Dies in gear

[jtvette]

I don't know if I have the right section or not so bear with me.
I am new to the forum and I try to use the search function to answer any of my questions.
However I am stumped on this problem. The car is a 1986 Base model Eagle with the ECM Test bypass.
The car was working fine until a few days ago it was staring hard and it sounded like it was only running on a few cylinders. It only lasted a minute or two and then the car drove fine.
I had planned to do the carb upgrade and thought this was a carb or ignition issue.
So i thought I would do it all at once over the weekend.
I just installed the mc2100 carb from Gronk and did the poor mans hei upgrade. I used a good Wells module.
The car now idles fine and I have the timing set very close. I checked with a vacuum gauge and the timing light.
My problem starts when I put the car in gear. Then it will just die. It is just like someone shut off the key.
I just installed a new set of manifold gaskets and the bolts are tight. Was surprised to find that there was no exhaust gasket on the car when I went to replace them.
The car has a new fuel filter and just put new spark plugs in a little while ago.
I can't find any vacuum leaks and all that is hooked up right now is the brakes, distributor and pcv.
All other ports have been capped off.
I am not sure what i messed up but any suggestions would be helpful.

Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance.
                  Joe
I will try to check this often to answer any other questions

[carnuck]

Sounds like the idle is too low or your torque converter is acting up. Lift one rear wheel (in 2wd) and start it in neutral (block the rest of the wheels so it doesn't roll away) then without your foot on the brake, pop it into drive and see if it stalls. If not, then try stopping with the brakes. If it stalls, the torque converter has probably jammed inside or the pressure line on the valve body is getting fluid when it shouldn't. (or there is stioll an adjustment problem)
   You did the n utter bypass ?

[jtvette]

Yes I have done the bypass.
I will try jacking the car up in the morning and see what happens.
Thanks for the suggestion.
                   
                   Joe

[jtvette]

I tried jacking the car up and putting it in gear. The wheels spun and it worked fine, in both forward and reverse.
If i but my foot on the brakes the car would stall.
I checked the spark and it is firing fine. I also did a compression check on three cylinders and they all checked around 160. I also checked the pickup coil with a test light and it seemed fine.
My Father and I are at a loss on what is going on.
The fuel pump seems to be ok also.
Any other suggestions would be welcome.

              Thanks,
                  Joe

[carnuck]

If it dies when you hit teh brakes the converter is probably toast. Does it die in reverse too? If not, you may be able to salvage it by dropping the trans pan and plugging off the tube for the lockup (on top of the valve body) I was able to do that with my '83 wagon I had before.

[jtvette]

thanks for the help guys.
I will look into the convertor more tomorrow.
Hopefully I can figure it out.

      Thanks,
           Joe

[jtvette]

Well I checked a few more things over this morning.
The bad news is that my trans fluid was very black and nasty looking.
I guess it is not an electrical problem.
Thanks again for all the help guys. Now I will have to see how bad the damage is.

             Thanks,
                  Joe