Major Shart

So I recently bought this Firebird and I'm not much of a carb guy honestly so I thought I'd ask here. The car starts right up and runs great until it doesn't. I have only driven it once so far. I got it home and fixed a coolant leak then drove it for about five minutes down the street and back and it ran fine. Then I drove it over to my sister's house which is about 3 miles away, another five minutes. I parked it and waited for her and her husband to get ready and we went to go eat. About ten minutes into the drive it started running rough and stumbling then would stall while driving. The longer I drove it the worse it got. We stopped to eat for about an hour and I took the car to get gas not knowing if the fuel gauge was faulty or if it had bad gas in it. I tried to make it home (about fifteen minutes/under ten miles) but it loaded up really bad and even back fired. A few minutes later it stalled again and we towed it home. It starts and idles fine, until it gets hot it seems.

It started back up to get it into the driveway. It also started back up to load onto the trailer then into the storage unit where I'm keeping it. It seems to not like getting hot?

The car seems to be mechanically all original. If I remember correctly it has 106k miles on it. It has a 350 with the tiny Rockchester 2 barrel. Just before I got it some basic maintenance was done to get it up and running. I'm not sure how long it sat before then.

I just want to get it running reliably, I'll make it fast later (455 or 462). My race car is my primary money pit right now this is just to cruise.

Any idea? And who doesn't like pictures...

2ToeRacing

iTrader: (5)

Check the fuel filter first. How long has the car sat? hehehe just sell it to me

Major Shart

I know it hasn't been driven much in the last few years but not sure how long it actually "sat" without running. The fuel filter is new. Everything has a price... Hahah

bleepster

iTrader: (2)

do you smell fuel when it starts to act up? I few things come to mind.

with it setting for a while, your needle in the carb could be gummy, not sealing off the fuel supply once the float bowl reaches proper height, or the float could be off, or sticky.

i'd run come carb cleaner through it. if all else fails, get a rebuild kit for the carb. a 2bbl carb is easy to rebuild.

another thought, is that an electric choke? or hot air choke? once the engine is hot, can you verify that the choke is fully opened?

Major Shart

No I don't recall smelling anything at all. It's a hot air choke that my bro in law looked at and said it's stuck open anyhow if that sounds right.

bleepster

iTrader: (2)

hmm - stuck open - seems like it would be hard to start when cold if stuck open.

I'd try some carb cleaner - it may run like poo until things get cleaned up.

was your backfire thru the carb? if so, that can cause fires, be careful.

Major Shart

Backfire was through the exhaust. It starts fine when cold so far.

bleepster

iTrader: (2)

just for giggles, have you checked the ignition timing?

Major Shart

No I haven't. It's kept in a storage facility about 30 minutes from my house and I haven't messed with it since I put it in there the day after it started messing up. The only thing I did was fix a coolant leak then tried to drive it.

bleepster

iTrader: (2)

as i reflect back to my old 350 days, it could also be distributor related (or coil related)

I had a '76 malibu that would die when hot, my rotor was cracked in the distributor and when things heated up, the car would die. let it cool down, and it would run fine.

Major Shart

Ya that's what my friend said. He thinks maybe distributor or maybe the choke is sticking.

bleepster

iTrader: (2)

keep us posted. Beautiful car

Major Shart

Will do, it's on the back burner while the race car is getting work so it may be a while. Thanks man. I'm very happy to have it. I just wanna drive it now!

abbas461

iTrader: (55)

no vacuum leak ? check distributor cap , every thing is fine ? still

remove this intake with carb and get 4bb intake !!

very nice car !! more pic please !

30thanniv

iTrader: (2)

Aw dude the car's engine is shot. I'll buy it now at a huge discount…lol

It's a carb issue. I'd say stuck needle.

Major Shart

Haven't gotten that far yet but will look into all of those as well. I might switch the intake and carb or I may be fine with the way it is depending on how it feels. I'll be doing either a 455 or 462 eventually but for now just want to cruise it. I'll post up what I have soon. Not so many pictures since I just got it and now it's in storage. Thanks for the compliment!

Major Shart

This is all I have for now. As soon as it gets running right I'm replacing that ratty exhaust. Do you know of any bolt on systems for these cars?

Major Shart

Ya what a money pit. I better just accept whatever someone will give me for it asap huh lol. Ya I'm leaning towards something with the carb too.

bleepster

iTrader: (2)

Sure miss the days of working on older V8's. So much room. So many things to do for more HP. No computers, nothing. Many fond memories rebuilding 350's when I was younger.

Have fun.

Major Shart

Oh no doubt. So simple (other than the fact I'm new to carburators) and such a pleasure to be privileged enough to turn a wrench on something so cool and that's a little older than I am. I though about possibly a carbed LS motor but nah, I can't do that to this car. It'll be all Pontiac. Can't wait to do that. For now I think the finished look will be a pro touring Trans Am tribute. That will be well off in the future because I really don't dislike the way it looks now.

In order- fix this current issue, replace the exhaust , drive it as often as I can and enjoy it. Then depending on funds either just replace the carb with a four barrel (and intake) or just build the 455/462.