85 Caprice Still Runs (Stumbles) when shut off

CapriceCarl · 02-24-2012, 11:23 PM

Hello- just a quick question. After searching the only answer I could find was that the carb needs to be lubed up. Is that the answer to my problem?

Maybe once a week when I go to turn off Carl, I can have the keys fully in my hand and he'll still be running- stumbling like he wants to cut off but keeps on going for maybe 5 seconds. The car bucks a bit and its embarrassing to say the least. Whats this issue? Thanks all.

**kingnutin** · 02-25-2012, 01:07 AM

Sounds to me like you should check your timing.

**77Impala** · 02-25-2012, 05:52 AM

You may also due to the timing being off have some carbon buildup in the cylinders. You can try a Seafoam treatment to help clean that out.

Also make sure the engine idle is not set to high.

A trick you can do for now until you get this fixed is to turn the car off while it is still in gear then put it in park after it dies. I had to do this to mine for a while. This trick works well.

CapriceCarl · 02-25-2012, 08:00 AM

Dang that sounds expensive, thanks guys :) I've rebuilt an engine before, but the timing is one thing I don't really mess with. I guess I'll have to take it in for someone to look at it.

**kingnutin** · 02-25-2012, 07:16 PM

Expensive? No, get a distributor wrench and timing light, less than $50 for both if you go to harbor freight or something like that. Hook the timing light up, alligator clips on the battery terminals, clamp on the #1 plug wire(driver front), unplug the electronic advance pigtail, should be along the passenger valve cover for your year. Start the engine, and point the light down behind the water pump, you will see a mark on the balancer, and a set of marks on a metal tab coming off the timing cover. You should have a sticker in the engine compartment telling you the spec, I think its 4-6 degrees advance. If its off, turn it off, loosen the distributor hold down bolt located at the base of the distributor on the passenger side, you will need to remove the air cleaner to get to it. Start the engine again, and watch the mark with the timing light as you turn the distributor, you will see the mark move. Set it to spec, and you should be ok.

For the seafoam, just get a can of it from the auto parts store, not the aerosol kind. There should be directions for using with carbed vehicles, with the engine running you pour about half the can down the primary throat of the carb slowly while holding the throttle slightly open, then let go of the throttle and dump the rest in. It will stall the engine, turn the key off and let it sit a couple hours (directions will say like 15 minutes, but longer is better), fire it back up, and it will smoke like you wouldn't believe. Run the piss out of it, then you should be good to go.

CapriceCarl · 02-26-2012, 12:47 AM

Thanks Nut, I appreciate the quick run down. I'll be sure to check it out when time permits

CapriceCarl · 03-12-2012, 03:46 PM

There's a new issue with Carl that I'm unsure if its part of the stumbling. I haven't been able to take him in to get the timing looked at yet, but when I first start him up- and I just take off and drive, normally he's good. But lately he just dies when I try to take off from a light or a stop. Only once in the morning though. After I restart him he's good to go. Any clue? I'd like to get all my ducks in order before I take him in. Thanks guys.

**Old Bones** · 03-12-2012, 04:36 PM

Sounds like a Choak problem to me ??

**kingnutin** · 03-13-2012, 08:40 AM

If the timing hasn't been done yet, I wouldn't look at anything else. Frankly I'm surprised you weren't having that issue before.

CapriceCarl · 04-16-2012, 05:23 PM

Quick question... I'm thinking about swapping in an LS2 and tranny from a TBSS. How will I know if these things will fit or not?

**kingnutin** · 04-17-2012, 08:54 AM

It will not be a direct fit, there are write-ups somewhere on it. From what I understand, you will need to notch the crossmember, and get motor mount adaptors at the very least. Then you may also need to have the driveshaft shortened. It would be a lot less work to get an LT1/4L60E in there, but the LS is a better package.

CapriceCarl · 08-05-2012, 10:05 AM

I ended up putting premium fuel in Carl and he's been fine ever since. Is there a detailed write up about messing with our carb's? How to adjust them, etc?

Muad'Dib15 · 08-05-2012, 10:47 AM

yep, had that same issue with the cuda. I put higher octane fuel (midgrade) and it no longer does it.

**kingnutin** · 08-06-2012, 10:01 AM

Still sounds like a timing issue...

CapriceCarl · 08-28-2012, 08:05 AM

Well I finally ended up taking it to a mechanic. He was a bit shady- trying to charge me 40 dollars to tighten up my fuel fitting (slight leak). But he reset my timing and lowered my RPM's to the "book" standard. Cost me 65 bucks. He said it was advanced 13 degrees. Told me if I heard it "pinging" while climbing up a hill or something to bring it back for adjustments. I thought this might fix the dieseling issue but it didn't. Came back a day later if just for a moment or two. When cold starting Carl he sometimes takes a good 7-10 seconds before he fires up. Is that normal? A coworker said it wasn't and suggested a timing issue which is why I eventually bit the bullet to try and figure it out. When I put in premium the dieseling issue is gone completely. Not a big deal to go premium, just wondering if its a sign something else is an issue. I've never changed the plugs or wires yet either.

02-24-2012, 11:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
CapriceCarl Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 54 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	85 Caprice Still Runs (Stumbles) when shut off Hello- just a quick question. After searching the only answer I could find was that the carb needs to be lubed up. Is that the answer to my problem? Maybe once a week when I go to turn off Carl, I can have the keys fully in my hand and he'll still be running- stumbling like he wants to cut off but keeps on going for maybe 5 seconds. The car bucks a bit and its embarrassing to say the least. Whats this issue? Thanks all.

02-25-2012, 01:07 AM	#2 (permalink)
kingnutin 8th Gen Antagonist Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Vancouver , WA Posts: 11,864 Thanks: 215 Thanked 561 Times in 379 Posts View My Garage kingnutin	Sounds to me like you should check your timing. __________________ 1978 Caprice Classic Landau 350 2-bolt, stock 4bbl Stock rebuilt TH350 Edelbrock performer cam + intake Dual 2 1/2" Flowmaster exhuast (waiting to be installed) Edelbrock IAS Classic shocks 95 9C1 3.08 posi 4 wheel disc brakes! 16x8 American Racing Baja's with 225/60/16 Pirelli P4's

02-25-2012, 05:52 AM	#3 (permalink)
77Impala 1st Year of the 5th Generation Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: North TX Posts: 6,151 Thanks: 72 Thanked 68 Times in 38 Posts View My Garage 77Impala	You may also due to the timing being off have some carbon buildup in the cylinders. You can try a Seafoam treatment to help clean that out. Also make sure the engine idle is not set to high. A trick you can do for now until you get this fixed is to turn the car off while it is still in gear then put it in park after it dies. I had to do this to mine for a while. This trick works well. __________________ 1977 Impala Sedan, 5.0L, TH200, 2.56:1, 100K miles, 37 Lifetime Warranty Parts. 1997 Dodge Ram B2500, 5.2L, 36RH, 3.21:1, 373K miles, 24 Lifetime Warranty Parts.

02-25-2012, 07:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
kingnutin 8th Gen Antagonist Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Vancouver , WA Posts: 11,864 Thanks: 215 Thanked 561 Times in 379 Posts View My Garage kingnutin	Expensive? No, get a distributor wrench and timing light, less than $50 for both if you go to harbor freight or something like that. Hook the timing light up, alligator clips on the battery terminals, clamp on the #1 plug wire(driver front), unplug the electronic advance pigtail, should be along the passenger valve cover for your year. Start the engine, and point the light down behind the water pump, you will see a mark on the balancer, and a set of marks on a metal tab coming off the timing cover. You should have a sticker in the engine compartment telling you the spec, I think its 4-6 degrees advance. If its off, turn it off, loosen the distributor hold down bolt located at the base of the distributor on the passenger side, you will need to remove the air cleaner to get to it. Start the engine again, and watch the mark with the timing light as you turn the distributor, you will see the mark move. Set it to spec, and you should be ok. For the seafoam, just get a can of it from the auto parts store, not the aerosol kind. There should be directions for using with carbed vehicles, with the engine running you pour about half the can down the primary throat of the carb slowly while holding the throttle slightly open, then let go of the throttle and dump the rest in. It will stall the engine, turn the key off and let it sit a couple hours (directions will say like 15 minutes, but longer is better), fire it back up, and it will smoke like you wouldn't believe. Run the piss out of it, then you should be good to go. __________________ 1978 Caprice Classic Landau 350 2-bolt, stock 4bbl Stock rebuilt TH350 Edelbrock performer cam + intake Dual 2 1/2" Flowmaster exhuast (waiting to be installed) Edelbrock IAS Classic shocks 95 9C1 3.08 posi 4 wheel disc brakes! 16x8 American Racing Baja's with 225/60/16 Pirelli P4's

03-12-2012, 04:36 PM	#8 (permalink)
Old Bones Caprice Classic with Class Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Port Coquitlam B.C. Canada Posts: 4,182 Thanks: 281 Thanked 313 Times in 186 Posts View My Garage Old Bones	Sounds like a Choak problem to me ?? __________________ People who drive slower than me are Assholes. People who drive faster than me are Crazy. 1983 Caprice Classic. 350 CID. 330 HP. 380 Ft.Lbs. Torque. Turbo 350 Trans. with Cooler. Headman Headers. Magnaflow Cats. Flowmaster Delta 50 Mufflers. Electric Fan. Compu STAR Alarm. Crazy Canuck behind the Wheel.

02-25-2012, 08:00 AM	#4 (permalink)
CapriceCarl Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 54 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Dang that sounds expensive, thanks guys :) I've rebuilt an engine before, but the timing is one thing I don't really mess with. I guess I'll have to take it in for someone to look at it.

02-26-2012, 12:47 AM	#6 (permalink)
CapriceCarl Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 54 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks Nut, I appreciate the quick run down. I'll be sure to check it out when time permits

03-12-2012, 03:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
CapriceCarl Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 54 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	There's a new issue with Carl that I'm unsure if its part of the stumbling. I haven't been able to take him in to get the timing looked at yet, but when I first start him up- and I just take off and drive, normally he's good. But lately he just dies when I try to take off from a light or a stop. Only once in the morning though. After I restart him he's good to go. Any clue? I'd like to get all my ducks in order before I take him in. Thanks guys.

03-13-2012, 08:40 AM	#9 (permalink)
kingnutin 8th Gen Antagonist Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Vancouver , WA Posts: 11,864 Thanks: 215 Thanked 561 Times in 379 Posts View My Garage kingnutin	If the timing hasn't been done yet, I wouldn't look at anything else. Frankly I'm surprised you weren't having that issue before. __________________ 1978 Caprice Classic Landau 350 2-bolt, stock 4bbl Stock rebuilt TH350 Edelbrock performer cam + intake Dual 2 1/2" Flowmaster exhuast (waiting to be installed) Edelbrock IAS Classic shocks 95 9C1 3.08 posi 4 wheel disc brakes! 16x8 American Racing Baja's with 225/60/16 Pirelli P4's

04-16-2012, 05:23 PM	#10 (permalink)
CapriceCarl Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 54 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Quick question... I'm thinking about swapping in an LS2 and tranny from a TBSS. How will I know if these things will fit or not?

04-17-2012, 08:54 AM	#11 (permalink)
kingnutin 8th Gen Antagonist Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Vancouver , WA Posts: 11,864 Thanks: 215 Thanked 561 Times in 379 Posts View My Garage kingnutin	It will not be a direct fit, there are write-ups somewhere on it. From what I understand, you will need to notch the crossmember, and get motor mount adaptors at the very least. Then you may also need to have the driveshaft shortened. It would be a lot less work to get an LT1/4L60E in there, but the LS is a better package. __________________ 1978 Caprice Classic Landau 350 2-bolt, stock 4bbl Stock rebuilt TH350 Edelbrock performer cam + intake Dual 2 1/2" Flowmaster exhuast (waiting to be installed) Edelbrock IAS Classic shocks 95 9C1 3.08 posi 4 wheel disc brakes! 16x8 American Racing Baja's with 225/60/16 Pirelli P4's

08-05-2012, 10:05 AM	#12 (permalink)
CapriceCarl Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 54 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I ended up putting premium fuel in Carl and he's been fine ever since. Is there a detailed write up about messing with our carb's? How to adjust them, etc?

08-06-2012, 10:01 AM	#14 (permalink)
kingnutin 8th Gen Antagonist Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Vancouver , WA Posts: 11,864 Thanks: 215 Thanked 561 Times in 379 Posts View My Garage kingnutin	Still sounds like a timing issue... __________________ 1978 Caprice Classic Landau 350 2-bolt, stock 4bbl Stock rebuilt TH350 Edelbrock performer cam + intake Dual 2 1/2" Flowmaster exhuast (waiting to be installed) Edelbrock IAS Classic shocks 95 9C1 3.08 posi 4 wheel disc brakes! 16x8 American Racing Baja's with 225/60/16 Pirelli P4's

08-28-2012, 08:05 AM	#15 (permalink)
CapriceCarl Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 54 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Well I finally ended up taking it to a mechanic. He was a bit shady- trying to charge me 40 dollars to tighten up my fuel fitting (slight leak). But he reset my timing and lowered my RPM's to the "book" standard. Cost me 65 bucks. He said it was advanced 13 degrees. Told me if I heard it "pinging" while climbing up a hill or something to bring it back for adjustments. I thought this might fix the dieseling issue but it didn't. Came back a day later if just for a moment or two. When cold starting Carl he sometimes takes a good 7-10 seconds before he fires up. Is that normal? A coworker said it wasn't and suggested a timing issue which is why I eventually bit the bullet to try and figure it out. When I put in premium the dieseling issue is gone completely. Not a big deal to go premium, just wondering if its a sign something else is an issue. I've never changed the plugs or wires yet either.

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