few questions about my new 78 corvette

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few questions about my new 78 corvette - 9/2/2008 4:23:12 PM    danmf05   Posts: 6 Joined: 8/26/2008 Status: offline just bought a 78 corvette, runs great and interior is very clean in great condition, does have a few problems that I was wondering if they were common.  First off the speedometer bounces around, it is fairly correct but when the rear tires bounce it moves all over the place, was wondering if the cable was loose or something.  Another problem is you can not floor it, the motor just doesnt move, the rms drop and you dont get any power when you push the pedal to the floor,  but going into the accelerator smooth it runs great.  Any help would be great, I am looking forward to my new corvette life and meeting more and more of you. thanks. Post #: 1

RE: few questions about my new 78 corvette - 9/2/2008 6:13:16 PM    DeeVeeEight   Posts: 517 Joined: 10/24/2007 From: South Jersey Status: offline Hello, Welcome to the site and Congratulations on your "New" 1978 Corvette! As for your speedometer, usually the speedometer drive cable gets worn out and causes a jumpy needle, but you say yours bounces when the rear wheels bounce..... I would try removing the speedometer from the dashboard (it comes out with a phillips head screwdriver, remove the lens first, then the speedo/tach) and cleaning it. As far as the lack of power is concerned, it sounds like the vacuum advance on the distributor is not functioning. Our Corvettes are also notorious for vacuum leaks which can contribute to poor engine performance and slow or no movement of the headlight doors. You may also simply need a good tune up or the accelerator pump on the carburetor may be worn out. I hope that helps! _____________________________ If you don't ask, you get the same answer as no. 1979 L-82, 383 Stroker, Edelbrock RPM Air Gap intake, Holley 750, Headers, Flowmasters, VB&P 400# rear monospring, Richmond 5 speed. American Racing Vector Wheels, Firestone Indy 500's (in reply to danmf05) Post #: 2

RE: few questions about my new 78 corvette - 9/5/2008 5:02:37 PM    78buckshot   Posts: 671 Joined: 1/28/2007 From: Michigan Status: offline Hi danmfo5, can you tell us what carburetor your Vette has? The factory Quadrajet has a number of fine adjustments and someone may have modified them, this could lead to poor performance. Get back to us, we''ll have ''ya running good in no time. (in reply to DeeVeeEight) Post #: 3

RE: few questions about my new 78 corvette - 9/6/2008 7:03:50 AM    Texas Jim   Posts: 451 Joined: 12/15/2005 Status: offline    How about the "accelerator pump" not working?  That will cause it to fall on it''s face when you stomp it, no? (in reply to 78buckshot) Post #: 4

RE: few questions about my new 78 corvette - 9/17/2008 4:21:42 PM    danmf05   Posts: 6 Joined: 8/26/2008 Status: offline everything is stock for the car, so i would guess that it still has the quadrajet carb on it, i just got a repair manual so i will have to check out the accelerator pump, would it be a cracked vacuum line or something like that? thanks for the help so far (in reply to Texas Jim) Post #: 5

RE: few questions about my new 78 corvette - 9/17/2008 5:37:46 PM    73shark Posts: 1128 Joined: 4/18/2006 Status: offline Hope the manual you got was the Chev. service manual as it details the rebuild of the Q-jet.  Since you''ll have to take it apart to check/replace the accel. pump anyway, you might as well do a rebuild. _____________________________ So many toys, so little time (in reply to danmf05) Post #: 6

RE: few questions about my new 78 corvette - 9/17/2008 9:28:48 PM    pg Posts: 1066 Joined: 8/7/2006 Status: offline Hi danfo05 and welcome to the forum! I agree with the previous posts, you may have a problem with the accelerator pump. It''s in the carb, with the air cleaner off and the car in park with the parking brake on, remove the air cleaner and blip the throttle, you should see 2 streams of gas being shot into the carb. The linkage may have fallen off or be out of adjustment or the accelerator pump may be bad. If you don''t see those 2 streams of fuel get a rebuild kit, using the # on the side of your carb, it''s a quick, easy and cheep fix. PG. _____________________________ my Vettes birthday, May 1, 1974 (in reply to 73shark) Post #: 7

RE: few questions about my new 78 corvette - 9/18/2008 9:09:21 AM    danmf05   Posts: 6 Joined: 8/26/2008 Status: offline thanks for the advice, i was thinking about just replacing the carb all together to get something more updated with current technology...any suggestions or is this a bad idea, im hoping to replace headers and such also to get a bit more power out of the motor... (in reply to pg) Post #: 8

RE: few questions about my new 78 corvette - 9/18/2008 10:38:17 AM    DeeVeeEight   Posts: 517 Joined: 10/24/2007 From: South Jersey Status: offline The Quadrajet is a very good carburetor for your engine. Have it rebuilt and spend the money you saved on some other improvements for your ''Vette. _____________________________ If you don't ask, you get the same answer as no. 1979 L-82, 383 Stroker, Edelbrock RPM Air Gap intake, Holley 750, Headers, Flowmasters, VB&P 400# rear monospring, Richmond 5 speed. American Racing Vector Wheels, Firestone Indy 500's (in reply to danmf05) Post #: 9

RE: few questions about my new 78 corvette - 9/18/2008 11:42:45 AM    73shark Posts: 1128 Joined: 4/18/2006 Status: offline Excellent idea.  _____________________________ So many toys, so little time (in reply to DeeVeeEight) Post #: 10

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