need motor help

[derekshep]

Ok I got a fresh rebuilt 1835cc and it will start right up and idle fine. In neutral it will Rev up fine. Driving down the driveway its fine but when I get on the road it starts to speed up then falls on its face and starts spitting sputtering and cutting out. Then dies.

Carb is freshly rebuilt too.

Where to start?

[Unkl Ian]

Accelerator pump ?
Fuel filter ?

Who "rebuilt" the carb ?

[purplemyth]

I think this is what my car did when the idle stop solenoid crapped out a few years ago.
Type/model of carb you have might help.

[derekshep]

Holley progressive

[derekshep]

Could it be the advance timing ob the distributor

I had a friend over helping me wire and he hooked the distributor to the positive on the coil when I turned the ignition on it started smoking so I unhooked the wire. The wire in the distributor got hot. Could this be the problem that it starts fine but not advancing.

[rostigbug]

on the coil the + terminal should have a wire that has 12VDC when the key is on
and the - terminal should have a wire that goes directly to the points

[derekshep]

Originally Posted by rostigbug

on the coil the + terminal should have a wire that has 12VDC when the key is on
and the - terminal should have a wire that goes directly to the points

I know I got it hooked up right now but my question is could it have messed up the advance timing when it smoked while hooked up wrong

[metalmaster1766]

Originally Posted by derekshep

I know I got it hooked up right now but my question is could it have messed up the advance timing when it smoked while hooked up wrong

I doubt it did anything to the timing advance mechanism, but it most likely screwed up your points & condencer

First if it has a vacuum advance, I'd check that by sucking on the hose that goes to the advance diaphragm and watch the inside of the distributor to make sure it works & doesn't have any leaks, then replace your points & condenser, then see what happens


Ron

[derekshep]

By the looks of it it is the street advance distributor so if I'm not mistaken it doesn't have a vacuum line

[trikertroy]

Iv seen this same problem when the timeing was too far advanced..All is well in the garage but on the street, under load, the dizzy advances the timing too much.

[derekshep]

So on a 1835 with w110 cam what should the timing be

[derekshep]

Got it going asked my neighbor to help me check out the points and we reset them and she runs great

[Pop]

Are you saying that you did not know how to reset the points ? Pop

[derekshep]

They when I bought the motor it was supposed to be broke in and tuned. But as it seems it wasn't. I have never had anything with points before so im learning

[metalmaster1766]

VW's need the points checked and adjusted every 3000 miles

Back before I bought the Petronix electronic ignition (best $45 I ever spent, it replaces the points) if I didn't adjust my points weekly it would slowly run like shit until I finally did reset them, it's also good to keep a real small file (I used a modified metal finger nail file) in the glove box along with a screw driver & thickness gauges

Up until around 1973 or 74 most American cars had to have the points adjusted about every 3000 to 5000 miles, then they came out with the HEI to replace the points

Buy the John Muir book "How to keep your VW Alive for the Complete Idiot" and read chapter the chapter "How Works a VW " & "How to Drive a VW" hell just read the first 5 chapters, it's written in simple English, simple so a 12 year old who has the ability to follow along, fix & keep a VW running, plus the newer books have simple illustrations that help

I have an old book that was printed before dual port heads came along, I think it covered up to 1970

Ron

[Pop]

Originally Posted by metalmaster1766

VW's need the points checked and adjusted every 3000 miles

Back before I bought the Petronix electronic ignition (best $45 I ever spent, it replaces the points) if I didn't adjust my points weekly it would slowly run like shit until I finally did reset them, it's also good to keep a real small file (I used a modified metal finger nail file) in the glove box along with a screw driver & thickness gauges

Up until around 1973 or 74 most American cars had to have the points adjusted about every 3000 to 5000 miles, then they came out with the HEI to replace the points

Buy the John Muir book "How to keep your VW Alive for the Complete Idiot" and read chapter the chapter "How Works a VW " & "How to Drive a VW" hell just read the first 5 chapters, it's written in simple English, simple so a 12 year old who has the ability to follow along, fix & keep a VW running, plus the newer books have simple illustrations that help

I have an old book that was printed before dual port heads came along, I think it covered up to 1970

Ron

I wore out 2 of John Muir's book on "How to keep your VW Alive and for the Complete Idiot". Every VW owner needs one. It even tells you when to take a break and get something cold to drink. Pop

[VOLKSWAGNER420]

Points should be replaced with an electronic ignition and then smashed repeatedly with a large hammer. If you have to set them again the plastic from a pack of cigs will usually have the gap in your points in the right ballpark. I would go with the first option tho.

[derekshep]

Originally Posted by VOLKSWAGNER420

Points should be replaced with an electronic ignition and then smashed repeatedly with a large hammer. If you have to set them again the plastic from a pack of cigs will usually have the gap in your points in the right ballpark. I would go with the first option tho.

will be the next thing replaced forsure

[Timbo]

Use good Bosch points and good lube on the lobe in the distributor and you wont have any problems with points. I have ran them since the mid 80's and only had to replace/adjust them every 4-5 years. I've tried petronix in before and have a couple of friends and they wouldnt last long. When they go out you are stuck unless you have an extra to put back in it, with points you can adjust them and get back home. JMHO
Tim

[Pop]

Originally Posted by Timbo

Use good Bosch points and good lube on the lobe in the distributor and you wont have any problems with points. I have ran them since the mid 80's and only had to replace/adjust them every 4-5 years. I've tried petronix in before and have a couple of friends and they wouldnt last long. When they go out you are stuck unless you have an extra to put back in it, with points you can adjust them and get back home. JMHO
Tim

Very true. I have over 1.2 million miles driving VW's since 1969 and all with points. Never any problems with Bosch points and always a problem with any other brand. Also buy Bosch spark plugs. pop

[Unkl Ian]

Originally Posted by VOLKSWAGNER420

If you have to set them again the plastic from a pack of cigs will usually have the gap in your points in the right ballpark.

Nope.


Measure the plastic, and compare
that to the factory setting.

[VOLKSWAGNER420]

UNK, I have never set them on a VW (and never will!!!) but that used to do it on the SBC I have had that still used them. I still say ditch em. If you don't trust the new Protronix one then buy an extra for the glove box, they are cheap enough. Bosch spark plugs ARE the ticket tho!

[trikertroy]

The complete petronix disturbutor uses rivits to hold down the module... the points replacement kit uses the stock screw.. So you can swap a dead module on the side of the road.

[Pop]

When a module goes out, its like you turned the switch off. With points its a gradual thing. Pop

[metalmaster1766]

Originally Posted by Timbo

Use good Bosch points and good lube on the lobe in the distributor and you wont have any problems with points. I have ran them since the mid 80's and only had to replace/adjust them every 4-5 years. I've tried petronix in before and have a couple of friends and they wouldnt last long. When they go out you are stuck unless you have an extra to put back in it, with points you can adjust them and get back home. JMHO
Tim

I bought my Petronix ignition back in 1987, I've probably put at least 250,000 miles on it, if not more with no trouble at all, they even sat since June 1997 until November 2010, then I grabbed the distributor, stuck it in an after putting P/C's onto a short block and still going strong
(I also keep a spare distributor with points set and ready to exchange if the Petronix ever goes out but don't tell anyone)

Hey Pop, I'm on my 3rd copy of John Muir's book, that's not counting the 1970 edition I got when I bought a $50 VW, I hope to keep it in good condition with no greasy finger prints in it it doesn't have near as many illustrations in it


Ron