Car won't idle all of the sudden - car in parking lot @ local shopping center

[whytry]

Went for a drive got on it, just throught 2nd into 3rd, got out of it, coasted for a short distance, turned into shopping plaza and the car started idling horribly, and then died. Went to start again cranked for awhile and started smelling gas, then it finally started. I would say it cranked for about 30 seconds before starting, was acting like it was flooded (smell and AFR reading was 9.6) then finally started and sounded like it had a bad miss, really bad, and then died again. Cranked again for about 30 seconds and started again, would not idle below 1500 rpm, and it was rough at best. now if I gave it some throttle it cleared out and I could not hear or feel a miss at all, but let off gas and without idle turned above 15-1800 it would die on its own, almost slowly loosing RPM until it got below 1000 and dies.... I have checked timing, its good, dist locked out @ 40 which is where its been for awhile and I've put about 200 miles on it without problems until now....

Emergency room, because its sitting in the parking lot in a shopping center not in the garage at my house..... I've turned the idle up enough to get it to run but when I go to put it in gear to drive off, when the clutch engages it dies...

Ideas, thoughts, past experiences? Help

[megaladon6]

carb or efi?

[WS6]

Is the IAC and TPS still intact and functioning? I'm assuming this is for the 68. MAP or MAF connected properly? I'm betting it is something simple like that.

[whytry]

It's carbbed.. Sorry for that...

[WS6]

Have you tried checking for vacuum leaks? Spray ether all around the carb while it is running and the air cleaner is on. See if it responds. Only thing else I can think of is to make sure all the screws and settings are still intact and check the movement of the carb to ensure it's correct. Any chance this thing is starving for fuel from say a bad fuel pump or clogged filter?

[OHCbird]

So- it sounds as if it's rich... What are you using for a fuel pressure regulator? It sounds as if it's dumping fuel in there- maybe a boost reference line is off, or you ruptured a diaphragm of sorts.

I say this because it sounds as i f your problems all have to do with the idle circuit... which is very succeptible to fuel pressure.

Let us know what else you find.

JEFF

[MrQuick]

Yeah, I agree.

If it went that fast it sounds like you lost a power valve or stuck a needle seat.

[whytry]

upon some inspection it looks like the boost referenced fuel pressure line was off, put the line back on it still is having same issues... I probably got 15 miles on it without the boost line connected, not really standing on it, until it happened...

How do I know if I lost a power valve? Is there something visual I can see upon inspection? I'll try to check needle and seat too. I gonna get some dinner and then go back and start working on it more..

We pushed the car under some lights so I have some time to continue working on it before the parking lot becomes a ghost town, right now it's @ the gas station in one of the 15 minutes spots...

[MrQuick]

If your line was off would that give you max fuel pressure? Might be the original problem but now your plugs are most likely fowled. Pull an easy one and see how it is.

If its super wet, i'd recommend replacing all but pull them then crank it over to clear the cylinders.

You will need to run it a bit to check the valves and or needle seats. Carefully look down the carb horn at idle and see if there is fuel dripping out. Should not be any at idle. Wish I was closer.

[whytry]

No Vince, fuel pressure was rock solid @ 7 psi.... It might have gotten lean when boost was building up, or low in bowls but pressure did not go to max. Thanks Vince, I appreciate it. Eating and typing now, should be about 20 minutes till I head back over.

[OHCbird]

If the powervalve is busted, it'll dump fuel in there. If it's a blower-carb (it is), it'll have a modd'd powervalve in there due to the boost.

[whytry]

Is there a way to pull to PV out and check it? Or how can I check for a busted PV?

[whytry]

fuel pump is electric, so I can turn it on without starting the car if that helps....

[MrQuick]

That would help for needle seat failure detection. You can pull it out (requires bowl and front metering block removal) and see if its wrinkled. or just suck on it...you can tell cause you'll have evidence of fuel on both sides of it.

See if its dripping out the boosters at idle. Carefull or your destin to loose an eye brow or two.

[whytry]

Luckily, I friend came to help and he's got a trailer we can use, well trailer it back to the house tonight and I'll get to work tomorrow... I'll have all my tools, etc...

[MrQuick]

cool, get some rest. glad to see it will be safe.

[whytry]

getting a late start. I'll post up what I find out shortly....

[whytry]

Ok, pulled carb hat turned on fuel pump, and its dumping fuel in on the secondary side with the car not running, dumping at a pretty fast pace.

[70bird]

If you know you have 7psi at the carb,and since it happened suddenly, I'm willing to guess there is some debris in the secondary needle and seat. Holley carb. right?

[paul67]

I thought max recomended pressure was 4 1/2 psi as it blows the needle down.