Lots of problems.. Signs of leaking intake manifold gaskets? MSD ??

[craigwhite89gt]

Here is what i got on the motor
306
SRP pistons with stock rods and crank
1.6 RR
Strike force alum heads 2.05/1.6 valves Crane springs
F-Cam
30# inj with C&L Mass
Trick flow street intake
MSD &coil

Well after having to take my water pump off 4 times and change all gaskets, grind down the end of my distributor 1/8", Bypass my MSD cuz it decided not to work....Finally the car started today. BUT ran like crap... At first we had a hard time finding timing.. finally got it close.. Then we decided to take it down the street...The idle kept staying up when i would shift, then i lost my brakes... So my buddy who is a mechanic started spraying around the intake manifold gaskets ..carb cleaner.. and when he would do it the idle would change ... So i think this is what i deserve for using cheap intake manifold gaskets. Would that leaking have a great affect on the idle? We are doing a vaccum test tommarow but im sure that they have to be bad... Any opinons on the MSD? Its a 6-AL and it use to work.. We have power goin to it, Just no spark from it.. I never touched any wires when i changed the motor. Problems gotta love em...

THANKS CRAIG

 

[vristang]

The vac leak will hurt the quality of your idle (I thinkI developed one recently as well, so you are not alone ).
The starter fluid should be good enough to tell you where it is leaking though.

I have no suggestions on the MSD box. Maybe their website will have some trouble shooting lists?

Hope you get it running soon.

jason

 

[craigwhite89gt]

Yea i checkd on the MSD site.. its just weird that it worked now it dont..

 

[FORCED2DV8]

Yea i checkd on the MSD site.. its just weird that it worked now it dont..

I have had the same problem in the past, I took it out of one car went to put it into another, And no workie...Something must have shorted is the only thing I can think of. If you call MSD they will walk you thru or tell you how to test the MSD, You might have to get another one. Vaccum leaks can definatly cause idle problems, especially if its enough to cause brakes to go out.

 

[craigwhite89gt]

Yea i thought so, When i took the car down the block the idle would stay up at whatever RPM i was at while driving then i would have to shift into a higher gear and push the brakes.. Then i noticed no brakes even when coming to a stop and the idle returning to normal. So we took off one of the main vac lines and it was barley pulling any vac. So I pretty much jus wanted to know now what is a good gasket to get for my setup?????... I want something really good, cuz this car will be boosted soon (hopefully). I am really hoping that the bad vac leak would make the idle crappy and hard to find timing ... We will see...

 

[FORCED2DV8]

I usually use Fel pro for my intake gaskets, I 'm not sure of the part # off hand, Your local speed shop should have it in stock. Some one else on here might have it though, Just make sure to clean both surfaces extremly well, I use a thin layer of silicone between the gaskets also to ensure a air tight seal, Check both lower manifold and upper
gaskets. Look at your vaccum lines/ hoses to make sure they are good also.

 

[Black1987Stang]

Sounds like a bad vacuum leak, ur brakes run off vacuum so if u have loww vacuum youll brakes wont feel the same...IDK about the MSD, hows ur ground for it? connections for all the connections? The actual "MSD box" isnt supposed to make a spark, thats what the coil does. You can check for good grounds, power etc. with a DMM. Get a vacuum gauge on there, since u have cam and heads etc. dont be surprised if ur around 13-15 inches of vacuum, give or take a few. (mines at 15 I think?), but if ur at like 5 or something theres something up and sounds like u barely have any vacuum. Once u fix the vacuum leak it should run like normal, vacuum leaks will cause the high idle and also its "unmetered air" so the engine is sucking in that air and the mass air flow meter (ur C&L) isnt reading that air, so its running lean since its not reading all the air going through the motor.

 

[craigwhite89gt]

thanks.. im waiting for my buddy to show up now with the vac tester.. The msd has all good connections. I think the box took a crap

 

[craigwhite89gt]

just to bring everyone up to date, a set of felpro intake gaskets solved the problem. MSD im gonna re wire and see what happens