Author Topic: 83 chevy 350 no power  (Read 11661 times)

Offline akp05

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83 chevy 350 no power
« on: December 13, 2010, 12:58:14 pm »
Need help!!!.  The truck is a 1983 3/4 4x4 silverado auto truck used to be a diesel and somebody put a 350 in it. The truck has no ower put a new distributor in it and set the timing at 8 degrees it helped alittle. When i try to accelerate it almost just dies out. And when it does go it is rough and lacks power. I can put it in low 1 and it runs smooth. Wondering why it runs rough at low rpms and runs fine at higher. Also i changed the plugs and wires on it put a 1406 edelbrock on it off my nova and the carb was good on the nova so its not the carb anyhting would help

Offline VileZambonie

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Re: 83 chevy 350 no power
« Reply #1 on: December 13, 2010, 01:11:53 pm »
Fuel starvation? Do a fuel volume test. Look for kinked fuel lines.
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74 GMC, 75 K5, 84 GMC, 85 K20, 86 k20, 79 K10

Offline jaredts

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Re: 83 chevy 350 no power
« Reply #2 on: December 13, 2010, 01:15:48 pm »
Did you use a new carb. gasket when you installed the carb.?  Have you checked for vacuum leaks?  Is it any better when the engine warms up?  Does it stumble when you rev. it in park?

Offline akp05

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Re: 83 chevy 350 no power
« Reply #3 on: December 13, 2010, 01:26:54 pm »
yes i put a new gasket  on and i cant find any vacuum leaks. No it revs just fin in park
Did you use a new carb. gasket when you installed the carb.?  Have you checked for vacuum leaks?  Is it any better when the engine warms up?  Does it stumble when you rev. it in park?

Offline akp05

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Re: 83 chevy 350 no power
« Reply #4 on: December 13, 2010, 01:31:13 pm »
Ive got a clear filter on it also new and its pumping gas in it and its pumping gas in the filter when i give it gas. I can watch it when i move the throttle with my hand but dont know if its getting enough thoug
Fuel starvation? Do a fuel volume test. Look for kinked fuel lines.

Offline 87suburban

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  • 1987 Chevy suburban 3/4 ton 4x4 350 TBI/ TH400
Re: 83 chevy 350 no power
« Reply #5 on: December 13, 2010, 06:23:05 pm »
just a thought, when you pull the gas cap off to refuel it does it sound as though its sucking air into the fuel tank?

Offline onelow84

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Re: 83 chevy 350 no power
« Reply #6 on: December 13, 2010, 08:40:36 pm »
if it runs good in park then maybe stretched timing chain?

Offline 1979C20

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Re: 83 chevy 350 no power
« Reply #7 on: December 15, 2010, 01:33:48 am »
My truck runs great parked, beautifully in first, alright under 3k rpms in second. After that it sputter and coughs. Just falls flat on its face. And in 3rd its fine again. I adjusted my fuel mixture screws, it was really rich. And now its nowhere near half as bad in second. Check your fuel mnixture. May be lean, may be rich. My .o2c
1979 SCLB C20 Q-jet 350 SM465 14b F.F. 4.10 G80
1989 GMC Suburban V2500 TBI350 TH400 4in lift 35's 14b SF

Offline jaredts

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Re: 83 chevy 350 no power
« Reply #8 on: December 15, 2010, 05:42:49 am »
Make sure you're getting fuel as Vile said, but I've had similar issues more than once from a bad spark plug wire or one that isn't making proper connection.  With the engine idling pull off a plug wire and note the rpm drop.  Put it back on and do another...repeat until you've found one that doesn't change the rpm much.  If you do find one, that cylinder isn't doing its job either because of poor fire or possibly an internal engine problem.

Offline akp05

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Re: 83 chevy 350 no power
« Reply #9 on: December 15, 2010, 08:56:40 am »
Its getting plenty of fuel but i will try the spark plug wires and see if there is any difference in rpm drop
Make sure you're getting fuel as Vile said, but I've had similar issues more than once from a bad spark plug wire or one that isn't making proper connection.  With the engine idling pull off a plug wire and note the rpm drop.  Put it back on and do another...repeat until you've found one that doesn't change the rpm much.  If you do find one, that cylinder isn't doing its job either because of poor fire or possibly an internal engine problem.

Offline blown 74

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Re: 83 chevy 350 no power
« Reply #10 on: December 15, 2010, 11:10:09 am »
What did the plugs you took out look like?Dark,light, black?