i recently swaped a 74 camaro for A 97 MUSTANG (i prefer mustangs.) i took it for a test trive and mad the swap that day now ever since iv gotten it home the mustang will start up just fine and drive for about 3 miles after that any time i go to take off from a stop it dies and i cant get it started for several hours. its getting fuel and its got plenty of coolant. i know basics so ive checked everything i can possibly think of and even replaced the thermostat. the fan kicks on and runs fine ac blows cold but im thinking mabey a relay or something? anyone have any ideas

1997 v6 3.8l 5 speed tranny

 

I'd say fuel pump/fuel filter.

 

its getting fuel as i hit the little valve to check that and it shot plenty into my eye im thinking mabey a sencer might be getting hot or something? im not sure

 

Is it throwing any codes? ..is your "Check Engine" light on?

 

I'd almost think IACV stuck open.

 

Yeah IAC is the likely culpriate. When those go out all kinds of odd things will happen. Look online for do it yourself approaches to checking the IAC. There are several you can do to check the valve and the sensor.

 

My check engine light is not on nor any others. Im not sure what the iacv is exactly but ill look into it. is it possible that as it heats up here in this hot arizona weather that the injectors stop functioning? iknow its getting fuel to the injectors however actually injecting im not 100 percent sure. as soon as it cools down a bit i starts up but stalls when i try to move. like i said i traded a 1974 camaro for this so im learning alot quickly

 

The Idle Air Control system allows air to bypass the throttle plate during cold engine operations. As the engine warms up the valve closes. If the valve sticks open then too much air is passed to a warm engine thus stalling.

They tend to get crudded up over time. Good news is you can remove it by taking 2 small bolts out and clean it with throttle body cleaner.

Another test is to replace the gasket (Has 2 holes) with a homemade block off made from gasket material. Will make starting a cold engine a bit harder but if teh IAC valve is the problem, once the engine starts to warm up it will not stall.

 

Ok so im going to clean the IAC and as im doing this i notice the throtle body inside is extremely dirty and carbonded up im also noticing this small coolant leak below the thermostat so im going to replace that as well..

could the throtle body + the IAC being dirty + a malfunctioning thermostat cause the problems ive been having? ill soon find out. Once Again I thank all of you for helping me out you are a great help and i will becoming back with more questions in the future and do my best to help others

 

Yes, the three you listed will cause it.