The gremlins have taken over my car

Alan Warman · 07-12-2009, 11:40 PM

I am trying to finish my Stocker, but these little gremlins keep popping up. First, it was the transmission,so I fixed that problem. Well, I finally made it to our local track, not good. The weather sucked... hot, hot and hot. The oxygen altitude was 6200 ft., not good for testing. The car idles just fine, starts easy and drives around the pits just fine. The problem is when I stage the car and come up on the converter (needs more stall). The car starts to rise on the suspension, and around 3000 rpm, it starts to miss, stutter, pop, bang, etc. . It feels like it is on the chip, but it doesn't have one. I have checked the fuel system, changed the carb. ...still the same. So I changed the coil and the MSD box... still no go. Then, I checked the plug wires, grounds, dist. cap, rotor and the dist. pick up, all checked good. Then I ran a compression test. The cylinders went from 175 psi to185 psi. I even looked at the valve train... still nothing. The next thing I will check is the alt., to see if I am getting any feed back. I'm really hoping that someone will have some suggestions for me.

1320racer · 07-13-2009, 03:53 AM

What MSD box?

Kevin Lang · 07-13-2009, 04:16 AM

Alan do you have solid core spark plug wires? Because if you do get rid of them as they will cause RF interference with the MSD box. This will cause a misfire that sounds like you are on a two-step. This condition is worse if the MSD box is mounted close to the dist.Hope this helps you out as I learned this the hard way about 20 years ago. Use suppression core wires ONLY with MSD ignitions. ( don't forget the coil wire too).

danny waters sr · 07-13-2009, 05:26 AM

Try unplugging your tach. That happened to me once. It may be worth a try.

Alan Warman · 07-13-2009, 11:16 AM

1320 Racer it is a MSD 7AL-2 box it was brand new.I used the MSD wiring harness and all the wiring is new.

Kevin it has new MSD 8.5 wires and the box is mounted on the passenger side floor.

Danny I hope it's something that simple.
I have Ohm out the plug wires,dist pick-up,grounds and just about every thing else. I did notice when I pulled the plugs.The plugs show that it is lean,but the exhaust shows rich.Could I have a internal vacuum leak.

Tony Curcio · 07-13-2009, 04:32 PM

A head gasket blown between 2 cylinders will maintain cranking compression, and pop out both the exhaust and intake, and gets especially loud under load. A leakdown will confirm or eliminate that concern.

Is it popping out the carburetor in sort of a rapid-fire? How about a wiped cam? You say you checked the valvetrain though.

If a valve was hanging open or bent, you wouldn't get good compression, but if you have hydraulic lifters that have some travel in the plunger, perhaps they are adjusted a little too tight. I'm thinking the lifters leak down when the engine is off, which would still show good compression, but prevent the valves from seating when oil pressure is increased.

1320racer · 07-13-2009, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Warman

around 3000 rpm, it starts to miss, stutter, pop, bang, etc. . It feels like it is on the chip, but it doesn't have one. .

Even though you say the pickup checked good, I'd changed it.

Based on your description, I had the same problem at 3200 rpm and after changing everything except the pickup, including the box 3 times, a new pickup solved the issue.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Warman

when I stage the car and come up on the converter (needs more stall). The car starts to rise on the suspension

After you solve your ignition problem, you've got to fix this!

Alan Warman · 07-13-2009, 08:17 PM

Well, here is what I tried today. First, I removed the alternator from the system, unplugged tachometer, and changed the battery. Still the same problems. Tomorrow, I will do a leak down test and reset the valves. I will also rob the pickup out of a buddies dist. and try that. Thanks for everyone's help. So far it isn't looking like I will be going to Houston but, I still may be able to make the IHRA race in Dallas in August.

larrylomascolo · 07-14-2009, 03:11 AM

are you using the complete stock wiring in the car,i had A FUSIABLE link that caused that same problems,its a longshot but what the hay,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Rod Greene · 07-14-2009, 08:40 AM

Alan call me. Rod

07-12-2009, 11:40 PM	#1
Alan Warman Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: San Angelo Tx Posts: 231 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The gremlins have taken over my car I am trying to finish my Stocker, but these little gremlins keep popping up. First, it was the transmission,so I fixed that problem. Well, I finally made it to our local track, not good. The weather sucked... hot, hot and hot. The oxygen altitude was 6200 ft., not good for testing. The car idles just fine, starts easy and drives around the pits just fine. The problem is when I stage the car and come up on the converter (needs more stall). The car starts to rise on the suspension, and around 3000 rpm, it starts to miss, stutter, pop, bang, etc. . It feels like it is on the chip, but it doesn't have one. I have checked the fuel system, changed the carb. ...still the same. So I changed the coil and the MSD box... still no go. Then, I checked the plug wires, grounds, dist. cap, rotor and the dist. pick up, all checked good. Then I ran a compression test. The cylinders went from 175 psi to185 psi. I even looked at the valve train... still nothing. The next thing I will check is the alt., to see if I am getting any feed back. I'm really hoping that someone will have some suggestions for me. __________________ Alan Warman STK 4107

07-13-2009, 03:53 AM	#2
1320racer VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,628 Likes: 160 Liked 759 Times in 379 Posts	Re: The gremlins have taken over my car What MSD box?

07-13-2009, 04:16 AM	#3
Kevin Lang Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: southern connecticut Posts: 38 Likes: 10 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: The gremlins have taken over my car Alan do you have solid core spark plug wires? Because if you do get rid of them as they will cause RF interference with the MSD box. This will cause a misfire that sounds like you are on a two-step. This condition is worse if the MSD box is mounted close to the dist.Hope this helps you out as I learned this the hard way about 20 years ago. Use suppression core wires ONLY with MSD ignitions. ( don't forget the coil wire too).

07-13-2009, 05:26 AM	#4
danny waters sr VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: lagrange,nc Posts: 2,224 Likes: 1 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: The gremlins have taken over my car Try unplugging your tach. That happened to me once. It may be worth a try. __________________ Danny Waters, Sr / 73 Duster "340"

07-13-2009, 11:16 AM	#5
Alan Warman Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: San Angelo Tx Posts: 231 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: The gremlins have taken over my car 1320 Racer it is a MSD 7AL-2 box it was brand new.I used the MSD wiring harness and all the wiring is new. Kevin it has new MSD 8.5 wires and the box is mounted on the passenger side floor. Danny I hope it's something that simple. I have Ohm out the plug wires,dist pick-up,grounds and just about every thing else. I did notice when I pulled the plugs.The plugs show that it is lean,but the exhaust shows rich.Could I have a internal vacuum leak. __________________ Alan Warman STK 4107 Last edited by Alan Warman; 07-13-2009 at 11:25 AM.

07-13-2009, 04:32 PM	#6
Tony Curcio Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: West Chester, PA Posts: 271 Likes: 1 Liked 4 Times in 1 Post	Re: The gremlins have taken over my car A head gasket blown between 2 cylinders will maintain cranking compression, and pop out both the exhaust and intake, and gets especially loud under load. A leakdown will confirm or eliminate that concern. Is it popping out the carburetor in sort of a rapid-fire? How about a wiped cam? You say you checked the valvetrain though. If a valve was hanging open or bent, you wouldn't get good compression, but if you have hydraulic lifters that have some travel in the plunger, perhaps they are adjusted a little too tight. I'm thinking the lifters leak down when the engine is off, which would still show good compression, but prevent the valves from seating when oil pressure is increased. __________________ Tony Curcio 1860 STK

07-13-2009, 08:17 PM	#8
Alan Warman Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: San Angelo Tx Posts: 231 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: The gremlins have taken over my car Well, here is what I tried today. First, I removed the alternator from the system, unplugged tachometer, and changed the battery. Still the same problems. Tomorrow, I will do a leak down test and reset the valves. I will also rob the pickup out of a buddies dist. and try that. Thanks for everyone's help. So far it isn't looking like I will be going to Houston but, I still may be able to make the IHRA race in Dallas in August. __________________ Alan Warman STK 4107

07-14-2009, 03:11 AM	#9
larrylomascolo Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Ontario,canada Posts: 440 Likes: 70 Liked 66 Times in 29 Posts	Re: The gremlins have taken over my car are you using the complete stock wiring in the car,i had A FUSIABLE link that caused that same problems,its a longshot but what the hay,,,,,,,,,,,,,

07-14-2009, 08:40 AM	#10
Rod Greene Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: TN Posts: 530 Likes: 415 Liked 242 Times in 81 Posts	Re: The gremlins have taken over my car Alan call me. Rod __________________ Rod Greene Real men shift for them selves. Slowly working on TA Challenger for D,E/S and a 72 Challenger for SS/K, L as if I don't have enough other projects.