Power loss 63' 356B Coupe
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Power loss 63' 356B Coupe
I'm the new owner of a 1963 356B Coupe and at the time of purchase the car ran perfectly. I drove it at 65mph and it ran strong, as I approached a long uphill 4% grade the oil temp went up but not anywhere close to the red on the instrument gauge. The engine lost power, it would run but seemed to be running on just two cylinders and I elected to have the car towed. The next day it started up and ran perfectly, so I took it out for a short test drive and suddenly it lost power again! Now it will start but it runs very rough. Anyone have any idea about what may be going on here????
- Mike Wilson
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- Martin Benade
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Re: Power loss 63' 356B Coupe
Drive it until it is running poorly, remove one carb link and try revving up the engine one carb at a time. You may find only one side is working. I once had a chunk of dirt inside one of the float valves, mostly blocking it. After removing the hex shaped valve body, it was inside the top of it. Mine would idle and accelerate through first gear fine, until the float bowl was empty, then it became a two cylinder.
Cleveland Ohio
62 Cabriolet
56 VW
02 IS 300
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62 Cabriolet
56 VW
02 IS 300
04 Sienna
- David Jones
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Re: Power loss 63' 356B Coupe
And another way to diagnose a problem like this is to use an IR gun. Side to side exhaust temps should be approximately the same. Cheap but useful for all kinds of things including oil temp.. My wife borrows mine occasionally to check her horses hoofs for a temperature rise when she suspects a hoof problem.
https://www.amazon.com/Etekcity-Lasergr ... rature+gun
https://www.amazon.com/Etekcity-Lasergr ... rature+gun
If I had known I would live this long I would have pushed the envelope a little harder.
Cymru am byth
David Jones #9715
Cymru am byth
David Jones #9715
- Martin Benade
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Re: Power loss 63' 356B Coupe
She rides so hard that the hooves overheat?
Cleveland Ohio
62 Cabriolet
56 VW
02 IS 300
04 Sienna
62 Cabriolet
56 VW
02 IS 300
04 Sienna
- Ron LaDow
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- 356 Fan
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Re: Power loss 63' 356B Coupe
Point gap would effect all 4-cylinders, Rusty.
I'd agree it's a carb problem.
I'd agree it's a carb problem.
- Thomas Sottile
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Re: Power loss 63' 356B Coupe
Todd I don't know where you are but if you are new at the game I would recommend taking to a 356 Guy in your area not your locale mechanic unless he works on 356 a lot. Experience is the best teacher
- John Clarke
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Re: Power loss 63' 356B Coupe
Yes Todd
Losing one bank of cylinders would point to some crap that moves up the fuel line to block the needle in the float valve in that carb. (shutting both cylinders down)
Switch off and the crap drops back, start up and it moves up again. We 'Only' need two things to run, gas and a spark ! Dave's idea of using a heat gun is good, telling you if you are losing the spark, I'm going to get one.
Cheers Jay
Losing one bank of cylinders would point to some crap that moves up the fuel line to block the needle in the float valve in that carb. (shutting both cylinders down)
Switch off and the crap drops back, start up and it moves up again. We 'Only' need two things to run, gas and a spark ! Dave's idea of using a heat gun is good, telling you if you are losing the spark, I'm going to get one.
Cheers Jay
- Jim Liberty
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Re: Power loss 63' 356B Coupe
I'd do a full tune up, seeing the car is new to you. Set the valves cold. Set and check the advance, and steady distributor advancement. If the problem persists, it is probably a carb. problem. Pull the jets and clean them, and check the float heights. If not comfortable, above advice on seeing a 356 specialist is an absolute. ………………………...Jim.
Jim Liberty
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Re: Power loss 63' 356B Coupe
I'd say you need 4 things to run: spark, fuel-air mixture, compression (and bedfellow exhaut), and timing of spark.
#6386
- John Clarke
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Re: Power loss 63' 356B Coupe
Of Course Edwin
All of the above , which is why Todd will need to do a full Tune Up before moving on with further tests, that's why I put 'Only'
Everything has got to be correct. Compression, Valve clearance, Timing, Fuel mixture/ levels etc. It all works together.
Cheers Jay
All of the above , which is why Todd will need to do a full Tune Up before moving on with further tests, that's why I put 'Only'
Everything has got to be correct. Compression, Valve clearance, Timing, Fuel mixture/ levels etc. It all works together.
Cheers Jay
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Re: Power loss 63' 356B Coupe
Edwin, in layman's terms, "suck, squeeze, bang, blow"... the 4 stroke principles,Edwin Ek wrote:I'd say you need 4 things to run: spark, fuel-air mixture, compression (and bedfellow exhaut), and timing of spark.
Mike