84 Eagle is unbelievably slowww

[rollguy]

I have a free carter if you would like it for the cost of postage.....Rich

[1985amceagle]

Kudos to you for defending the Carter!  AMC, believe it or not, actually had carb experts who evaluated what was out there and typically chose what worked best.  Look at all the different carbs they used because they were not bound to a corporate carb.

Other than the darn thing plugging up, I've had good luck with the Carter while it was unplugged. It's not much for power, but it just seems to work. Sometime I would like to fix my vacuum lines so Doug isn't the only one making 20+ miles per gallon. I am also thinking about transplanting a mopar Carter and computer on it if it is a simpler design.

[IowaEagle]

You don't need a computer in my opinion.  Backdating the motor to a time when they only had a pcv valve is the way to go but keeping a more modern ignition system like the TFI or HEI.

[drock87]

I think your issue is the Throttle Linkage not ADJUSTED properly. If you give it lotsa gas, it should keep going. If not a lot, it'll shift. However, if it is not aggressive enough, you'll never have enough throttle pressure to keep it from shifting. I had this issue on mine. Granted, my throttle valve linkage was, like, not there at all, but that solved things quite a bit. Try this...Shift manually. If it accelerates as you expect (for an Eagle  ), then you need to adjust your TV linkage. If not, the next place I would look would be your timing. There are people here who an time by vacuum or ear. I can't. Therefore, I bought a badass timing gun at Autozone, the digital one $100.  READ THE INSTRUCTIONS. The digital light gives you a tach right there and allows you to manipulate the timing so you time to the 0 BTDC mark on the engine. I am the world's "biggest" novice, and I have had these same issues.

***When you put the MC21xx on, make sure you did the ECM Test (that is N*tter if the blocker is still up). Also, you DO have to retime after that because if you did the ECM Test properly, the ECU no longer works. That thing actually adjusted timing based on what was going on in the carb. My timing was WAYYYYY off after I did the MC upgrade. BTW, I like the MC21xx. My car runs a HELLUVA lot better in every way after the upgrade.

Good luck!

[carnuck]

If the computer isn't bypassed and you don't have an HEI dist, then timing may be stationary and causing the doggy condition.

[jsherrod]

I think your issue is the Throttle Linkage not ADJUSTED properly. If you give it lotsa gas, it should keep going. If not a lot, it'll shift. However, if it is not aggressive enough, you'll never have enough throttle pressure to keep it from shifting. I had this issue on mine. Granted, my throttle valve linkage was, like, not there at all, but that solved things quite a bit. Try this...Shift manually. If it accelerates as you expect (for an Eagle  ), then you need to adjust your TV linkage. If not, the next place I would look would be your timing. There are people here who an time by vacuum or ear. I can't. Therefore, I bought a badass timing gun at Autozone, the digital one $100.  READ THE INSTRUCTIONS. The digital light gives you a tach right there and allows you to manipulate the timing so you time to the 0 BTDC mark on the engine. I am the world's "biggest" novice, and I have had these same issues.

***When you put the MC21xx on, make sure you did the ECM Test (that is N*tter if the blocker is still up). Also, you DO have to retime after that because if you did the ECM Test properly, the ECU no longer works. That thing actually adjusted timing based on what was going on in the carb. My timing was WAYYYYY off after I did the MC upgrade. BTW, I like the MC21xx. My car runs a HELLUVA lot better in every way after the upgrade.

Good luck!

thanks for the info!  I will check the linkage today and timing.. HOWEVER i definantly did NOT do the ECM test.... apparently i missed that memo/direction.... ill look through the forum for info on how to do it unlesso ne of you wants to be so kind as to point me the right direction... thanks so much

[IowaEagle]

Its in the Den's Eaglepedia.

[jsherrod]

i will attempt the bypass today and let you know the results.... do u recomend the HEI distrib?

[IowaEagle]

HIE is a good, inexpensive upgrade.

[jsherrod]

okay here is my update on my wagon....

 I did the ECM Test with the wire splices and then set the timing to 10-12 .... (timing is nice and smooth, does not jump around)

there is no change on how the car runs.... so next is the throttle tranny linkage... HOWEVER i did notice that the eagle runs the EXACT same whether the vacuum advance is hooked up or not..... am i wrong to think that it should run totally different?     my vacuum advance is hooked to the port below the choke on the left side of carb (when looking at the carb from the front bumper)... since im nearly positive that is the correct port is there something im missing?   if my vacuum advance was bad would my car act sluggish?

thanks

[jsherrod]

i am getting vacuum from the carb and it moves the advance.... car revs up great in idle...gonna adjust throttle linkage and hope this problem goes away...not super hopeful though because the car is still sluggish when i mannualy shift..... running out of ideas

[jsherrod]

well i adjusted the throttle rod and it didnt make a difference....

[IowaEagle]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.  Now to ponder this some more.

[jsherrod]

im thinking compression issues?  worn out valve or something

[eaglefreek]

 I did the ECM Test with the wire splices and then set the timing to 10-12 .... (timing is nice and smooth, does not jump around)

Throw the timing light back in the tool box and advance the timing a little at a time until you get pinging, then back it off a hair. I keep  the distributor hold down bolt just snug enough so I can turn the distributor with a just a little bit of force.