First test drive after installing sway bars, added front/rear..but engine is rough Options

[jim912928]

WOW, today was my test drive after lubing up my front end (didn't thoroughly lub my poly bushings...so took it all apart and redid it) and installing front/rear factory sway bars. I must admit it sure handles differently...even more like it is on rails! ride is alittle harsher according to my wife!

Then all of a sudden it began running like crap. Acting like it was fuel starved (75 1.8l with ljet...see previous post about this happening on my return trip from MWC). It would run smooth...then all of a sudden run like it was fuel starved (running rough). I finally pulled over and began pulling spark plug wires. Pull 1..engine begins to miss, pull 2..engine misses, pull 3...nothing happens (hmmm), pull 4 engine begins to miss.

Ok, so now I know #3 is not firing. Has to be either no spark at plug or no fuel. So, spark is coming out of the distributer, spark is coming out the other end of the plug wire...i reach down and jiggle the fuel injector plug and bingo it starts running smooth. By this time it's about 7pm and starting to get alittle dark here in northern indiana. So I didn't pull things off to see if I just have a loose connector or missing insulation and i'm grounding out.

But, at least now I know where it is!

[dmenche914]

Suggest you try a good run with both sway bars, then repeat the run with the rear bar disconnected (do not need to remove it, just wire it up out of the way.

I and others have found that the rear sway bar hurts handling. we did this test on a car, and to this day the rear bar was never reconnected.

Front bar works wonders, add the rear bar and it is not as good, remove the rear bar, and your back to wonders.


dave