I have an 83 GT. My problem is lately the engine has been surging. I can drive the car fine for 10 minutes or so, but then the car just drops idle, surging as if it has no fuel. I have since changed the coil, cap and rotor, and plugs. I have checked the fuel filter and it is clean. The carb is a holley, manufactured for Motorcraft. I think it has something to do with heat, because the problem only occurs approximately 10-15 minutes into driving. I end up pulling the car over, because I can not keep it idling. Then, anywhere from 1-5 minutes later, I can start it up. Someone told me it may be because of vapor in my gas tank. I'm not sure though. Any ideas?

thanks

 

I need help. Anyone got a possible solution/idea?

 

I really need the help. The car stalled twice on the way home today. Each time I had to put on my flashers and pull over into a "not so safe" area.

Has anyone had this happen to them?

 

Boy, its a lonely world when you have 4 straight posts.

I could really use some help here.

Thanks

 

Could be vapor lock, make sure your return line to the tank isn't clogged. Another thing to check for is weak spark. I had an intermittent surging, popping, pinging, hesitation problem that was only happening when either really hot outside, or when the car sat idling or driven in bumper to bumper traffic for 10-15 minutes. Turned out the duraspark box was failing. I bought a new one at advance auto for $21.50 and it hasn't acted up since. But it could be lots of things, bad fuel pump, malfunctioning EGR, a big vacuum leak, etc. It's an old car, this kind of stuff happens.

 

fuel pump?

clogged cats?

carb in need of rebuild?

I've also heard of the internal baffle in the tank coming
lose and clogging the feed line.

 

I doubt it vapor lock... my experience with that is the car will stall and not start til it cools down... have you dyno'd the engine with fuel analysis... maybe your primaries need to be jetted up...

 

holy ****, did i ever have one hell of a rough ride with this problem myself.

i went through a few steps, rerouted my fuel lines in as far away from the headers as possible, put in an electric fuel pump to piggyback the mechanical one, put a spacer under the carb, and learned how to play with my carb. each thing that i did helped a little bit, and when i put the spacer on, no more vapolock. you might want to try that as well as checking to make sure the fuel lines are not close to anything that would make it hot.

ps, if you ever want to get rid of your hood(assuming it is a true 83 gt hood with the rear facing scoop) id be willing to take that off your hands

 

Another point... when the weather gets colder, the air will contain more oxygen and your carb will need larger jets... [:-]

 

its an 83, hmm, SURGING [&:]
, spray starting fluid while cranking to make sure its the FUEL PUMP.


if not, it sounds like your vacumm advace is shot on the distributor, check the vacumm line and replace the dizzy if you have to.


From past experiences, the carburator, EGR, clogged cats or fuel pumps were at fault.

A clogged cat will give you a rot egg smell, or if you hit it, you will hear things inside rattling.