Grrrrrrr... cant trust anyone

[chrislehr]

I took the truck to a shop 2 weeks ago to do an overall "how is it" and to install my distributor and new plugs.

When I got it back, it had an odd "studder" when in DRIVE and brake fully depressed where it feels like the truck is trying to jump out from under the brake. Seems like it has a cam or some "lumpiness" in the idle.

It also had an odd hissing sound, and was idling too high, so I took it back.

They lowered the idle.

it still hisses. It still stumbles.

Done with that shop for now and will look for another shortly that is closer that I can trust.

Oh yea, and they didn't charge me for the re-visit, which was mighty nice of them, considering that I got the truck back with a chunk of metal in the tire. They claim it came in like that, and 2 hours after I parked it, she was flat.

Either way, I am NOT having a good truck day.

So I ask you guys..:
Hissing - really can only be the vacuum or the PVC hoses. Maybe I should replace all them and the PVC breathers? Any other things to look at there?

Stumbling - I really have NO idea here. My compression per cylinder was tested and good. They tuned timing after the distributor swap. What can I check/try here?

Thanks in advance, I need a quick win so the truck makes me smile (before I go to the tire shop and they tell me its not a patchable hole - I spent $600 on tires 4 mos ago!)

[blukangoo]

I say go try and get a second opinion. If it didn´t hiss before you brought it there and it didn´t stumble, it sounds to me like they did something wrong.
I think some garages will listen to it and can tell you what is wrong.

Go back to the garage where you had it and tell them what is wrong and have them fix it.

Where is the hissing coming from? More towards the engine or more from the Tranny?

The stumbling sounds like the advance isn´t working right. Do you have points or HEI?
Make sure the vacuum is hooked up to the distributor.

It could be alot of other things too but these are some of the common problems.

[nightmare]

sounds like they didn't hook up the vacuum advance on the distributor. try retracing all the vacuum hoses to make sure they are all hooked up where they are supposed to be.

[cdowns]

did you change from a points distributor to an hei dizzy? if so did you explain to them about eliminating the resistor circuit?

[70rs/ss]

Sounds like a timing issue (retarded too much) and a vacuum leak what type of carb, dist, intake? Holleys and Edels have a big vac port and the rubber plugs like to split and crack and leak!

[lks dcvn]

Hissing might be a bad (or leaking) carb seal. Does it change in pitch/volume when the accelerator is hit?

[chrislehr]

Originally Posted by cdowns

did you change from a points distributor to an hei dizzy? if so did you explain to them about eliminating the resistor circuit?

If I could explain to them (or myself) what that means, I would have done it myself!

[chrislehr]

Originally Posted by 70rs/ss

Sounds like a timing issue (retarded too much) and a vacuum leak what type of carb, dist, intake? Holleys and Edels have a big vac port and the rubber plugs like to split and crack and leak!

Rochester 2 bbl and stock manifold.

And I was going from HEI to HEI, BTW - the existing one was an older HEI, I put in a skip white ebay one.

[glock35ipsc]

Originally Posted by chrislehr

If I could explain to them (or myself) what that means, I would have done it myself!

Never mind, I need to read more before I post!

[rogergodding]

I say get a friend that knows more than you do that you can learn from.....

[blukangoo]

Originally Posted by rogergodding

I say get a friend that knows more than you do that you can learn from.....

.......or go get one of these. It helped me alot and mine was alot more than 10 bucks when I got mine.

[Sinister]

Originally Posted by blukangoo

.......or go get one of these. It helped me alot and mine was alot more than 10 bucks when I got mine.

X2

[rogergodding]

Originally Posted by blukangoo

.......or go get one of these. It helped me alot and mine was alot more than 10 bucks when I got mine.

Yeah, those really help too!

[jorgensensc]

If you were in Houston or coming through here I would say bring it by and we will figure it out. If you come to Houston with it soon let me know. Or find a board member in Austin that can help you out.
Shawn

[chrislehr]

Originally Posted by rogergodding

I say get a friend that knows more than you do that you can learn from.....

Yea, I had more gearhead friends in MA. Here in TX, my only friends are people in my industry (high end IT stuff) and none of them are gearheads.

[chrislehr]

Originally Posted by blukangoo

.......or go get one of these. It helped me alot and mine was alot more than 10 bucks when I got mine.

Ya know - I have one, too.

Guess its time to hit the books as well.

The book will guide me nicely for the vacuum and PCV stuff... still need some hints on what to check/look at for the stumbles tho

[special-K]

It sounds like it could be a problem in the plug wires.Check the connections and if thhey are in proper position.What are thier condition?Check the plugs.

[chrislehr]

Originally Posted by special-K

It sounds like it could be a problem in the plug wires.Check the connections and if thhey are in proper position.What are thier condition?Check the plugs.

plugs are new, gapped to .035, and wires are also new, but I did not confirm plugged in right or tightly at all connections. Will re-review this and make sure they didnt do sh**y work.

[AustinScott]

I'm not to far from ya, I'm up in Round Rock, my driveway is always open to help out fellow members. I'm sure we can get to the root of you're problems pretty easy.

Let me know ..

Scott

[chrislehr]

Originally Posted by AustinScott

I'm not to far from ya, I'm up in Round Rock, my driveway is always open to help out fellow members. I'm sure we can get to the root of you're problems pretty easy.

Let me know ..

Scott

This weekend sometime works for me - you know your schedule yet? I golf Sat am, could roll up after....

need anything from in town?

[piecesparts]

Sounds like you have a bad truck. I'll give you $5.00 for it and then you won't have any problems with it.


Now seriously---did they pull the carb? If not, then the symptoms that you have described is a good hint that you have a vacuum leak ( a large one). The timing should be checked again, because I agree it may be set too low. I would also check the spark plug wires to see if they are in the right order.

There is an excellent chance that while they were messing with the dizzy, they pulled the vacuum line off of the tranny's modulator or cracked the hose at the end of the tubing. That will cause a bad idle, a bad tranny shift characteristic and stumbling at a stop, while in gear.

If it was my truck, I would want the idle at 700 to 800 RPM (In Drive gear---automatic) I personally would want my timing advanced to keep the performance and the gas mileage up on the engine. I set mine at 12 degrees in the past and it always worked for me.

One final check---look at the inside of the dizzy cap for any damaged contacts or a cracked rotor on the E-bay find.

[screamin_eagle]

I know its not my place but heres an Idea

[joemacho]

isnt the gap for plugs with hei suppose to be a .45 thats what i was told and the gap for points are at .35. let me know if i am wrong .my truck runs very good and responds well.

[chevy29267truck]

well i do most of the work my self and what cant do or need help all my friends will help me with any work

[special-K]

I`m still thinking they may have gotten a plug fouled while working in it.It just sounds like a dead cylinder with the way you describe it running.That`s "if" the vacuum problem isn`t connected to the rough running problem.