DeTomaso Mailing List: April 1997, Message #212
     



From: pantera@pobox.com (David Doddek)

Subject: Re: Vegas hookup plus engine trouble

Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 22:17:00 -0500



>Crew,

>

>I'll be there Thursday afternoon!  Unfortunately, my car will

>still be in San Diego.  It choose last Sunday as a good time

>to stop running.

>

>So maybe somebody has a last-minute suggestion.  I changed out

>the head gaskets a few weeks ago.  Was running fine before that.

>Now, it starts and runs good for 10-15 minutes.  Then it begins

>to miss occasionally on acceleration, and stalls when dropped

>down to idle.  The temp gauge starts creeping up too, but not

>above 205 or so.  The longer I drive the worse it runs.  I've

>gone through the carb (Holley 600; 2 years old), and checked

>vacuum lines and ignition.  All looks good.  Could I have a

>cooling problem?

>

>See you in Vegas,

>Jim

>'74 Pantera - looks good

>'88 Chevy - runs

>

Sounds almost like the new head gaskets are leaking into the cylinders.  As

the engine gets hot and the coolant is pressureized then it is squirted into

the cylinders and causes misfire.  I had my fairlane do this once, but only

on one cylinder.  This will also cause a slow and gradual coolant temp

increase.  Try this :  With the engine cold, remove the radiator cap to

release any pressure and then put it back on.  Start the engine and run it

for about 20 seconds.  Immediately take the radiator cap off and check for

pressure.  If there is pressure present then it is likely that a headgasket

leak is present and the combustion pressure is pressurizeing the coolant.



David Doddek     pantera@pobox.com    www.pobox.com/~pantera    217-422-3722

69 EFI Fairlane, 89 T-bird SC, 74 Twin turbo NOS EFI Pantera (I like to go fast)