Ok I cant seem to figure what else I need to check.

The problem, when the engine is idleing everything is fine sounds like a smooth idle, not missing. When I try to accelerate It sputters and surges. This could be any acceleration, even from a stop.

I've so far replaced both my fuel filters, the coil, cap, rotor, wires, and plugs. I've tried using an electric fuel pump, I've even unhooked the pump output and I see that I'm getting great flow from the pump. The Distributor is nice and tight no rotation or movement.

I've not been able to get it to thow any codes and the CEL is not on. What else should I be looking for?

 

Fuel injected or carb?
Does it sputter just when you try to accelerate and then go away as RPMs increase, or does it continue to sputter continuouslyuntil you back off the throttle?

 

Alloro,

Its a 2barrel carb, and it sputters until I get back off the throttle. If I absolutely floor it It will go about 45. If I pop it into neutral like that the engine sounds fine, but I don't know if it really is or not. This happened once before, and after letting it sit for a few days it was fine. Unfortunately I cant let it sit this time.

The bigest drag is that I'm in N. Tonawanda and lots of my tools are 90 miles from here. in Rochester

 

It sounds very similar to the problem I am having with mine. I thought it was a battery related problem, but after a few days it started to happen again. I found that if I gently tap the gas pedal .. it would get to the speed required just fine. Maybe worth trying to see if we have the identical problem. The only reason I have not fixed mine is that it runs absoultley perfectly on Liquid Petroleum Gas. So if you do have the same problem, this may help you to narrow down the fault as if it works for one fuel type .. in theory it should work with all!

 

Sounds like it's either a loss of ignition advance or dirt in the carb, butI'd lean more toward the carb. Agood cleaning and a rebuild kit should do the trick.

 

Thanks a bunch, the carb cleaner seems to have taken care of it. I took a double barreled approach. I poured gas treatment/carb cleaner in the tank, and cleanedoff the choke plate and throat with spray cleaner. It took care of almost everything -- execpt for a slight hesitation when accelerating which I think that may be the float/needle sticking.

Any idea what causes the carb to varnish up? This 318 has the older valve covers which have the
internal plate over the PCV and Breather holes to prevent oil from entering the air cleaner but I never had this problem on my 83 which used those covers, nor my 87 which didn't.

I hope to buy a replacement carb in the next few months so I guess I'll just limp this one along until then.

 

The hesitation when accelerating is probably due to a worn accelerator pump diaphragm. Rather than spending big bucks on a new carb, a $15-$20 rebuild kit should have it running like new.

The varnish build up is a result of the carb running cooler than the surrounding parts. The carb runs cooler because of the liquid fuel and air flowing through it. It's kind of like condensation forming on a glass of ice water on a hot and humid day.

Oil coming up through the PVC system is caused by worn rings. The blow-by builds up slight pressure within the crankcase and the only outlets are the PVC hose, oil filler cap and dipstick, with the latter 2 usually being closed off, leaving just the PVC hose. It's not a constant pressure but more like a pulsation as the pistons go up and down. Sometimes this can be observed by placing a piece of paper over the air cleaner end of the PVC hose and seeing if the paper is getting pushed or pulled.