Hi Oppo! Time for my daily plea for help

"Bandit" (2bandit)
05/21/2014 at 20:16 • Filed to: Emma

So I've learned the Trans Am runs and drives well when it is stone cold but won't run worth a damn when it gets warm. Any ideas why? (not my picture)

DISCUSSION (28)

desertdog5051 > Bandit
05/21/2014 at 20:19

Is your choke releasing?

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Bandit
05/21/2014 at 20:20

Overheating?

Bandit > desertdog5051
05/21/2014 at 20:20

It's not really hooked up... I need to get an electric choke conversion. It kind of stays at 1/4 open to full open.

Bandit > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
05/21/2014 at 20:23

My temp gauge isn't working but maybe. The engine gets really hot. I pulled the thermostat because it was broken, the radiator is holding pressure, and the pump is working so I'm not sure what the problem is.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Bandit
05/21/2014 at 20:26

One of 2 things is occurring.

1) Check your spark plugs you might need new ones.

2) You have an overheating ignition coil and need to replace it with a new one.

Probably #2.

crowmolly > Bandit
05/21/2014 at 20:26

When it's warm does it run like crap from idle all the way to WOT? Or is it good idling and putt putting but bad at WOT? How about rough off-idle?

Bandit > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
05/21/2014 at 20:27

The plugs are pretty new but it can't hurt to change them. I have an HEI distributor so does that still apply?

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Bandit
05/21/2014 at 20:27

Check my other comment I think I figured it out.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Bandit
05/21/2014 at 20:28

Yes I am pretty sure it still applies as always do the cheap things first.

Bandit > crowmolly
05/21/2014 at 20:29

When hot it barely idles, won't hold an idle in gear, and when you lift off the gas after giving it some throttle it would die. When cold you can drive it without it stuttering or dying.

Goggles Pizzano > Bandit
05/21/2014 at 20:30

Vapor lock?

Bandit > Goggles Pizzano
05/21/2014 at 20:32

What's that?

deekster_caddy > Bandit
05/21/2014 at 20:33

Did you check for vacuum leaks? Also you mentioned elsewhere that the choke wasn't hooked up. If that doesn't open all the way it will continue to run rich. I'm still suspicious of a big vacuum leak.

edit - what exactly does "won't run worth a damn" mean? What it's doing will help us point towards the different problems.

Goggles Pizzano > Bandit
05/21/2014 at 20:36

When the heat of the engine turns the fuel to vapor in the lines or carb. I'd check the lines first.

Your boy, BJR > Bandit
05/21/2014 at 20:36

piss off any old gypsy women lately?

Bandit > Goggles Pizzano
05/21/2014 at 20:38

Possibly. The metal fuel line runs within a half inch of the front of the block all the way up from the bottom of the car to the carb. I think it is the stock routing but I could be wrong.

Bandit > deekster_caddy
05/21/2014 at 20:39

I fixed a huge vacuum leak a couple days ago. It made a huge difference. When hot it barely idles, won't hold an idle in gear, and when you lift off the gas after giving it some throttle it would die. When cold you can drive it without it stuttering or dying.

Goggles Pizzano > Bandit
05/21/2014 at 20:43

Yes, possible. Hard to say for sure though. Even stock routing can give trouble. Welcome to the 70's. :-)x

Takuro Spirit > Bandit
05/21/2014 at 20:55

ls SWAP

Everyone chant!

(but seriously, all the other people sound correct. Just got to narrow it down to which one is causing the issue. God I hate carbs. >:((((()

deekster_caddy > Bandit
05/21/2014 at 21:05

Does it idle normally in park/neutral? With no vacuum leaks I believe you are supposed to set the idle speed and mixtures warm, in drive (e-brake set). If you can't get it to idle right in drive there are most likely more vacuum leaks. Did you spray around the baseplate and intake manifold?

deekster_caddy > Goggles Pizzano
05/21/2014 at 21:08

The only times I've had vapor lock from heat was with headers that ran right next to the fuel line against the frame rail. It was boiling the gas. Ended up putting an electric fuel pump near the tank to solve it. I'm not thinking he's getting things that hot at this stage.

desertdog5051 > Bandit
05/21/2014 at 22:22

I agree with Vince. Coil could be bad and getting hot which will certainly produce the symptoms you speak of.

Bandit > desertdog5051
05/21/2014 at 23:03

I'll check it out. How do I know it is bad?

Bandit > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
05/21/2014 at 23:03

How do I check to see if it is bad?

desertdog5051 > Bandit
05/21/2014 at 23:25

I assume you have an early HEI ignition. Read through this and it may be of help.

http://forums.carcraft.com/70/661769/gene…

BJohnson11 > Bandit
05/22/2014 at 00:16

Others seem correct. Only other thing I could guess is that if you have a vacuum advance carb, did you set timing with the vacuum plugged on both the carb and the distributor? Not doing so would result in timing that gets off when the car goes out of park (more load on the engine means more vacuum being pulled means more likely timing would get off). Doesn't explain the whole not running well when hot thing, but something to look into.

The Swedish Bandit > Bandit
05/22/2014 at 01:53

wrong fuel/air mixture or faulty fuel pump.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Bandit
05/22/2014 at 07:47

You can know if your ignition coil is bad when you see signs such as the engine of the car will not begin or it will start and stop at some point before the car moves. Another sign is fuel will not be enough and the car will experience the removal of black smoke and fuel smell will be cast out from the exhaust.