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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

Low RPM jerking

  • Thread starter Thread starter Justinkins
  • Start date Start date Wednesday at 11:11 PM
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Justinkins

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Jun 25, 2026
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Georgia
Wednesday at 11:11 PM
#1
  • Wednesday at 11:11 PM
  • #1
Hey everybody, I recently purchased a 1990 Mustang 5.0 LX coupe. It has been Board over headers straight piped ex BBK 70 mm throttlebody Plenum spacer cobra intake . I have redone the vacuum lines. The car has been sitting for a while at wide open throttle. It seems to be OK but you can still feel like it’s holding back a tad. But higher gears trying to cruise jumps back-and-forth like it’s missing spark I got my timing set up about 14 cannot figure this out also has a E303 Cam someone please help!!!!
 

FastDriver

I was uncomfortably high & wearing a helmet
SN Certified Technician
Sep 5, 2001
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Vass, NC
Thursday at 8:44 AM
#2
  • Thursday at 8:44 AM
  • #2
E303 bucks at 1,400 and below. This may be somewhat tuneable, as I've had it where I could lope along lower when I played around with things, but after more adjustments, it's bucking there and lower again. If you're at 1,500 RPM and above, then I'd say you're probably right about your concerns.
 
Reactions: Willybill32

keel

Active Member
Aug 23, 2020
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Seattle, Wa
Thursday at 9:24 AM
#3
  • Thursday at 9:24 AM
  • #3
Have you pulled codes?
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
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Aug 25, 2016
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polk county florida
Thursday at 2:14 PM
#4
  • Thursday at 2:14 PM
  • #4
Also check the sweep on the TPS make sure it's smooth and does not jump around.
Do you know how to do that?
Yeah, the E cam is a pain in the driveline below 1500 rpms.
 

Willybill32

But at least it's tight!
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Jul 16, 2019
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Saturday at 11:26 AM
#5
  • Saturday at 11:26 AM
  • #5
FastDriver said:
E303 bucks at 1,400 and below. This may be somewhat tuneable, as I've had it where I could lope along lower when I played around with things, but after more adjustments, it's bucking there and lower again. If you're at 1,500 RPM and above, then I'd say you're probably right about your concerns.
Click to expand...
@FastDriver, thank you for this comment! My ‘86 has an E303 installed and has a tendency to buck at 1500 and below. My assumption has always been the cam causes this. Thanks for your confirmation.

Bill
 
F

fasterthangas

Active Member
Oct 5, 2016
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Phoenix
Saturday at 11:59 AM
#6
  • Saturday at 11:59 AM
  • #6
You mention cruising in higher gears results in jerking. Have you tried shifting down a gear? Also, is the engine tuned? What is the rear gear ratio? Tire size?
I have a much larger cam and my car never bucks, but it's properly tuned.
 
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