn't think that it would work but tried it anyway since I had nothing to lose. Low and behold as I started the smoke process I had a stream of smoke somewhere on the drivers side, it took a while to isolate it but I finely did, pictures below. Now my question is what is the best method to make sure that the intake seal doesn’t leak in the fashion that is is now ? And is this leak bad enough to cause it to run as horribly as it is, or is there something else wrong?

dmenche914 · 06-21-2012, 11:44 AM

good find, never did the smoke test before (I have pressureized the intake with a shop vac on blow function, and used soap bubbles to find leaks).

how big a leak to not run? That I dont know

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

Time for new gaskets at the least. And a sanding block to make sure the surface on the intake runner flange is flat. And check the surface on the head as well, as best you can.

--DD

Greenguy · 06-21-2012, 04:57 PM

Thanks for the reply Dave,,,,should a gasket sealer be used? My gut says no.

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

I don't have a solid reason to do so or to not do so. I don't believe they had it originally.

--DD

bowlsby · 06-23-2012, 06:38 AM

I always use a thin coat of the spray copper gasket sealer just to be sure, on both side of the intake isolator/gasket.

I like the smoke test approach, but no way would I ever use a lighted device in the engine bay-too many combustible. Smoke pencils are available that would be a safe approach.