Won't stay running!!!!!!

perhaps advancing the timing would help a little. Or even trying to get it running with the spout connector out and advancing the timing by hand.

Wiht a Mass Air car like yours the engine should run very good without any tune other than stock. Mass air systems are very accomodating of modifications like heads, manifolds, and cams.

Want kind of vacuum are you pulling? A vacuum gauge is the only way to determine if the vacuum is good. Are the vavles properly adjusted? Trick Flow heads use different pushrod lenghts from stock engines. Are you sure the pushrods are the right length?

Dump the codes and see what the computer says is wrong…Codes may be present in the computer even if the Check Engine light isn’t on.

Here's the link to dump the computer codes with only a jumper wire or paper clip and the check engine light, or test light or voltmeter. I’ve used it for years, and it works great.
See http://www.troublecodes.net/Ford/
OR
See http://www.mustangworks.com/articles/electronics/eec-iv_codes.html





IF your car is an 86-88 stang, you'll have to use the test lamp or voltmeter method. There is no functional check engine light on the 86-88's except possibly the Cali Mass Air cars.

Codes have different answers if the engine is running from the answers that it has when the engine isn't running. It helps a lot to know if you had the engine running when you ran the test.

Trouble codes are either 2 digit or 3 digit, there are no cars that use both 2 digit codes and 3 digit codes.

For those who are intimidated by all the wires & connections, see http://www.actron.com/product_detail.php?pid=16153 for what a typical hand scanner looks like. Normal retail price is less than $30 or so at AutoZone or Wal-Mart.

Or for a nicer scanner see http://www.midwayautosupply.com/p-7208-equus-digital-ford-code-reader-3145.aspx– It has a 3 digit LCD display so that you don’t have to count flashes or beeps.. Cost is $30.

Ask your mechanic? I hope you did not buy an older, modified car and need someone else to fix it. You will be broke and ready to sell the car quickly unless you have the mechanical skills needed to keep it running. Otherwise it will be prohibitively expensive to own.

A different tune will not help whatever problems you are having now. Many cars will run the same setup and not need any kind of special tuning. Find and fix the current problem and the car will run good without any special tuning.

iLkYsPoNy said:

Jrichker.... you said mass air will accomodate the changes but...

I am no longer running the stock MAF sensor. I switched to a 75mm MAF from Summit and it's calibrated for 24lb injectors. Will that make a difference? Or were you saying mass air flow in general will accept my setup?

Also, the Stage 2 cam is pretty radical in comparison to stock, would that have a lot to do with it?

You mentioned the valves could not be adjusted correctly, could you elaborate more?

What kind of vacuum spectrum should I be okay in? Will it be hard to pull a good reading with the engine not able to sustain idle? We were able to keep it running but that was like at 3k rpms....

Click to expand...

See http://www.trickflow.com/product/twisted_wedge/info_pages/twiswedge_inst_frame.htm for the trick flow valve adjustment and pushrod length checking proceedure.

The aftermarket 24 lb MAF should not require any changes in the tune if it is working properly. It should run the 24 lb injectors without any extra work.

Mass air cars have broad adaptablity, and your setup should run OK without a custom tune. If you want to wring out every last bit of HP, a custom tune is a good idea.

Until you can get it to run steady at 1200 RPM, a vacuum spec will not be meaningful or helpful.

If the car will not run below 3000 RPM you have mechanical problems that a dyno tune will not fix. Even the most radical cam and head combination will run at 1000-1200 RPM. It may not run smoothly, but it will run in a steady manner.

Check the valve and pushrod setup using the Trick Flow instructions. Once you have the valves and pushrods setup according to Trick Flow's instructions, look for vacuum leaks and dump the codes. Only afer you have cleared all the mechanical problems and codes consider a custom dyno tune.