Jim_Gruber
Yoda
Offline
I've been having major issues with Bugsy my '68 Sprite all summer that have kept him off of the road. No power, backfire, sputter, pop, general Spridget malaise. I've worked through carbs, dizzy, replaced a whole bunch of electrical etc. all to no avail. Finally had the courage this AM to endure 4,000 RPM starts to get him moving and get Bugsy 5-6 miles away to Steve Miller's Shop, MG Automotive here in Dayton.
Popped the bonnet open. Car starts easily and will idle really lumpy and run at high RPMs as long as under minimal load. Plugs are clean no issues indicated there. Steve told me sounds like a big vacumn problem and sure enough, the spray can of brake cleaner sprayed around the intake manifold revealed a major vacumn leak by the back carb. I'm only running on the front carb. It appears I've got a bad intake manifold gasket or possibly a cracked intake manifold. It appear some DPO used sealer rather than a paper gasket in there and the sealer finally worked it's way out. No clue why but I'll report back.
Anyway, later today I need to get Bugsy back in the garage, PB Blast all of the bolts and leave overnight and start back in tomorrow morning taking things apart to replace the gasket. Have a spare manifold in the garage in the event I've got a cracked manifold under there after I get things apart.
This leads me back to a problem someone way having with severe bog issues last week. Get out the spray can of WD-40 or Brake cleaner and see if you find a leak. Brake cleaner sprayed around the intake manifold will manifest itself as either a huge plume of white smoke coming out of the exhaust as it is sucked into the engine.
After 3 months of missing out of fun times with Bugsy I finally know what the problems is and know how to fix it. Hopefully with no broken exhaust studs as well.
Popped the bonnet open. Car starts easily and will idle really lumpy and run at high RPMs as long as under minimal load. Plugs are clean no issues indicated there. Steve told me sounds like a big vacumn problem and sure enough, the spray can of brake cleaner sprayed around the intake manifold revealed a major vacumn leak by the back carb. I'm only running on the front carb. It appears I've got a bad intake manifold gasket or possibly a cracked intake manifold. It appear some DPO used sealer rather than a paper gasket in there and the sealer finally worked it's way out. No clue why but I'll report back.
Anyway, later today I need to get Bugsy back in the garage, PB Blast all of the bolts and leave overnight and start back in tomorrow morning taking things apart to replace the gasket. Have a spare manifold in the garage in the event I've got a cracked manifold under there after I get things apart.
This leads me back to a problem someone way having with severe bog issues last week. Get out the spray can of WD-40 or Brake cleaner and see if you find a leak. Brake cleaner sprayed around the intake manifold will manifest itself as either a huge plume of white smoke coming out of the exhaust as it is sucked into the engine.
After 3 months of missing out of fun times with Bugsy I finally know what the problems is and know how to fix it. Hopefully with no broken exhaust studs as well.