I was going about 50mph when I lost throttle response and started to lose speed, finally dying.  Luckily I managed to coast to a side street but was unable to start the car.

 

Fast forward a few months>  

 I've managed to get the Soob home and gotten it to start and idle, but it won't rev past 2500 in drive and stalls out while accelerating.

New parts:

• cap and rotor
• plugs and wires
• oxygen sensor
• fuel pump
• fuel filter
• rebuilt carb
• carb pulloff 
• vacuum hoses

I'm new to cars and self taught so I'd be happy with any suggestions or advice.

 

Car stats:

85' GL base, carb, FWD, Auto, 4 door sedan. 

Edited July 11, 201510 yr by Scubaru Jack

Basics first... How old is the gas in the tank and how much is is in there? Did you rebuild the carb?

Recheck your float setting.

Recheck your timing

Any way to check for fuel pressure or at least flow?

Are all of the wires connected inside of the distributor?  Is the vacuum advance connected to the distributor?  Did you check the timing?  Did you try substituting in another distributor, to see if it works better?  Are the inertia weights inside of the distributor, worn out and do not swing out properly?

I was going about 50mph when I lost throttle response and started to lose speed, finally dying.  Luckily I managed to coast to a side street but was unable to start the car...

 

That is Exactly the Description of a Timing Belt's Snap.

 

So, I kindly suggest you to check both Timing Belts.

 

Kind Regards.

The gas is older, haven't checked the timing yet ( it's on the list), I rebuilt the carb and have the float adjusted as per the directions.  As far as I know the wires are connected in the distributor, will double check.  How would I check the weights? I was eventually able to drive the car home, could I do that with a broken timing belt?

 Thanks for the suggestions guys!

 

The to-do list:

• check timing 
• check belts
• check distributor 
• new gas
• check ignition coil

 

... I was eventually able to drive the car home, could I do that with a broken timing belt? ...

 

Nope.

 

After reading the new information,

 

I believe that the Carburetor and / or misconnected vacuum hoses are the Culprits.

 

Good Luck! ... Kind Regards.

check that your vacuum advance is hooked to ported vacuum.  if you have it on manifold it will idle but you will have no middle or late pedal power.  it will also likely make a racket when the gas is pressed.

check that your vacuum advance is hooked to ported vacuum.  if you have it on manifold it will idle but you will have no middle or late pedal power.  it will also likely make a racket when the gas is pressed.

Ported vacuum? That sounds like the kind of symptoms I'm getting.

I doubt that would cause your instant stalling symptom. To test remove the vac line at the disty, and plug the line with ur finger. If no vacuum is felt and the idle stays the same then you are probably on the right port. If the idle drops and you feel vacuum then your line is hooked to manifold vac and thats incorrect. It needs to find a tuned port on the front of the carb. Not sure about the ea82 carb tuned port location.

I doubt that would cause your instant stalling symptom. To test remove the vac line at the disty, and plug the line with ur finger. If no vacuum is felt and the idle stays the same then you are probably on the right port. If the idle drops and you feel vacuum then your line is hooked to manifold vac and thats incorrect. It needs to find a tuned port on the front of the carb. Not sure about the ea82 carb tuned port location.

Gonna go try this, Thanks!

Checked the connections to disty and one had vacuum while the other didn't.  The vacuum diagram on the underside of the hood said they were properly connected.  Gonna check the ignition coil tonight on a hunch.

Almost sounds like you don't have enough fuel pressure...

 

I have an adjustable fuel regulator.  A friend thought it would be funny to turn it down to 1psi and didn't tell me.  Well at 2800 rpm while accelerating the car would just fall on its face and stutter along until I let of the gas.  But I could drive around slow all I wanted.  Might check your fuel pressure.

Almost sounds like you don't have enough fuel pressure...

 

I have an adjustable fuel regulator.  A friend thought it would be funny to turn it down to 1psi and didn't tell me.  Well at 2800 rpm while accelerating the car would just fall on its face and stutter along until I let of the gas.  But I could drive around slow all I wanted.  Might check your fuel pressure.

Will do, Thanks Lucas!