82 Wagon nightmare

[RedLance]

Ok, having LOTS of trouble with my in law's wagon.

 

1982 Wagon, GL 4wd D/R, with A/C, no PS, with both california emmisions and high altitude modifications, according to the underhood stickers.

 

Hitachi carb.

 

7-10 years ago, it overheated on the side of the road.

 

About 6 months ago I put all new gaskets in the engine, and then discovered the problem was rusted out "freeze plugs" in the heads. Replaced those too. No fuel reaching the carb. Replaced the fuel pump, and the under hood filter. Drove 15 miles with no trouble, other then a dry rotted tire flying apart.

 

Left for a 60 mile round trip to the next town over, and it won't idle. When I take my foot off the gas, it will either die, or run at somewhere over 2000. 45 miles into the trip, it acts like it's running outta gas, then dies. Tank is full though. Let it sit a few minutes, starts back up, and makes it another mile, then does the same thing. Towed it home.

 

Removed, disassembled cleaned and rebuilt the carb. Reinstalled it and it still won't idle right, but it made the same 60 mile trip no problem. Futzed around with trying to get the idle right tonight. Set the timing by ear, and it ran better. Wife took it this time. Started doing the same running outta gas act for her.

 

I'm not sure I have all of the vacuum hoses connected correctly, and I can't find a diagram that actually looks like this engine. I spent a good 2 hours checking them over today with my Haynes book, and everything looks right.

 

What the heck am I missing? Crud in the gas tank? But what about the idle?

 

Oh, also, when I started it up today, which is after the carb kit, and after one succesful 60 mile trip, it ran like crap for a few minutes, then suddenly cleared up. Crap being like it's missing on one cylinder or something. Then, as if a switch was thrown, it cleared up and purred like it should. I'm gussing some thermo switch tripped.

 

Help please, I'd like to have some hair left when I get done.

 

Thanks!

Brian

[GeneralDisorder]

I had this issue with a Hitachi once - I am fairly certain it was a float needle that would bind in the seat and stick closed. The engine runs out of fuel and acts like you just ran out of gas. After a period of time, or as soon as you screw with the thing in any minor way the float unsticks and it starts running again.

 

The only way I can thing of that you could test this theory is to wait till it happens again and try to see if there is any fuel in the float cavity - you will need a flashlight to see the fuel level through the sight glass. If there's no fuel on the glass you have found your problem.

 

In my case I rebuilt the carb and had used the aftermarket viton tipped needle and new seat - when I swapped back to a stock brass needle the problem never returned for as long as I ran that carb.

 

GD