Loss of Power

[AMCNewb]

I bought an 82 Eagle Wagon a month or so ago for $800. It has 65,000 miles on it and has been sitting for the past year at least. It runs great and has plenty of go, that is until it warms up fully. Once it gets warmed up a loud ticking noise starts from the engine and changes speed with the RPM. (Gets faster and louder when revved) Once this happens I have the same amount of power until it shifts around 15 then it feels like it just falls flat on its face. I can give it more gas and it still just creeps along, but once i get about 90% throttle it takes off like it would before the ticking starts.

Any help with figuring this out would be greatly appreciated. I don't want to take it to a shop as I am a broke college kid with a family and I got this as a winter Beater. (The wife just loves it)

[AMCNewb]

Oh and I have replaced plugs, wires, fuel filter, oil, and checked most of the vacuum lines.

[EAGLER]

man it really sounds like a vaccum leak to me, better check on the intake manifold or carb´s base. it is a common problem on these engines.

[carnuck]

Could be a loose manifold too.

[SpreadEagle]

Hope I'm not reviving an old thread for the wrong reason but I think my Eagle is doing Tue same thing. Replace oil and used a light oil. 5w30... When the car ran a while it would start acting like it was trying to suck fuel through a straw that was way too small.  Seems related to temperature and didn't start till after oil changed. This has a messed up valve cover that the PO welded on to the head. This causes it to leak oil and I'm think may be what this post has hinted at..
Later all.

[carnuck]

15W50 Napa synthetic in mine.

[SpreadEagle]

Thank you for the replies.makes sense since it didn't start till after the oil change. Saw this thread and it sounded right.

[carnuck]

Sometimes there is a flawed oil filter too.

[SpreadEagle]

Just noting that the car is earning her name.. put treatment in the oil today and drove to work no issue... Not certain if it's a pressure or a temp problem will have to wait till I'm forced to deal with it again.

[SpreadEagle]

Don't see a reason to start a new post for a power issue

Been a while and I've looked at a few things. replaced a collapsed vacuum hose from the PCV valve to the canister.
Fuel lines from firewall to fuel pump to carburetor replaced. In line filter placed before and after pump.
Changed plugs. Compression is about 125 p.s.i. in all cylinders. I have noticed that the transfer case does not disengage. Under load I get a severe drop in vacuum at the gauge this coincides with the loss of power and stutter/stall.  The car will start running really bad, to the point of not going anywhere. Any further thoughts would be great. I do have a fuel pump to replace if I need to.
SpreadEagle

[mudkicker715]

125 is low. my .02

[Amc1320]

125 isn't bad for a 30 year old engine, how many miles on it? 150 was factory a long time ago

So if I understand correctly it runs fine then once under load it starts running bad? You said you lose vacuum? Is this according to the gauge inside?

Sounds like a vacuum problem to me, if you lose vacuum it will run terrible, and not pull a feather

Now to figure out where the hole in the system is..... Hmmmm

[SpreadEagle]

I'm starting to agree.. My Dad of all things is pretty good with those older cars suggested I connect my vacuum gauge to the Motorcraft 2100 and adjust there and then start looking for problems. Being that my transfer is stuck in 4WD it does make me think I have a leak. I see a lot of things down below with nothing going to them.

[BenM]

I'm starting to agree.. My Dad of all things is pretty good with those older cars suggested I connect my vacuum gauge to the Motorcraft 2100 and adjust there and then start looking for problems. Being that my transfer is stuck in 4WD it does make me think I have a leak. I see a lot of things down below with nothing going to them.

Best advice I can give anyone with a Eagle is to replace all the rubber lines. Heat and oil do nasty things to them, and vacuum has a lot of jobs to do on these cars, even without the MCU involved.

It wouldn't hurt to run a gauge inside to troubleshoot. You can get the plastic hard line at the parts store and it's much easier to push through firewall grommets.

[carnuck]

If you still have a cat, it may be clogged up (mine is starting to stink)