Moparchat - Home of MOPAR enthusiasts worldwide!



Go Back   Moparchat - Home of MOPAR enthusiasts worldwide! > Technical Forums > Performance Talk

Click here to search for Mopar cars and parts for sale.


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 11-14-2002, 01:10 AM
Bigerik's Avatar
Bigerik Bigerik is offline
Inactive User
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: PA
Posts: 66
Default Edelbrock- 318 Problems

Hi All! Just bought an 85 Fifth Ave that I am enjoying greatly allready. Having a couple of problems tho. Before I got the car, it had been converted to an MSD 6A ignition with blaster 2 and Mallory Unilite Mechanical advance distributor, Edelbrock 1406 and Performer intake. Has elcheapo looking chrome valve covers with an plug-in type Edelbrock breather, and a non-stock PCV valve (the stock one falls right thru the hole in the grommet), that seems to be sitting kinda losely in the hole. Aside from a rebuild to stock specs about 20000 miles ago, it has no other engine work. Still running stock gearing and stock tranny.
Now heres where I am having problems. I swapped the distributor to a stock Chrysler Vac advance one gave it a good tune up and have been playing with it since. One weird thing that it does is that when accelerating, but not driving at a constant speed, you can smell gas in the car. Not over powering, but a noticeable scent. Gas mileage also isn't quite all it might be. On a gentle highway run to and from work, at about an average of 60 mph, I am getting approx 17 mpg. Am aiming for 20. Also, one can smell gas in the oil (Mobil One). Never a good thing.
One person told me I needed a better breather (it has the Edelbrock chrome kind). Anyone have any thoughts? THis is a car I am hoping to keep for a very long time, but for now, it needs to do duty as a daily driver too. Thanks! Erik
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11-14-2002, 01:28 AM
rumblefish360's Avatar
rumblefish360 rumblefish360 is offline
Moparchat Bronze member
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: C
Age: 57
Posts: 11,120
Default

Your not leaking any gas are you? Check for craked lines or at least dry rotted ones.
The distrib swap might have cost you a MPG or 2 because he could have taken the time to dial it in.
Also, if it ran good with that distrib and poorer with the MoPar unit, a switch back may be in order. The MoPar unit may not be up to task the way the Mallory was. The little things that you never give a second thought to may contribute to the problems.
17 MPG isn't to bad. Try and open air cleaner on top of a small 4bbl. (U didnt say what you had) Jet lean , duel exhaust with an "H" pipe and twin cats if there needed just after the "H" pipe.
Headers are a great help in the more mile per gallon help.
I have gotten 20 MPG's from a 360 in a '79 Magnum.
No headers on that ride.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11-14-2002, 01:35 AM
Bigerik's Avatar
Bigerik Bigerik is offline
Inactive User
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: PA
Posts: 66
Default

Hi Rumblefish.
It is actually running MUCH better with the new distibutor. Before he said he was frequently getting 9-10 mpg. No power. It was all set up wrong. Right now it does have a small 4 barrel (edelbrock 1406), that I got with the car, but the vacuum advance distributor really made things run a lot better. I basically stole the car from him because he got fed up with it not running right. I am MUCH closer allready, but still need that last little bit.
Oh, and there does not appear to be a fuel line leak!
Thanks
Erik
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11-14-2002, 01:54 AM
rumblefish360's Avatar
rumblefish360 rumblefish360 is offline
Moparchat Bronze member
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: C
Age: 57
Posts: 11,120
Default

Then your probably running a tad rich on the power step of the rod and/or secondays.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 11-14-2002, 12:23 PM
RogerH's Avatar
RogerH RogerH is offline
Inactive User
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Torrance, CA
Age: 48
Posts: 506
Default

17 MPG....I was lucky to get 15 to 16 with a TBI injected SB chevy. I would think that pretty good for a 4-barrel carb. Fine tuning the carb might get you a little better, and disconnecting the secondaries too!
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 11-14-2002, 01:32 PM
Billydelrio Billydelrio is offline
Inactive User
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Del Rio, Texas, USA
Posts: 919
Default

Gas in the oil could be the fuel pump going/gone bad.

Billy
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
looking for an edelbrock STR-15 snook Parts Wanted 6 10-11-2003 09:56 PM
Edelbrock s/b aluminum head problems ! BIG BLOCK BILL Performance Talk 12 02-12-2003 02:41 AM
Coincidence: heating problems and electrical problems??? ttraut@unlockit Performance Talk 12 07-14-2002 07:04 PM
Edelbrock idle problems rb77413 Performance Talk 7 01-21-2002 10:00 PM
edelbrock tm6 sctur601 Performance Talk 3 10-07-2000 04:13 AM




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:12 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
. . . . .