Dies when put into gear - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

mvfd70 · 11-11-2009, 05:09 PM

I've got a 78 Silverado with a 400 SBC that is all original. I put a new fuel pump and some new fuel lines on it today to fix a leak. It has been sitting for a couple of years. I had to jump start it today and it started pretty good and ran great. Idled no problem and revved with no problems in park. I let it warm up for a couple of minutes then put it in gear. As soon as it got a little load on it from the transmission it sputtered then died. And of course since it's been sitting the battery is dead and I had alredy moved my other truck that I jumped it with so I didn't feel like messing with it anymore. I'm thinking that this is an issue with the carb. Do you guys think i'm correct with my assumption? This truck was doing the same thing before I parked it a couple of years ago.

bitchin85 · 11-11-2009, 05:22 PM

could be as simple as low idle and stale crap gas

Damien · 11-11-2009, 05:22 PM

The carb could need a rebuild, the timing may be off or the brakes could be rusted. It is most likely a combination of the above.

*Just reread your post. Being that it did it before you parked it, I would start with the timing.

mvfd70 · 11-11-2009, 05:29 PM

I don't think it is the gas or brakes since it was doing this a couple of years ago when it was being driven somewhat regularly. It wasn't exactly a daily driver but we kept it on the road until it sprang a fuel leak. It's been parked for about two years and I finally decided to try to get it going agian. I may try to rebuild the carb if i can figure out the Q'jet.

bitchin85 · 11-11-2009, 05:32 PM

if you havent done it before, id advise just getting a rebuilt one or having it rebuilt. q-jets are a pain

mvfd70 · 11-11-2009, 05:40 PM

That's what I hear. I've done a Holley. Attempted and failed miserably to rebuild a Thermoquad. Never attempted a Q'jet though.

bitchin85 · 11-11-2009, 05:42 PM

ive done holleys, edelbrocks and one quadrajunk. and it will be my last. theyre great carbs just hard to rebuild and tune if ur not a pro

Prerunner1982 · 11-11-2009, 05:56 PM

My Dad had a similar problem on his Jeep one time. I realize it is not the same type vehicle but the problem is quite similar. His however was a daily driver and when coming to a stop it died. We were able to jump start it and let it idle, it revved fine as well. As soon as he put it in gear (manual) to leave it would die. We tried 2-3 times. Ended up being the Alternator. Apparently it had enough juice to keep the engine running with no load, but under load could not keep up.

You said you let it run for a couple of minutes to warm up. When it died did you notice if the battery had any more power than it had previously? If not then this would also lead me to believe the alt is out.

mvfd70 · 11-11-2009, 06:25 PM

Battery has no power at all. It wont even take a charge from a charger. I have to jump it to start it. I'm puttin a new battery in it tomorrow. We'll see if that helps

Prerunner1982 · 11-13-2009, 07:03 PM

Any word on the problem?

11-11-2009, 05:09 PM	#1
mvfd70 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Opdyke, IL Posts: 775	Dies when put into gear I've got a 78 Silverado with a 400 SBC that is all original. I put a new fuel pump and some new fuel lines on it today to fix a leak. It has been sitting for a couple of years. I had to jump start it today and it started pretty good and ran great. Idled no problem and revved with no problems in park. I let it warm up for a couple of minutes then put it in gear. As soon as it got a little load on it from the transmission it sputtered then died. And of course since it's been sitting the battery is dead and I had alredy moved my other truck that I jumped it with so I didn't feel like messing with it anymore. I'm thinking that this is an issue with the carb. Do you guys think i'm correct with my assumption? This truck was doing the same thing before I parked it a couple of years ago. __________________ 1978 Chevrolet Silverado 3/4 ton 400 small block. 2000 F-250 Powerstroke 2002 GMC Yukon Denali XL

11-11-2009, 05:22 PM	#2
bitchin85 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Lambertville MI Posts: 962	Re: Dies when put into gear could be as simple as low idle and stale crap gas __________________ "I'll keep my guns, money, and freedom. You can keep the "change"

11-11-2009, 05:22 PM	#3
Damien Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Farmington, MN Posts: 928	Re: Dies when put into gear The carb could need a rebuild, the timing may be off or the brakes could be rusted. It is most likely a combination of the above. *Just reread your post. Being that it did it before you parked it, I would start with the timing. __________________ I can still count my vehicles on two... wait three hands.

11-11-2009, 05:29 PM	#4
mvfd70 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Opdyke, IL Posts: 775	Re: Dies when put into gear I don't think it is the gas or brakes since it was doing this a couple of years ago when it was being driven somewhat regularly. It wasn't exactly a daily driver but we kept it on the road until it sprang a fuel leak. It's been parked for about two years and I finally decided to try to get it going agian. I may try to rebuild the carb if i can figure out the Q'jet. __________________ 1978 Chevrolet Silverado 3/4 ton 400 small block. 2000 F-250 Powerstroke 2002 GMC Yukon Denali XL

11-11-2009, 05:32 PM	#5
bitchin85 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Lambertville MI Posts: 962	Re: Dies when put into gear if you havent done it before, id advise just getting a rebuilt one or having it rebuilt. q-jets are a pain __________________ "I'll keep my guns, money, and freedom. You can keep the "change"

11-11-2009, 05:40 PM	#6
mvfd70 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Opdyke, IL Posts: 775	Re: Dies when put into gear That's what I hear. I've done a Holley. Attempted and failed miserably to rebuild a Thermoquad. Never attempted a Q'jet though. __________________ 1978 Chevrolet Silverado 3/4 ton 400 small block. 2000 F-250 Powerstroke 2002 GMC Yukon Denali XL

11-11-2009, 05:42 PM	#7
bitchin85 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Lambertville MI Posts: 962	Re: Dies when put into gear ive done holleys, edelbrocks and one quadrajunk. and it will be my last. theyre great carbs just hard to rebuild and tune if ur not a pro __________________ "I'll keep my guns, money, and freedom. You can keep the "change"

11-11-2009, 05:56 PM	#8
Prerunner1982 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 5,904	Re: Dies when put into gear My Dad had a similar problem on his Jeep one time. I realize it is not the same type vehicle but the problem is quite similar. His however was a daily driver and when coming to a stop it died. We were able to jump start it and let it idle, it revved fine as well. As soon as he put it in gear (manual) to leave it would die. We tried 2-3 times. Ended up being the Alternator. Apparently it had enough juice to keep the engine running with no load, but under load could not keep up. You said you let it run for a couple of minutes to warm up. When it died did you notice if the battery had any more power than it had previously? If not then this would also lead me to believe the alt is out. __________________ Jon 1982 Chevy Silverado 350/th350.... RETIRED 1993 Jeep XJ 2 door(Cherokee) 4wd 4.0ltr/AX-15 (5spd)/NP231 .... Oklahoma Roll Call

11-11-2009, 06:25 PM	#9
mvfd70 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Opdyke, IL Posts: 775	Re: Dies when put into gear Battery has no power at all. It wont even take a charge from a charger. I have to jump it to start it. I'm puttin a new battery in it tomorrow. We'll see if that helps __________________ 1978 Chevrolet Silverado 3/4 ton 400 small block. 2000 F-250 Powerstroke 2002 GMC Yukon Denali XL

11-13-2009, 07:03 PM	#10
Prerunner1982 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 5,904	Re: Dies when put into gear Any word on the problem? __________________ Jon 1982 Chevy Silverado 350/th350.... RETIRED 1993 Jeep XJ 2 door(Cherokee) 4wd 4.0ltr/AX-15 (5spd)/NP231 .... Oklahoma Roll Call

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