Doug_I

Hi everyone

Any help or suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Still having problems...I put in a new base plate for the carb, and replaced a few more crunchy vac lines.
The car runs terrible. it almost feels like it's running on two cylinders, it stumbles and only smooths out around 2500 RPM. if I take my foot off the gas or put it in gear, it will stall.


The car ran for about 400 miles, then just didn't want to run.
I had the carb rebuilt, cap rotor and wires.
Now the car runs beautifully when the choke is held closed. As soon as I let the choke go it sputters and shuts off. I can get it to run if I keep the RPMs above 2000.

Below is the short story of what happened to get me here.......


My mother in law's civic just "stopped runing". lucky for me after comming back from a 90 mile trip, it died two blocks from the house.
It had spark, getting gas etc etc
The most special thing It has is an interference engine, and no compression. In other words if everything is not in time the pistons will crash into the valves.
The keyway broke on the cam sprocket and turned just enough to bend all the exhaust valves.
This will also happen if the timming belt breaks .

Time for the fix:
New valves
Had a machine shop check for cracks in that nice aluminum head.
Head Gasket set....
water pump and timing belt
since i had it apart this far what the heck lets put a new alt belt on.
After all this work and skinned knuckles I did get it running again.


Now there is a nice clear oil puddle under the car
Not oil, but power steering fluid
Replace the high pressure line....oh look at all the nice rust
replace the other steel lines
IT LIVES No wait the rear wheel cyl just blew out
IT LIVES No wait it seems to have 4 dry rotted tires
IT LIVES
Simple request--nice easy short distance breakin period

Now after paying a towtruck for a 30 mile tow the carb took a dump.

The carb shop wants $200 for a rebuild

about $600 ( update $900) into the car that we bought for $200

BiGZ

Those lil 3bbl carbs are a major PITA once fooked! (many a mechanic curse them)They're fine IF they're fine,other wise If ya can find a weber or similar,get it!
(I found one in JY once for 20.00,including lil chrome filter + adapter when I went looking for another 3bbl on my old wagovan I used to have) Praying my 87 crx project stays running well,at least until I sell her...

Doug_I

That's some good information, but it doesn't help me get the car running so it can be driven. And after spending $200 to have the carb rebuilt.

Targa250R

Sounds like it may have an air leak in the carb insulator/base plate. Check the carb base; the rubber part tends to get smashed over the years. Try spraying some carb cleaner around the base to see if the idle picks up; if so, that's where the problem lies. A new one is a little over $87.

Also check the fuel filter in the rear of the car. There are two fuel filters but the rear one is most suspect.