Getting closer

[Mark_88]

I've been tinkering with the Ranger since putting the engine back together about two months ago...would not start...then it would start but wouldn't run...finally got it to run after checking the timing again...but the engine lopes a bit and won't actually stay running without reving it manually...

Since I did a mild P&P on the head before getting the valves done and the head milled I was wondering if this might play a part in the rough idle...I still don't have the exhaust complete (missing the muffler) and thought this might have some effect on it since there is little or no back pressure. Oh, and the EGR is wide open but even when I plugged that up it did the same thing...

Any thoughts?

 

[ILLEGALCONCEPTS]

I can't see the P&P doing anything like that. DaveR did my head and my truck idles like normal. Have you checked for a vac. leak? After we did the head on the Ranger, I noticed a slight loss in VAC after a week or so. It started to idle funny and got so bad it sounded like a radical cam was installed. It turned out to be my lower intake manifold to head gasket. It tore at the number 4 cylinder, I couldn't see it or even dream of it being bad since it was new with the head swap. The muffler would have no effect either other then being letting the truck be loud, many summer I have run w/o my muffler with no ill effects. So I guess I am saying to check EVERYTHING to make sure it is plugged in or plugged up.

James

 

[Mark_88]

Thanks James...I can check for vac leaks again...the gasket was new and there are only two or three holes to plug on the carb (as compared to about 9 on the original carb)...

I had them put a stock cam in the head when it was rebuilt but it seems to lope more than I remember when I had the racing cam in it...just rolling the cam with a wrench it seems to have an unusual lope in it just before it hits the cam mark timing mark on the head...

 

[ILLEGALCONCEPTS]

Thats odd. I remember Dave got a little worried when my truck started acting up. He thought maybe a valve was hanging up for some reason, but he did do A LOT of work to my head to get the turbo valves. There was a design change in '95 that used different valves and springs and required him to fab some things up. I actually have valve springs from a Chrysler straight 6, they were the right specs and solved some problems.

I wish I had more advise for you, what about the carb? Could it be limiting the gas too much at idle? How does it run once you give it some gas?

James

 

[Mark_88]

Hmmm...and just where is Dave? He gave me more helpful tips than anyone else here and I practically built my Ranger on his advice...

Hope he's OK...I guess getting married and all keeps him busy enough...tell him I said HI if you ever talk to him...

Edit...almost forgot...

The truck revs up and will stay reved and even out as long as I keep my foot on the pedal...I've tried adjusting the idle screw but it didn't help...

 

[skippy]

Hmmm...and just where is Dave? He gave me more helpful tips than anyone else here and I practically built my Ranger on his advice...

Hope he's OK...I guess getting married and all keeps him busy enough...tell him I said HI if you ever talk to him...

Edit...almost forgot...

The truck revs up and will stay reved and even out as long as I keep my foot on the pedal...I've tried adjusting the idle screw but it didn't help...

carb or fuel infected?

 

[Mark_88]

Dave? I think he was fuel injected...

LOL~!

Actually, my truck is carbed...using one from a 78 mustang...ran pretty good before I started the rebuild...

 

[ILLEGALCONCEPTS]

So it seems to run fine once you are off idle? If so, check your pressure and flow. Maybe something is clogged and won't allow enough flow for the low demand of idle.

I don't know what happened with Dave. He came down to my place last year to help me install the head on my Ranger and we were talking about making a custom intake to "fix" the design flaw of the stocker. Plus it would allow me to run the FMIC with ease. He helped me out A LOT. I probably never would have even considered doing a turbo w/o his advise.

James

 

[feellnfroggy]

Did You Get This Fixed? Sounds Like A Cabr Jetting Problem, If The Jets On The Carb Are Stock For The Mustang(was It 4 Cyl Or 8cyl Mustang) Then The Jets Prolly Arent Right For Your System. Its Running Rich On The Bottom End And Leaning Out Up Top. Carbed Motors Are Known For This.

 

[Mark_88]

The carb was from a 2.3 and I used it with the intake previously and had it running fine. I just now got it to idle for longer than a few minutes and it even revs up...I had the vac advance connected to the carb outlet but it should have been directly to the upper intake...once I did that it ran better...

Problem is, it only runs like this with full choke (butterfly closed completely)...once I open the choke it starts to die...and when it was running 4 years ago I never needed the choke at all, even on the coldest days...

I'm thinking that it is still a vacuum issue...but I haven't figured that out...

Any more thoughts on this???

 

[skippy]

The carb was from a 2.3 and I used it with the intake previously and had it running fine. I just now got it to idle for longer than a few minutes and it even revs up...I had the vac advance connected to the carb outlet but it should have been directly to the upper intake...once I did that it ran better...

Problem is, it only runs like this with full choke (butterfly closed completely)...once I open the choke it starts to die...and when it was running 4 years ago I never needed the choke at all, even on the coldest days...

I'm thinking that it is still a vacuum issue...but I haven't figured that out...

Any more thoughts on this???

make it a little richer?

 

[Mark_88]

Ahhhhh....I'd been turning the mixture screw both in and out...but I think I might have leaned it out a bit...will try that tomorrow...getting too dark here now...

thanks!

 

[Mark_88]

Tried the adjustment screw for the fuel mixture...same...it will run for about 30 seconds after opening the choke and then die...if I rev it up manually it will run at the higher RPM but once I let it off it stalls...tried adjusting the idle screw too...same...would have to put it up quite high to keep it running...

Can't seem to find any vac leaks anywere either...kinda stumped on this one...

 

[skippy]

Tried the adjustment screw for the fuel mixture...same...it will run for about 30 seconds after opening the choke and then die...if I rev it up manually it will run at the higher RPM but once I let it off it stalls...tried adjusting the idle screw too...same...would have to put it up quite high to keep it running...

Can't seem to find any vac leaks anywere either...kinda stumped on this one...

lack of fuel at idle,hmm.trash in filter/carb,float at proper level,fuel supply?

 

[Mark_88]

Changed the filter...now it will run with the choke open but it fluctuates between low and high idle...I did remove the idle control spring since it was never hooked up in the first place so I don't think that would affect the idle that much...tried adjusting the idle up with the choke in before opening the choke and that's when it kept running longer than it normally would...

Maybe not vac leak after all...maybe that stupid wire for the idle control fell off and I can't find it...

Thanks for all the replies...gonna try adjusting the timing one more time though...it might still be out a bit...