It's a 1981 that I picked up for $500. I thought it just needed the usual tune up, but that didn't take care of the problem.

When I try to accelerate over 4000 RPM the motor just seems to stutter and not want to go any faster. But, when I removed the whole air cleaner houseing it runs like a champ.

What gives? I've been reading for a few hours looking for the answere. Could it be the ACV. It failed the test in the repair manuals. I've changed the fuel filter, plugs, wires, cap and rotor button. The car sat for 3 years before I bought it with only 122,000 miles.

 

did you try changing the air filter?

 

Yeah, that's the first thing you would think of but it looks great. I didn't see any reason to. I know when one looks like it needs to be replaced, and this one is OK.

 

I have a similar problem, when i try to accelerate hard in third gear after redlining in first and seconds sometimes the engine just wont go! Itll stay around 4000-45000 rpms and just kinda die, almost like a rev limiter, its really wierd, so I go 1st, 2nd, 3rd until about 4000rpms and it does that, not all the time but every once in awhile, what gives? Its a new aircleaner, only like 2 months old....

 

If the ACV failed I would start there.

 

In the airbox theres a snorkel, thru which all air to the carb must pass. In that snorkel is a plastic flapper for the heat stove. Its closed when the car is cold, and opens as the car warms up. Yours is probably closed/malfunctioning/stuck. Remove it if you wish, although itll take longer to warm up in winter time. Or just fix it. One more thing, the car will flow more air without the stock airbox on it, its very restrictive by design. Trust me.

 

OK, I'll take a look at the cold air bypass and see if that's working OK. It moves rather easily so I thought it was working.

How about the ACV. How can I further test it? What do I look for if the ACV is bad. Torn rubber, bad spring? Looks OK to me. Easy to replace with one from a yard or what?

 

vaccum leak?

 

I guess it could be a vac leak. After all it is an 81. Any specific hoses you would check that would cause the problems I'm haveing?

 

i love the sound of my motor with no air filter assembly...at WOT above 5k it SCREAMS with power can't hear any change with the air fliter crap on there...

 

My stock 79 made 4 more HP at the rear wheels with it off.

 

Fuel Filter.

 

You already know that removing the air filter housing fixes the problem, sooo that must be the problem. It's most likely the flap that rx7carl mentioned.

 

thanks, I was thinking about it and I narrowed it down to that, Where is the filter located? how much does it cost?

 

for the non-SEs I can tell you that the fuel filter is located in the rear on the left. Just forward of the tank.

And this goes out to everybody: If you can't remember the last time you changed your fuel filter - DO IT NOW!

It costs about 5$ Canadian at the local parts stores (ie: CanadianTire). So I'd assume it's about 5$ or less American.

It's really easy to replace. Just get under there, move the clips on either side, take note of which way it points, slide the tubes off, and reverse the process.

5 mins, 5$, why not?

Jon

 

what is a better set up than the stock aircleaner? i have a cold air intake attached to my aircleaner...do you think this will make a difference in the preformance?

 

sum people take off the a/c.. but thats fawkin dangerous

 

i drove my car for about a month with no air cleaner. as long as you dont leave your hood open under trees(or any other garthering place for birds...) i honestly don't see a prob with it. i mean..you're just going to incinerate whatever goes in there, unless its a piece of metal

 

^don't know about that, i'll keep my air cleaner on.

-Marques