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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / Maintenance and Repair / January 2008

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1990 Chevy 360 engine RV van.Engine

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cuhulin@webtv.net - 16 Jan 2008 00:34 GMT
spits and misses and quits running.Neighbor who lives behind my house
has the van for sale.Throttle body, I am used to carburetors.He wants
$1,100 for that nice looking 1990 Chevrolet RV (camper) van.I am
interested in buying that van.What's up with that van?
cuhulin
clifto - 16 Jan 2008 02:53 GMT
> spits and misses and quits running.Neighbor who lives behind my house
> has the van for sale.Throttle body, I am used to carburetors.He wants
> $1,100 for that nice looking 1990 Chevrolet RV (camper) van.I am
> interested in buying that van.What's up with that van?

I'm gonna guess the engine spits and misses and quits running.

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       If John McCain gets the 2008 Republican Presidential nomination,
          my vote for President will be a write-in for Jiang Zemin.

cuhulin@webtv.net - 16 Jan 2008 16:57 GMT
My keyboard typed 360, actually it is 350 cubic engine (so he said) and
he said it has about 90,000 miles on it.About three or four weeks ago,
he knocked on my front door.He said he installed new spark plugs and a
new fuel pump.All of the old vehicles I own have carburetors and all of
the old vehicles I have owned before had carburetors on them.I have
worked on my own old vehicles since back in the late 1950s, I know how
to take old carburetors apart and soak the parts in carburetor cleaner
and install new carburetor kits/parts.I don't know beans about throttle
body and fuel injection.

Yep, the guy did say the engine spits and misses and quits running.I
told him to spray some carburetor through the throttle body and see if
that helps.He said he did do that, but it didn't help at all.Then I told
him to spray a water mist on the vacuum lines and on the gaskets, if the
engine picks up, maybe it has a vacuum leak somewhere, I don't know if
he did that though.I am not going to buy an old van that doesn't run
properly.I realize some throttle body engines can be converted to
carburtors, I don't want to do that though.
cuhulin
clifto - 16 Jan 2008 18:05 GMT
> Yep, the guy did say the engine spits and misses and quits running.

It's nearly impossible to diagnose something this vague over the 'net, but
my gut tells me the first thing I would do is put a gauge on the fuel rail
and measure the fuel pressure. Of course, if you do this in front of him
and it turns out to indicate a problem, you may not have a lot of negotiating
leverage any more.

Signature

       If John McCain gets the 2008 Republican Presidential nomination,
          my vote for President will be a write-in for Jiang Zemin.

cuhulin@webtv.net - 17 Jan 2008 16:12 GMT
Gage on a fuel rail? it's all Greek to me.My old 1978 Dodge van has a
318 engine and a two barrell carburetor.At sixty six years old, I am,,,
I am too old a dog to learn any new tricks.I would like to find a
similar Dodge van, but with manual shift transmission, no power steering
and no power brakes.I can work on my old vehicles blind folded and keep
them running just fine.
cuhulin
clifto - 17 Jan 2008 18:28 GMT
> Gage on a fuel rail? it's all Greek to me.My old 1978 Dodge van has a
> 318 engine and a two barrell carburetor.At sixty six years old, I am,,,
> I am too old a dog to learn any new tricks.

Injection isn't all that complicated, ol' dog. ;) If you ask me, it's
easier to service than carburetor stuff. And I ain't no spring chicken.

Signature

       If John McCain gets the 2008 Republican Presidential nomination,
          my vote for President will be a write-in for Jiang Zemin.

cuhulin@webtv.net - 17 Jan 2008 18:35 GMT
About an hour ago, was in my bathrooom.I saw he had the hood up on that
1990 Chevrolet RV van.I don't think I want to buy his troubles.
cuhulin
cuhulin@webtv.net - 17 Jan 2008 18:39 GMT
A few weeks ago. I looked up new throtle bodys.For that van, they start
out at about $303.00.Too much money for the amount of bread.Back to
Memphis Belle on the AMC channel now.
cuhulin
Brent P - 17 Jan 2008 19:14 GMT
> Gage on a fuel rail? it's all Greek to me.My old 1978 Dodge van has a
> 318 engine and a two barrell carburetor.At sixty six years old, I am,,,
> I am too old a dog to learn any new tricks.I would like to find a
> similar Dodge van, but with manual shift transmission, no power steering
> and no power brakes.I can work on my old vehicles blind folded and keep
> them running just fine.

If you know how to deal with a computer controlled quadrajet you should
be able to handle throttle body fuel injection.
cuhulin@webtv.net - 17 Jan 2008 19:43 GMT
I am still learning how to deal with my $1,440 dollar Velocity Micro
ProMagix desktop computer,    www.velocitymicro.com   let alone them new
fangled vans.
cuhulin
cuhulin@webtv.net - 18 Jan 2008 17:37 GMT
Well, I don't know anything about throttle body/so-called fuel
injection.My neighbor whom wants to sell that 1990 Chevrolet RV van, he
doesn't know either.Two mornings ago, when I looked out my bathroom
window over there, I saw that he had the hood up.Thanks for y'alls
''expert'' thingys about throttle body engine that spits and misses and
quits running.I learned Zero.Carburetors Forever is my Motto.so is, Flat
Fenders Forever!
I reckon I will cancel out on thinking about buying his new fangled van
that I don't know anything about.''Big help'' y'all are!
cuhulin
MechanicJay - 18 Jan 2008 18:40 GMT
Dude, you posted a really really vague question about a van that doesn't
run right.  People tried to help, and you responded with more vagueness,
that you don't understand what a fuel pressure gauge or a fuel rail is
and told us more about how you like carburetted vehicles.

Keep in mind that the basic sh.t never changes.  Engines still need
fuel, compression and spark to run.

There are tons of resources on-line where you can do 30 minutes of
reading and learn the basics of modern, or even older FI systems.

Why did you even bother asking the question if your attitude is that
"new" cars (Fuel injection has been around since the '50s) are too hard
to work on and you clearly weren't willing to put the time in to
actually figure it out.  Did you expect some magical answer, like "hit
the front left tire twice with a freshly cut pine branch to cure the
sputtering."?

> Well, I don't know anything about throttle body/so-called fuel
> injection.My neighbor whom wants to sell that 1990 Chevrolet RV van, he
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> that I don't know anything about.''Big help'' y'all are!
> cuhulin  
cuhulin@webtv.net - 18 Jan 2008 19:10 GMT
I expected at least a decent answer, more than a Zero.I don't think I am
a dude either, because meself and my neighbor doesn't know anything
about throttle bodys, gage on a fuel rail, HUH!  and or, fuel injection.
cuhulin
MechanicJay - 18 Jan 2008 20:29 GMT
You did get a decent answer.  You were told to check fuel pressure.
If you don't know how to do that, try asking instead of acting like your
ignorance is our fault.

> I expected at least a decent answer, more than a Zero.I don't think I am
> a dude either, because meself and my neighbor doesn't know anything
> about throttle bodys, gage on a fuel rail, HUH!  and or, fuel injection.
> cuhulin
cuhulin@webtv.net - 18 Jan 2008 21:19 GMT
How much money does a fuel pressure gage (whatever that is?) for a fuel
rail (whatever that is?) cost? How does it hook up? Any pictures? I
still Say there is next to Zero help in this newsgroup on that stuff.
cuhulin
MechanicJay - 18 Jan 2008 21:50 GMT
A fuel Pressure Gauge is a gauge that is used to measure fuel pressure.
They sell ones that specifically have an adapter for use with GM
throttle bodies.  I recently saw one at Autozone for about $30.  I don't
have any pictures as I don't own one of the vehicles in question.

But if you can find the fuel line coming into the engine bay, trace it
around and you should be able to follow it to the throttle body.

The throttle bodies on this engine sit on top of the intake manifold,
just like a carburettor.

The adapter that comes with the gauge is just a T fitting.

Remove the fuel line from where it attaches to the Throttle body, screw
the T-adapter in, Screw the fuel line into the other side of the
fitting, and attach the hose that goes to the gauge onto the schrader
valve on the T fitting.

Once you get it all hooked up, turn the key on/try to start the van.
The needle on the gauge should do something.  I don't know what the spec
for this vehicle is, but I'm guessing about 60psi?

If pressure is low or non existent, then of course check the pump, check
for a clogged filter, check for kinks in the fuel line, etc.

If the pressure checks out okay, check the following:
1) Check the injectors (They're like electronic carb jets), they're
roundish things that sit in the throat of the Throttle Bodies.  I don't
know the procedure for testing those.  It's possibly they're not getting
the signal to fire.
2) Check for vacuum leaks (sounds like you already did that).
3) Check for good spark at all cylinders (also check that the firing
order is correct).

I can't really think of anything else right now -- those are the basics.

Jason

> How much money does a fuel pressure gage (whatever that is?) for a fuel
> rail (whatever that is?) cost? How does it hook up? Any pictures? I
> still Say there is next to Zero help in this newsgroup on that stuff.
> cuhulin
aarcuda69062 - 19 Jan 2008 00:39 GMT
> Once you get it all hooked up, turn the key on/try to start the van.
> The needle on the gauge should do something.  I don't know what the spec
> for this vehicle is, but I'm guessing about 60psi?

More like 9-13 PSI
cuhulin@webtv.net - 19 Jan 2008 19:07 GMT
Thanks,I know air, fuel, and ignition is what it takes for an engine to
run.In ''certain'' proportions to whichever kinds of engines, of
course.I can float a few dollars for whatever kind of a fuel presure
gage.
.....................................................
That will be cashhhhhh onnnnn the barrelhead,,, sonnnnn,,,,,,, this old
Greyhounddddd,,,,  gets paiddddd to runnnnnn,,,,,,
....................................................
clifto - 18 Jan 2008 22:11 GMT
> How much money does a fuel pressure gage (whatever that is?) for a fuel
> rail (whatever that is?) cost? How does it hook up? Any pictures? I
> still Say there is next to Zero help in this newsgroup on that stuff.

I think I paid in the neighborhood of $10 for mine from Harbor Freight.
On my car there's a Schrader valve on the rail that I just screw the gauge
hose onto. More complicated on my other car, I'd need a tee of some sort.

Signature

       If John McCain gets the 2008 Republican Presidential nomination,
          my vote for President will be a write-in for Jiang Zemin.

boxing@sasktel.net - 20 Jan 2008 03:31 GMT
the fuel injection is tougher to trouble shoot, but when you finally
get it running right, you generally get more horse power and better
fuel economy. The electric fuel pumps on the GM vehicles can be a pain
in the butt, as they are expensive and they are the fuel tank and they
can fail at any time without warning. The fuel pressure test is a good
place to start.
cuhulin@webtv.net - 20 Jan 2008 16:06 GMT
My big old 1978 Dodge van with 318 cubic inch engine, two barrel
carburetor runs good because I know how to keep it running good.The more
I think about buying a later model van with throttle body/fuel
injection, some fancy things I don't know anything about working on,,,
the more I think I better leave them alone.I apologize for being so
snotty in one of previous post.I guess I thought I was looking for an
easy answer, and I guess there isn't any.
cuhulin
chestand1116@gmail.com - 20 Jan 2008 18:00 GMT
> My big old 1978 Dodge van with 318 cubic inch engine, two barrel
> carburetor runs good because I know how to keep it running good.The more
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> easy answer, and I guess there isn't any.
> cuhulin

I've worked on both and I can truly say that injection has never given
me the problems that carburetors have. I heard it said many years ago
that the worst fuel injection is still better than the best
carburetor.

Ask yourself this: when did recip aircraft engines switch over to
injection? Many, many years ago. Reason? More reliable and better
metering of fuel.

If I were to start looking for a source of rough running on an 18 year
old engine, I'd look for vacuum leaks first off. Rubber hoses have a
tendency to break down with age and leak. But you knew that already,
right oldtimer?
cuhulin@webtv.net - 20 Jan 2008 20:08 GMT
Some, or most World War Two Aircraft had fuel injection,,,, I have
always known that.
cuhulin
 
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