Crappy throttle response and detonation...Save me!!

Frankenstang65 · 12-22-2001, 07:25 PM

Ok...so here's the deal. I've been having a lot of trouble trying to get my car to idle/run right for the past few days. It starts up pretty well, and idles ok (around 700 rpm or so), but whenever I punch the throttle it stumbles like it's not getting enough gas. It'll rev ok to about 1500 or so, then I hear a loud "GASP" from the carb and then it chokes out. If I richen the air/fuel mixture it seems rev up a lot better, but only when I get it so rich that black smoke is pouring out of the tailpipes.
A friend of mine suggested that the timing might be off. I retarded the distributer a little (I have to do it by ear because my motor is missing the pointer) and it seemed to help things slightly. Advancing the timing didn't help at all. The only problem (after retarding) is that now it detonates like crazy even at 1/4-1/2 throttle on flat ground. I checked the vaccuum advance to see if that was the problem, but everything there seems to be working ok.
Is there something simple I'm over looking? This thing has got me pretty frustrated. Also, do any of you know where the timing pointer is supposed to be on an early (69-73) 351W? Maybe if i get that figured out, some of my other problems will go away.

Any advice/insight would be greatly appreciated...thanks in advance!

12-22-2001, 07:25 PM	#1
Frankenstang65 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 79	Crappy throttle response and detonation...Save me!! Ok...so here's the deal. I've been having a lot of trouble trying to get my car to idle/run right for the past few days. It starts up pretty well, and idles ok (around 700 rpm or so), but whenever I punch the throttle it stumbles like it's not getting enough gas. It'll rev ok to about 1500 or so, then I hear a loud "GASP" from the carb and then it chokes out. If I richen the air/fuel mixture it seems rev up a lot better, but only when I get it so rich that black smoke is pouring out of the tailpipes. A friend of mine suggested that the timing might be off. I retarded the distributer a little (I have to do it by ear because my motor is missing the pointer) and it seemed to help things slightly. Advancing the timing didn't help at all. The only problem (after retarding) is that now it detonates like crazy even at 1/4-1/2 throttle on flat ground. I checked the vaccuum advance to see if that was the problem, but everything there seems to be working ok. Is there something simple I'm over looking? This thing has got me pretty frustrated. Also, do any of you know where the timing pointer is supposed to be on an early (69-73) 351W? Maybe if i get that figured out, some of my other problems will go away. Any advice/insight would be greatly appreciated...thanks in advance! __________________ 1965 Coupe: 351W, comp cam, Aluminum Systemax II heads (2.02/1.60), 1.7 Cobra full roller rockers, Edelbrock intake, Holley 650 double pumper, Mallory Unilite, MSD-6AL, MSD Blaster 2 coil, MSD heli-core plug wires, Hedman headers, 2 1/2" exhaust (GT style) w/ 40 series delta flows, 69 C4 w/ shift kit, shelby traction bars, 3.55:1 rear Daily Driver: 1989 GT- 5spd, K&N (no silencer), Shorty Headers, King Cobra Clutch, Flowmaster Force II Cat-back