HI, i have a 64 malibu with an L6 that i cant get running right no matter how hard i try. It has no power what so ever. People tell me i have a intake leak but i have all new gaskets, i checked them twice anyway just to be sure and i put some sealer on them. Still no good. It basically spits and backfires like no other. I have timed it 4 times, so a no go. Choke is working right and i cant figure it out. It only does this at low rpms. If i put the car in neutral and get it to the upper rmps, i can rev it, but when it is in the low rpms, it bogs and has no power.

If anyone could help me please let me know. I need this car for school.

Possibly you are a tooth off on your distributor? What carb are you using? Is the car actually driveable or is the backfiring too severe to drive it?

i have the original rochester carb on it, Single barrel. It is kinda drivable. I can drive it if it is flat or downhill. To get up a hill i have to get a head start. Once i start going about 45 it starts to sputer also.

Ryan, Are you in Saratoga Springs or Lake? I checked, I am 12 hrs away, I am sure that there has to be someone close to you to help. Guys and Gals???? Anyone????

Ryan,

first get #1 at TDC and verify the timing mark. If the timing mark is correct, then check to make sure the valves are opening and closing. It sounds like it is very retarded in timing. That would be my first guess.

If it has points,your dwell is wrong or as Tom mentioned,very retarded timing

If it has points,your dwell is wrong or as Tom mentioned,very retarded timing

Yes,

I started writing that too and then erased it. I figured you must have checked it. If not, check as Chris said.

i followed all the steps to set the timing and the dwell. I set both many times, probably 6 or 7 times. Sometimes a good amount advanced to see if that would help, but nothing. Might as well set it again. Couldnt hurt but i dont think it will do much.

As far as were i live I live in Greenfield which is 5 minutes out of Saratoga Springs.

i followed all the steps to set the timing and the dwell. I set both many times, probably 6 or 7 times. Sometimes a good amount advanced to see if that would help, but nothing. Might as well set it again. Couldnt hurt but i dont think it will do much.

As far as were i live I live in Greenfield which is 5 minutes out of Saratoga Springs.

Hi Ryan,

I didn't mean set the timing. What you need to do is to make sure the timing mark is actually correct or at least close. When you are doing this with the valve cover off you can check the valve movement and see if there is a difference between cylinders, check for broken springs or if the cam is flat.

Hope this helps

Ryan

When was the last time the car ran well?

Has the carb been rebuilt?

the car ran ok before i took the top end down. I had to as everything was very dirty, the carby was covered in old gas and oil. So i took the head off, cleaned the vavles, but didnt take them out. Painted both manifolds and the heads and rebuilt the carb. I set the vavles and watched them move and they are fine, so i cant imagine that is the problem. The engine only has 67k miles on it.

Ryan, what procedure did you use to adjust the valves? I dont remember that you said you removed the head in your first post. Valves too tight will give you low vacuum and no power. If you like I can send you my cell phone number and we can discuss this at lenght. just let me know a good time to call if you want to send me your phone number. Bill

i set the vavles, the way the book said, i cant recall how many turns exactly but it was done correctly, when i was done i made it a point to look them over and make sure everything was working.

I am gonna try to adjust my mixture screw and see if that helps at all. If not maybe i can call you.

i set the vavles, the way the book said, i cant recall how many turns exactly but it was done correctly, when i was done i made it a point to look them over and make sure everything was working.

I am gonna try to adjust my mixture screw and see if that helps at all. If not maybe i can call you.

That would be fine, I have a feeling that your valves are too tight. It makes a lot of sense from everything you have described and believe me, I have done it myself! I will pm you my number you can call me anytime after 6 pm. Or send me yours. Bill

Ryan,

You need to readjust the valves with the motor running. Honestly, adjusting the valves when the motor is cold is a little tricky (and I don't pretend to be great at it either). It is more of a feel and experience rather than a step by step process. Trying to word that the best I can. Get some oil diverters, fire that up and use this method. Turn the valve lose until you hear it ticking (I call it floating), then tighten it slowly until the ticking goes away, then tighten it a quarter of a turn past that. I like to put a moist towel on my header to catch any oil that my over flow the lip of the head.

Please keep in mind that I’m trying to give advice without actually seeing/hearing the motor. Anyway, readjusting the valves cannot hurt.

the way you just described is exactly how i did it. :thumbsup:

Ryan

Could it be something as simple as a bad plug or wire. These types of things tend to fail under stress (heavy acceleration, going up hill, etc.). Bad timing will also mess you up. You should be slightly advanced. Ran 0 TDC and my new motor ran like crap until I listened to the folks on this web site. I now have it running 14 degrees (i was told to try as much as 20 initial timing). We'll see on that one through a little trial and error. Your coolant and oil levels staying steady? I.E. leaky gasket? You check oil for any coolant?

i will check my oil tommorow again but i have not found any signs of leaking. I have set the timing where the manual said to set it. It didnt work well so i set it in various spots advanced but no help.

Not sure if i said this before. But i can cover my Air cleaner opening and the car still runs. And i am only getting a reading of about 4 on my vaccum guage. Most said i should get 20. It goes up as i accelerate but at idle only, 4 units.

Well having such low vacumn is not going to help your problem. You need to find the leak. You said you took your heads off and such. Did you replace appropriate gaskets?

Ryan, I really thing you need to pull the valve cover. start the engine and loosen the rocker until it clicks. then slowly tighten it until it stops clicking the go 1/4 turn more. and do all 12 of them.

Bill

Yea Bill that is what I was thinking but he said he did that. I've seen valves tightened too much...

Ryan, is it hard to start?

Does it crank ok?

its starts very well. Sometimes it seems a tad hard when it is really cold like 30 degrees but other than that no hard starting, pretty smooth actually.