Well i bought a mustang a while back and its always ran great, but lacked power and stuttered if you were doing anything but driving casually. Today i finally got fed up with it and started playing with the timing. I advanced it little by little untill it wouldnt start, then i backed it off a little and it runs super good now, no stuttering when i rev it in neutral but i just took it around the block and it had GOBS of power, but still stuttered at high rpm in 2nd gear. (didnt get to third) It also smells strongly of GAS. Any ideas what i should do next? Its carbed btw.

 

No one? Really? Got it running pretty damn good today though..

 

What kind of carb are you running. I knew mine ran similarly when the power valve blew out on my Holley

 

I was told it might be a power valve, its a holley 700 double pumper...

 

Well that's great on the timing but you probably outta put a light on it and verify what it's actually timed at. It may start running a little hot if you leave the timing advanced up really far. You also want to make sure you check your total timing. Put the plug back in (the one you remove to set initial timing) Rev it up to around 3000 (total advance should all come in before 2500 rpm usually) and put the light to it, you should have no more than 34 to 38 degrees of total timing for a small block ford. You can get a rebuild kit for that carb for around 20 dollars at Jegs. It may just need gone through and rebuilt. Did you get the carb used? Somebody may have already been in there messing around.

 

SOrry, I forgot to mention that if the carb rebuilding doesn't get rid of the high rpm stuttering you may have a weak coil or a bad plugs or wires or both. Or possibly even a plugged fuel filter. I had one that cut out at high rpm and it was the fuel filter. Also, since you jacked up your timing make sure you've got good gas in it or it'll start pinging under heavy load.