Just get her drivable (3 Viewers)

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onemanarmy said:
Is there supposed to be more robust weather strip here? Maybe a bulb type seal that takes the place of the cream colored piping thats there now?
When the door is shut I can see day light, and creates all type of wind noise.
Click to expand...
My 77 has this weatherstripping there. Almost positive this is the original weatherstripping.

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So I've been battling a 'low on power' issue.

I installed a straight out of the box AFI kit about 2 years ago and have maybe put 2000 miles on it.

Around March I started driving it a bit more, and noticed that it would crank up and idle fine, and rev fine in neutral, but getting going in 1st gear, even on flat ground, I really had to slip the clutch so it wouldn't stall. Even then, it would sometimes ALMOST cut off and I'd get a little backfire through the TBI. This is with a cold or warm engine. Really sucked in town traffic. However, once up past 1500 rpm or so, it would 'take off', relatively speaking, and would keep up with traffic. It feels like secondaries opening. No smoke from tailpipe, oil and coolant look fine and are full.

I also noticed on highway drives, it would heat up higher than normal and get down on power at speed. It doesn't 'overheat' per se....but I do get some bubbling in the overflow tank now....which is new. I used to be able to touch 70mph, but now it won't go much past 60. I think it's sucking fuel more rapidly too....but that could just be in my head. It gets terrible MPG anyway. I had the stock radiator cleaned and tested 10 years ago, and put 10k miles on it maybe. It doesn't leak and looks fine and clean. I've dumped the coolant within 3 years or so and replaced it.

The AFI 02 sensor is suspect.... I'm going to replace it with a Bosch unit. I pulled the front 2 plugs and they are NGK units and gapped at .35....however they have a good bit of white residue on them. Doesn't look healthy.

Other than the new O2, anything I should look at with this AFI kit? It was running 'great' when first installed and up till this year. I've done nothing to it but change the oil.

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With an EFI system you cant trust a good idle. The computer will compensate to make it idle well and you only get an issue under load.
 
O2 sensor would be the first thing to check. Is yours a heated O2 or regular? When I ran a TBI I used regular sensor but had similar issues to yours, it ended up being a fouled sensor. Replacing it made it work but the problem re-appeared later. I added in a heated O2 sensor and never had the issue again. My sensor was also not mounted in the optimal position and orientation due to interference with the frame rails, which is why I suspect it fouled in the first place.
 
Changed out the 02. No change. It seems like it's running lean after about 15 mins of driving. Engine temps get to the 3/4 hot mark (new issue) and it just won't go. Electric fuel pump on frame rail is not louder than usual. Radiator is plenty hot ...I suspected a thermostat issue, but don't think so...no steam from tailpipe, no mixing of fluids. It'll sit and idle, purring like a kitten, all day.

Next step is to change fuel pump and filter, inspect all fuel lines (just not sure.... cause it revs fine in neutral and will get up and go until it gets 'hot', engine temps wise).

Could be anything....maybe the computer lost a solder joint?

Maybe I engine swap it?
 
Checked for vacuum leaks today....all seems good there. No amount of carb cleaner or starting fluid around the typical leak points would change the idle.

When I first installed the AFI system, it would fire right up and idle around 1100 rpm until it warmed up, then slowly idle down to 750-800 and purr like a kitten. Temp gauge would read approx 1/4 hot normally.

Now, it stumbles a bit when first cranking and hunts for idle, eventually idling up to 1100 rpm or so, then easing down to 7-800, and purrs.

The issue is, it heats up quicker than usual, and gets over all hotter...I can feel the difference just getting near the running engine and the gauge goes over half....didn't get above half when idling before. Once up to temp (again, too hot) it stumbles when getting on the throttle quickly, backfires a bit through the carb, and just won't go....feels like it's dragging a 5000 pound trailer. It revs very slowly when actually driving. Both injectors are firing, I took the air cleaner off and checked them.....they spit more fuel in as the throttle is opened. While sitting at idle, it revs up pretty good and no smoke or steam from tailpipe. I was thinking clogged cat ( i installed a generic flowmaster cat with the AFI kit, and all has been well)....but when revving it up while in neutral, it blows full bore out of the tailpipe....and no weird smells.

Brakes are not stuck, and that wouldn't make a difference when idling anyway.

The distributor has not moved and is tight.

No mixing of water/oil anywhere.

Mechanical fan is spinning as intended.

Have not checked fuel pressure or compression, but frame mounted fuel pump is quiet, and it has fresh gas and no smoke from tailpipe.

Thoughts?
 
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