zdillinger
Well-Known Member
Gentleman,
Having pulled my '73 Satellite out for the year (90 in March... in Michigan... who would have guessed?), I've been driving all over the last week or so. However, I have a strange problem and I'm seeking your collective wisdom and suggestions. For reference, it is a 318 2bbl with 904 auto. 2.73 8 1/4 rear end. Bone stock (to my knowledge) except for Blaster 2 coil (cheap mexican one died on me and this is what I had on hand to replace it, hate the red instead of black, but oh well).
In addition to being a real b$%$@ to start while cold, while driving around town I have a part-throttle stumble and vibration, as well as some nasty snarl-pops out the exhaust (this might be the burned up cherry bombs fault). Once warm, it idles strong at 800 rpm, and accelerates strongly, although when cold it wants to stall when I hit the pedal a little. I've set the accelerator pump and the choke kick per FSM. I've adjusted the mixture so that, at idle, it pulls about 18 inches of vacuum (checked through the PCV valve hose to the carb, 18 was the highest I could get). The plugs look good, not gas fouled or lean-white, but a nice toasty brown color. The fuel filter and pump were new last year and have less than 250 miles overall. Good hot spark, timing set per FSM. Vacuum advance works properly.
The only problem that I know for sure is an exhaust leak from the right manifold, which I believe has to do with the heat riser, and terribly loud cherry bombs that accentuate every pop and snarl. Sounds bad-*** but I need to quiet it down a bit. I don't think either of those have an effect on the problem, perhaps the riser issue could.
Could it be the float setting? Would seem strange to me, since it really revs up nicely when you stomp on it (when at operating temp).
I've checked or replaced every vacuum line. Retorqued the intake manifold and carb. I don't suspect vacuum leaks.
Do you guys have any suggestions, other than dumping the 2bbl? I'd like to keep the car as stock as possible (sentimental reasons). If it comes to it, I'd consider dumping it, but it is a last, last ditch effort. I don't care about speed, this is just a cruiser and I'd like it to be as reliable as a 40+ year old car can be. Am I expecting too much of this car? I'd like it to run smooth, no vibration or stumbles.
Having pulled my '73 Satellite out for the year (90 in March... in Michigan... who would have guessed?), I've been driving all over the last week or so. However, I have a strange problem and I'm seeking your collective wisdom and suggestions. For reference, it is a 318 2bbl with 904 auto. 2.73 8 1/4 rear end. Bone stock (to my knowledge) except for Blaster 2 coil (cheap mexican one died on me and this is what I had on hand to replace it, hate the red instead of black, but oh well).
In addition to being a real b$%$@ to start while cold, while driving around town I have a part-throttle stumble and vibration, as well as some nasty snarl-pops out the exhaust (this might be the burned up cherry bombs fault). Once warm, it idles strong at 800 rpm, and accelerates strongly, although when cold it wants to stall when I hit the pedal a little. I've set the accelerator pump and the choke kick per FSM. I've adjusted the mixture so that, at idle, it pulls about 18 inches of vacuum (checked through the PCV valve hose to the carb, 18 was the highest I could get). The plugs look good, not gas fouled or lean-white, but a nice toasty brown color. The fuel filter and pump were new last year and have less than 250 miles overall. Good hot spark, timing set per FSM. Vacuum advance works properly.
The only problem that I know for sure is an exhaust leak from the right manifold, which I believe has to do with the heat riser, and terribly loud cherry bombs that accentuate every pop and snarl. Sounds bad-*** but I need to quiet it down a bit. I don't think either of those have an effect on the problem, perhaps the riser issue could.
Could it be the float setting? Would seem strange to me, since it really revs up nicely when you stomp on it (when at operating temp).
I've checked or replaced every vacuum line. Retorqued the intake manifold and carb. I don't suspect vacuum leaks.
Do you guys have any suggestions, other than dumping the 2bbl? I'd like to keep the car as stock as possible (sentimental reasons). If it comes to it, I'd consider dumping it, but it is a last, last ditch effort. I don't care about speed, this is just a cruiser and I'd like it to be as reliable as a 40+ year old car can be. Am I expecting too much of this car? I'd like it to run smooth, no vibration or stumbles.
