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Ben, or anyone out there know of a good mechanic in the so ca. area that can figure this thing out. I have a 78 stock and it sputters just off idle. it seems as though it is too lean or has a vacuum leak, which it doesn't. I think one of those beloved smog valves doesn't work correctly but it's out of my league. I just need it to run good and reliable for my 16 year old to drive. Any info or help would be appreciated. Thanks, Ron.

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OK, I'm over it. Where's the beer?

Check all the hoses, vacuum leak can be a simple fix and you can save some $$.

Cap off all the vacuum sources on the intake manifold and carb except the power brake booster and spark advance on the distributor. If it still runs shitty, you're probably right. (There are a few more possible places for a vacuum leak.) But if it runs better, you've got a vacuum leak.

I'm dealing w the same exact issue w my red 79 longbed auto truck right now.so I will watch an maybe learn or if I learn first i will kindly share

You say it sputters off of idle. do you mean that when you get on the gas it hesitates, or what? if so you may want to try checking out the accellerator pump on the carburetor.

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03Cobra

The carb has been rebuilt and I checked the accel. pump. It works.

It hesitates when I first open the throttle and then kind of recovers, just like a bad accel. pump would do, but then as I hold it reaved up, driving or parked, it just kind of hits and misses. Then when the egr valve opens it gets more air and runs even worse.

I can drive it 50 mph so I don't think its starving for fuel (but I am going to check out the carb site glass and the fuel pump, lines etc..) I think it is getting to much air from a smog valve or something like that.

I appreciate the help and any more ideas you may have . Thanks, Ron

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OK, I'm over it. Where's the beer?

Mine did that. It had vacuum leaks in the diaphragm in breather goose neck. EGR valve wouldn't close completely at low speeds. Replaced it and finally capped the vacuum source. The brass bushings for the throttle plates leaked vacuum. Various small quarter inch hoses were replaced. Finally eliminated all the small hoses and associated small hoses and valves except the spark advance and bought a Weber. Runs like a champ now. Those Hitachi carbs are a piece of shitl, even the rebuilt ones.

check and make shure the egr valve is not sticking open slightly. look at you're vacuume readings. should be steady at about 18"hg also try spraying some carb cleaner into the air cleaner and see if it smooths out. may be running lean because of a plugged idle circuit on the carb

Good mechanics are getting fewer and farther between, but there is one guy in Ontario that is pretty good. Well, he's actually very good, he's fixed nearly everything I've taken to him, and the one thing he couldn't fix, he told me up front that it was out of his league. My dad uses him also. He's hopped from place to place over the years. Right now he's working at the Mobil station on Euclid Ave just above the 60fwy. Ask for Roy Faubus. Tell him you heard about him from Ben and Pat Cordasco.

Thanks Ben I'll print that and keep it on hand.
It passes smog the way it is, so I think I'll just put on a new Weber and make it run right, then every 2 years I'll put on the stock carb smog it and switch back. It's easy enough so what the heck?

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OK, I'm over it. Where's the beer?