1982 throttle and vacuum problem

[AirtekHVAC]

Ok, lots of details in my great white thread, but here is where I am at:

Timing spot on, engine runs perfectly at idle. Hook up the vacuum advance, it cuts right off. Remove and plug it, runs great again. I can floor it, with no issues, while in neutral.

Under load, if I give it a lot of throttle, the motor looses all power, just dies. Let off the gas and she is alive again, and I can slowly accelerate to a good speed, any hard pedal presses, she dies.

So, I'm looking for suggestions on what to look for on both problems

1) Why it dies with the vacuum advance is hooked up
2) why I lose all power when the pedal is really pushed, under load.

I have no clue to the vacuum advance, except that maybe the diaphragm has failed.

The power issue, I am thinking...

Ground strap? I cut back a little, and it looked ok, going to replace it

Fuel injector connectors? PO has broken all the clips. I have replacement connectors to install, need to cut and splice.

Fuel pump? Seems ok....

Fuel filter, has been replaced

Fuel strainer in tank? No throttle problems in neutral, could this be the prob?

Temp 2 connector? Clip broken off, doesn't seem tight. Going to replace

Any other ideas? Weird how it seems directly related to throttle, but how can I go full WOT at idle, in neutral, but unable to on the road?

Please help.

Thanks!

[honerboys]

hey - i'm thinking both issues are the same - have you looked into the distributor and checked the mechanical advance weights - these advance the timing according to engine speed and i'm thinking maybe yours are stuck or the springs are broken? - you can check the diaphragm by physically turning the rotor and holding your finger over it's vacuum connection - if it holds the diaphragm is good - i've been following your posts on the great white - good luck

[AirtekHVAC]

Thank you for the reply. Just today, my boss and I were brainstorming the issue, and came up with a similar theory, that the two problems are directly related.

He felt that under light throttle at load, the engine has no problem staying in time, but under heavy throttle, the engine does not advance enough, and I either vapor lock, or flood out....I dunno, neither one of us is sure, but seemed like a good theory.

I have never heard of a vacuum advance failing, but anything is possible. I have had the distributor cap off, and the rotor button, and have had the distributor out, and did not notice anything broken in it, but wasn't looking either. Is distributor / internal components failure common?

[honerboys]

hey ron - it's not the vacuum advance that would be failing - there are weights under the distributor plates that also advance the timing as the distributor spins faster - they don't fail often - I've seen it one time in an old bug - if moisture gets down in the distributor the springs that hold the weights can rust - a way to test the weight advance is to start it and disconnect the vacuum from distributor - put a timing light on it and as you up the rpm's see if the timing advances - if it doesn't then the weights are not doing their job - if they don't when you time it at 3000 rpm you are really setting the timing way retarded (or is it too advanced) - I don't know exactly how much the weights advance the timing at 3000 rpm but whatever it is yours would be that much retarded at speed - a idle the weights don't do anything so it would idle ok but as you increase rpms it would sputter and stall??? - just a theory - hope you figure it out

[MPDano]

Also check that you are routing the proper vacuum line to the disty. I believe that line should variable vacuum according to engine rpm, not full vacuum all the time. Hood up a vacuum gauge on that line and see if it changes pressure upon throttle up and down. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

[AirtekHVAC]

Thanks guys, more to check. I have 2 lines on the VA. I am pretty sure they are connected properly, but hard to tell. I have tri d them on different ports with the exact same result.

[aluminum]

Originally Posted by AirtekHVAC

Thanks guys, more to check. I have 2 lines on the VA. I am pretty sure they are connected properly, but hard to tell. I have tri d them on different ports with the exact same result.

1 Line is for Advance and 1 Line is for Retard

Most Likely you have a Short in the Dist . Causing the Power to cut off when the Dist advances or Retards .
Inspect all the electrical Connections within the Distributor as well as wire running from outside . Look for bare wire Perhaps .
IE: sounds like when advancing the Moving Dist Plate is causing a short circuit

Now this is just a guess from your description , a starting point .

[stepson]

Ron, does your car have a distributor governor?

[AirtekHVAC]

Thank you semi-precious metal....I will investigate more thoroughly.

John, what is this device of which you speak? What does it look like...I want to say no, but not sure....

[stepson]

Ron,
It's a centrifical device that spins with the rotor inside the distributor. Spring-loaded thing that limits the engine RPMs. If you had one, and it was FUBAR, it might cause some of the problems you describe.

Just a WAG.

[JhwShark]

...a Distributor Rotor with "the spring inside"; which, at a certain rotation speed, will disconnect the circuit (in the rotor) not allowing juice across to the plug wire contact...

[AirtekHVAC]

Thanks. I will open her up and take a look inside!

[AirtekHVAC]

I got my distributor out, and did not get far taking it apart. Got the vacuum advance off. How do remove the reluctor and coil? I took the snap ring off, removed the center screw, but it just pulls up a little, and that's it. Took the side cover off, and the insides were all gummed up. Sprayed with cleaner, but that's it. Nothing seems broken or loose. Now what?



Is this the right distributor for an 82 5sp?

[AirtekHVAC]

I removed the vacuum advance and tested it using a mighty vac. It is no good. Found a you tube video of Iceman (rennlist dude) from like 10 years ago, selling a distributor and he showed how to test the VA. Mine failed. Got another one coming.mi hope that is all it takes! We shall see.

[Danglerb]

Mityvac mighty handy.

[AirtekHVAC]

Yea, lol...forgot I had it...new in the box for the last few years....

I hope this is all it was...getting uber excited...waiting on my double din install kit, got the new Windows switches installed. Need to replace some vacuum pods while I have the console out....can't wait for that advance module to get here.