I need some help. Car won't rev or drive properly, I can't get any more RPMs / Power Options

[Steve Thacker]

I have a issue with the driveablility of my car.

First the info

1.\ 1974 2.0L engine. W/ good compression

2.\ Valves have been adjusted and double checked.

3.\ Timing set at 29dgs BTDC running Crane Optical unit, new coil, new wires, new plugs, new trigger points.

4.\ Fuel pressure at 29 lbs and remains steady (AFAIK)

5.\ TPS is new and the setting is dead on per spec.

6.\ Tested fuel injectors and they put out the desired pattern and amount. Checked connects also. They appear good.

7.\ MPS tested and all is good there.

8.\ All new vacuum hoses and they are routed to the proper locations

9.\ New head temp sensor and it measures correct via pblanders FI web page

10.\ Idle is set at 975 and it just hums perfectly.

11.\ Distributor appears to be ok and the pot moves the advance plates when vacuum is applied. Not sure about the centrifugal parts down below.

12.\ Clutch, pressure plate and all is is in good shape. Cable is adjusted perfectly

13.\ Checked grounds. (cleaned ground terminals for F.I harness.)


Here is the issue I'm having. The car takes off good in first, but you can't make it redline if you wanted to. This goes the same for any of the other gears. There is no rev limiter on the system. I can get it to rev past 6000 if I'm setting still. Just not in any gear as I upshift.

It just starts breaking up, when I punch it to the floor. I can even punch it to the floor while in second and and it just fights to get up to speed. The engine roars to life, but it labors doing so. I have to feather the gas to get it to keep the revs steady. You have to shift it fast to get the car up to speed from a light. As it breaks up in between shifts and I have to really hammer the gas. I went back to the bird site and got the instructions to check /set the TPS and that is good to go. I just do not know what the issue is.

I also notice that I can not leave it in fourth on the freeway as the engine just fights to stay at speed. I have to shift into fifth to get the car up to 70 miles per hour. And even then it will break up if I try to punch the gas any further to the floor. It is almost like I have to feather the gas pedal to get it to stay at 70 as any slight movement down on the pedal causes the car to struggle. I cannot get the car over 72 as it labors to go any farther. Something else I notice is the tach will jump up and down once in a while while keeping the gas at a steady place. I checked all behind the dash and other places looking for an electrical issue, but I do not see anything. I even ran a new wire for the ground side of the coil back to the front. No change even after doing this.

My question is. What the hell could cause it to do this?

I have run out of brain cells trying to decipher the issue.

Can anyone help?


THANKS !!!!