Car is Limping- Please Help (Long)

JohnnyG · 11-01-2001, 09:17 AM

OK, I have a 1991 GT- Bone stock motor. I got the McCarville ford tune-up kit, and while installing it, I broke a vaccuum line (runs from tree at passenger side to just below the alternator). When I started the car, I noticed a slightly rough idle, and the motor stutters when I hit the gas- definitely feels like a bad miss. Ultimately, the car has a very hard time accellerating.

I repaired the vaccuum line and check for leaks. I gapped all plugs to 0.045, triple checked to make sure the cap, rotor, and ignition wires were all hooked-up securely. I checked the timing- Base timing was set to 8 degrees, I bumped it to 12.

I double-checked with Ford to make sure I have the firing order correct. And I went over the entire engine compartment to make sure I re-connected EVERYTHING that I may have disconnected. All vaccuum lines are now in good shape.

But still, the car feels like it has a miss, it accellerates like a lawnmower, and when it is accellerating, it's stuttering the whole way. It sounds like an ignition problem to me, but I can't think of anything else to try! I'm open to suggestions on both what I should do, and reccommendations on what professional should look at it.

Thanks,

John

------------------
1991 GT Vert- Black/Black/Black
MAC 1 5/8" Headers, 2 1/2" H-pipe, 2 1/2" Flows, Tremec, Centerforce Dual Friction, BBK Adj. Quadrant, 3.73s, 3-core rad., K&N, PS-91, Tri-Ax, Blistein Struts/Shocks, H&R Springs, MM Chassis Brace Package, MM C/C Plates, Front-End Poly's, Rear Seat Delete

SaleenGTS · 11-01-2001, 09:38 AM

First of all, bump your timing to 14*.

Secondly I think I know what your problem is, if you have the equal length headers, you prolly burnt a wire....happened to me all the time when I had those pieces of shiznit. If that soesn't work, make sure your firing order is right, check to see if you are still at TDC, check to see if maybe you might of cracked a plug reinstalling them, then check your wires to see if there are any burn marks....the smallest scorch will cause a nasty miss.

------------------
Dustin
89 Saleen GT Sport,347, TFS Street Heat Intake(port matched),TFS TW Heads(Stage 2),TFS #2 cam,BD-11A 9 psi,Crane 1.6 rr's,BBK 70mm TB,Pro-M 80mm MAF,MSD 6BTM, FMS 9mm wires,BBK longtubes,BBK Short H-pipe,American Thunder cat back,3.55's

516 rwhp
553 rwtq

http://www.mustangworks.com/rides/pictures/Listing1549-slot1.jpg

12.3@119 street tires OLD MOTOR

11.496@121.08slicks OLD MOTOR

PKRWUD · 11-01-2001, 10:54 AM

Is your cam stock, and what firing order do you have it set at?

Make sure you have the spark plug wires completely seperated from each other after the cap, all the way to the plugs. Buy seperators if necessary.

Take care,
-Chris

------------------
Retired Moderator
MustangNet

My site: Peckerwoods Pit Stop

My teams site: Jim Porter Racing

RACECAR spelled backwards is RACECAR

HEY !!! Are you ASE Certified ??? If you are, ask me about iATN.

JohnnyG · 11-02-2001, 03:01 PM

Damn! As soon as I read the words "cracked spark plug", I remembered hearing a funny sound coming fron the No.2 plug when installing it- sure enough when i pulled it, all the porcelein crumbled in my hand! That was definitely the problem! Never had that happen before, and I'll never be stumped by that one again!

As a side note, I was on the highway about 5 minutes after putting the plug in, and this rich dude in a Mercedes wanted to race from this toll- Not only did I spank him, but he followed me to the next service area to tell me that his car has 320hp and cost a boat load of cash... he wanted to know what I had under the hood... I told him the same bone stock motor ford put in ten years ago! Think he just might ditch that MB for something that really runs???

-J

------------------
1991 GT Vert- Black/Black/Black
MAC 1 5/8" Headers, 2 1/2" H-pipe, 2 1/2" Flows, Tremec, Centerforce Dual Friction, BBK Adj. Quadrant, 3.73s, 3-core rad., K&N, PS-91, Tri-Ax, Blistein Struts/Shocks, H&R Springs, MM Chassis Brace Package, MM C/C Plates, Front-End Poly's, Rear Seat Delete

11-01-2001, 09:17 AM	#1
JohnnyG Registered Member Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 105	Car is Limping- Please Help (Long) OK, I have a 1991 GT- Bone stock motor. I got the McCarville ford tune-up kit, and while installing it, I broke a vaccuum line (runs from tree at passenger side to just below the alternator). When I started the car, I noticed a slightly rough idle, and the motor stutters when I hit the gas- definitely feels like a bad miss. Ultimately, the car has a very hard time accellerating. I repaired the vaccuum line and check for leaks. I gapped all plugs to 0.045, triple checked to make sure the cap, rotor, and ignition wires were all hooked-up securely. I checked the timing- Base timing was set to 8 degrees, I bumped it to 12. I double-checked with Ford to make sure I have the firing order correct. And I went over the entire engine compartment to make sure I re-connected EVERYTHING that I may have disconnected. All vaccuum lines are now in good shape. But still, the car feels like it has a miss, it accellerates like a lawnmower, and when it is accellerating, it's stuttering the whole way. It sounds like an ignition problem to me, but I can't think of anything else to try! I'm open to suggestions on both what I should do, and reccommendations on what professional should look at it. Thanks, John ------------------ 1991 GT Vert- Black/Black/Black MAC 1 5/8" Headers, 2 1/2" H-pipe, 2 1/2" Flows, Tremec, Centerforce Dual Friction, BBK Adj. Quadrant, 3.73s, 3-core rad., K&N, PS-91, Tri-Ax, Blistein Struts/Shocks, H&R Springs, MM Chassis Brace Package, MM C/C Plates, Front-End Poly's, Rear Seat Delete

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11-01-2001, 09:38 AM	#2
SaleenGTS RICE taste like Chicken Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 687	First of all, bump your timing to 14. Secondly I think I know what your problem is, if you have the equal length headers, you prolly burnt a wire....happened to me all the time when I had those pieces of shiznit. If that soesn't work, make sure your firing order is right, check to see if you are still at TDC, check to see if maybe you might of cracked a plug reinstalling them, then check your wires to see if there are any burn marks....the smallest scorch will cause a nasty miss. ------------------ Dustin 89 Saleen GT Sport,347, TFS Street Heat Intake(port matched),TFS TW Heads(Stage 2),TFS #2 cam,BD-11A 9 psi,Crane 1.6 rr's,BBK 70mm TB,Pro-M 80mm MAF,MSD 6BTM, FMS 9mm wires,BBK longtubes,BBK Short H-pipe,American Thunder cat back,3.55's 516 rwhp* 553 rwtq http://www.mustangworks.com/rides/pictures/Listing1549-slot1.jpg 12.3@119 street tires OLD MOTOR 11.496@121.08slicks OLD MOTOR

11-01-2001, 10:54 AM	#3
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	Is your cam stock, and what firing order do you have it set at? Make sure you have the spark plug wires completely seperated from each other after the cap, all the way to the plugs. Buy seperators if necessary. Take care, -Chris ------------------ Retired Moderator MustangNet My site: Peckerwoods Pit Stop My teams site: Jim Porter Racing RACECAR spelled backwards is RACECAR HEY !!! Are you ASE Certified ??? If you are, ask me about iATN.

11-02-2001, 03:01 PM	#4
JohnnyG Registered Member Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 105	Damn! As soon as I read the words "cracked spark plug", I remembered hearing a funny sound coming fron the No.2 plug when installing it- sure enough when i pulled it, all the porcelein crumbled in my hand! That was definitely the problem! Never had that happen before, and I'll never be stumped by that one again! As a side note, I was on the highway about 5 minutes after putting the plug in, and this rich dude in a Mercedes wanted to race from this toll- Not only did I spank him, but he followed me to the next service area to tell me that his car has 320hp and cost a boat load of cash... he wanted to know what I had under the hood... I told him the same bone stock motor ford put in ten years ago! Think he just might ditch that MB for something that really runs??? -J ------------------ 1991 GT Vert- Black/Black/Black MAC 1 5/8" Headers, 2 1/2" H-pipe, 2 1/2" Flows, Tremec, Centerforce Dual Friction, BBK Adj. Quadrant, 3.73s, 3-core rad., K&N, PS-91, Tri-Ax, Blistein Struts/Shocks, H&R Springs, MM Chassis Brace Package, MM C/C Plates, Front-End Poly's, Rear Seat Delete