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Welcome to FordPinto.com, The home of the PCCA => General Help- Ask the Experts... => Topic started by: MitchiePinto on September 05, 2012, 01:32:45 PM

Title: 2.3L issue with idling
Post by: MitchiePinto on September 05, 2012, 01:32:45 PM
When I bought the car it was hard to start and had a leaking carb and idle was lumpy but it wouldn't quit and would run ok at about 500-650 rpm idle

Now I rebuilt the carb it starts easy but I have to keep my foot on the gas until it warms up (takes 6 mins) it idles at 2000 rpm when cold then around 1500 rpm when hot

The carb mixture is set lean (If I ran it richer it would bog out) Idle speed is set around 1500 rpm if I set it any lower the car would stall improperly

I suspect a vacuum leak (Il check with propane)

My carb is a 2100 Motorcraft without a choke mech.

Also I have a racing cam put into the head everything else in the engine bay is stock
Title: Re: 2.3L issue with idling
Post by: MitchiePinto on September 08, 2012, 03:26:46 PM
UPDATE: Got the car running !!!!

The issue was the wrong power valve

In the kit it came with a 2 stage (I think) #28 power valve which made the car run rich and only stay running around 2000 rpm

I poped in my old power valve 1 stage #16 and fought with the float level until i got the smoothest idle

Now it idles around 500-750rpm (carb mixture screw's are set at 1 1/2 turns out )

No vacuum leaks, Car can handle slopes,loads and has no bogging or hesitating and the dieseling issue stopped

I have only the vacuum advance, PCV (from the air filter to the thing on top of the valve cover way in the back)

NOW one last issue the car has a mild lumpy idle like it wants to stall and if you listen closely you can hear a slight missfiring on idle and it vibrates some.

My hypothesis is that all this is being caused by the racing cam in it and I should check the ignition timing and advance the cam timing a little


Other than that the car is great it would do 100km all day long and Cruise fine its just the idle issue and I think it has an  overheating issue but im not sure. What are signs of overheating