Acceleration..

[Baz]

I've gotten most of the engine gremlins sorted out, idle is perfect, cruising is perfect, acceleration is a dog.
It doesn't hesitate, doesn't grumble, splutter or puke, just takes her sweet old time getting up there.
She used to snap to life when I floored it, now I need to floor it, just to get up into 4th.

What is restricting the gas pedal/grunt ratio?

 

[jlaird]

Sounds like it just may be fuel.

 

[racingenglishcars]

Or timing (measure it at 3000 rpm)
or throttle plates aren't opening fully
or your air filtres are clogged
or your bearings are frying
or your clutch is slipping
or your brakes are dragging
or...

 

[Biff]

Or your ignition advance on the distributor isn't working.

 

[Baz]

How can I tell Biff?

 

[jlaird]

Suck on it and see if the plates move is a rough and ready test.

 

[regularman]

Or your ignition advance on the distributor isn't working.

That would be my guess as well. make sure all the weights in there and the linkage is free so you get your full advance.

 

[piman]

Hello Jack,

that only checks the vacuum advance, which doesn't advance at all when you floor the throttle.
The mechanical advance is the one to check. The best way on the car is with a strobe, see how much advance you get as the throttle is opened, check the workshop manual to get the data.

Alec

 

[mixbugeye]

start wit the basic checks
are you getting full throttle
check the brakes arent dragging i had this once brake pedal rod pivot jamming
double check any changes mods youve done since before the prob started
hope this helps

 

[Baz]

I don't know if this offers a clue or not, but sitting in neutral, I punch the gas pedal, I get RPMs that are consistent with my pedal depression.
Going to a big car show today, leaving the Midget at home, I'll get her checked (by a professional) this week, there are two autoxes coming up in a month, and I need that grunt!
Thanks all.

 

[DrEntropy]

Look to your linkage travel first, Barry. Make certain you've got W.O.T. at full pedal depression... could be as simple as a slipped throttle cable.
Always pays to at least look. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

 

[Thor]

You might check the throttle disc. Mine had slipped when I was synchronizing the cargs. The description of your loss of power sounds just like what I experienced when this happened.

And its easy to detect, just remove the air filters, pull the throttle cable and see if the disc open up all the way. Mine didn't and as soon as I corrected I had all the power back.

Anyways good luck.

 

[jlaird]

Yep, that would surely do it.

 

[Billm]

Also may want to remove the hubcaps and take it for a short drive- at the end of the drive just walk around the car and feel all 4 hubs for heat. If one is unusually hot then you probably have a rubbing brake.
Bill

 

[Baz]

Been busy figuring this out....
Bought a vacuum tester, all that stuff checks out good.
Checked the brakes, all that checked out except for a missing clevis pin on the handbrake, unrelated, but fixed nonetheless.

Sooo, I just messed with that dizzy until the flat spot went away, and boy, did it go away; advanced the timing a piece.
I'm back on the road with grunt.
Also, a 3/4 anti-roll bar and poly bushings /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

Thanks for the suggestions all, took a while to eliminate, but it's sorted. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cheers.gif