The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > 47 - Current classic GM Trucks > The 1967 - 1972 Chevrolet & GMC Pickups Message Board

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-24-2014, 03:15 PM   #1
AirSpeed
Registered User
 
AirSpeed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Fall River California
Posts: 2,026
Tach pulses at idle

I noticed my engine stumbling at idle, I looked at my tach and the needle pulses or bounces while the engine idles. The tack jumps about 20 rpm for just a partial second then does it again about every 2 to 3 seconds. What could cause this? A bad plug? Plug wire? I checked all the wires and they seem fine. The engine is a 350 with electronic distributor. I've never notice this happening before. Thanks for any suggestions!
AirSpeed is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2014, 03:17 PM   #2
GASoline71
"I ain't nobody, dork."
 
GASoline71's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Whidbey Island, Washington
Posts: 8,971
Re: Tach pulses at idle

Stock Tach? Or aftermarket?

Gary
__________________
'cuz chicks dig scars...

My 1972 GMC 1500 Super Custom (Creeping Death) "long term" build thread.

The Rebuild of Creeping Death after the wreck

Quote:
Originally Posted by LONGHAIR View Post
I would never rebuild a 305.
Quote:
Originally Posted by prostreetC-10 View Post
I love using vacuum gauges as part of the carb tuning process. I hook the gauge to the inside of my garbage can and leave it there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marv D View Post
Remember Murphys 2nd law of mechanical relationships... "OPPOSING COMPONENTS ATTEMPTING TO OCCUPY THE SAME SPACE, AT THE SAME TIME, GENERALLY END UP OCCUPYING ADJOINING SPACE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OIL PAN"
Quote:
Originally Posted by cableguy0 View Post
Its cheaper to listen to advice given when you ask for help than it is to ignore everyone and wait for carnage.
GASoline71 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2014, 03:21 PM   #3
AirSpeed
Registered User
 
AirSpeed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Fall River California
Posts: 2,026
Re: Tach pulses at idle

Quote:
Originally Posted by GASoline71 View Post
Stock Tach? Or aftermarket?

Gary
It's an aftermarket, AutoMeter Ultralite
AirSpeed is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-25-2014, 09:04 AM   #4
engineer_gregh
Registered User
 
engineer_gregh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Smyrna TN
Posts: 1,153
Re: Tach pulses at idle

Are you running a stock intake manifold or aftermarket? My big block has always done it, even after engine and carb rebuild. I went back with the same Edelbrock intake after the engine build. I've always thought the intake is the culprit but didn't replace it in the shuffle of everything else being rebuilt.
engineer_gregh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-25-2014, 10:10 AM   #5
knomadd
Registered User
 
knomadd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Rosenberg, Texas
Posts: 3,506
Re: Tach pulses at idle

You could always pull one spark plug wire at a time while it's running. If you don't notice a drop in rpm, you've got a dead cylinder. Could be the wire, a plug, the cap...
__________________
-Duane

C/10 Club Texas member
1971 Chevy C10 "Brutus" SWB Fleetside 2016 6.0L (L96) 6L90E (driver/project)
1965 Pontiac GTO "Royal Goat" 400/TH400 w/AC (my baby)
knomadd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-25-2014, 10:39 AM   #6
Hugh Mongus
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Tulsa, OK
Posts: 360
Re: Tach pulses at idle

My truck was doing this last week. I found a spark plug with cracked porcelain. I replaced the plug and it idles smoothly now.
__________________
-Jason
USN Retired
Hugh Mongus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-03-2014, 11:24 AM   #7
AirSpeed
Registered User
 
AirSpeed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Fall River California
Posts: 2,026
Re: Tach pulses at idle

I ended up replacing plug wires, cap, rotor and plugs. Tach and truck are running much smoother.
AirSpeed is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:21 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com