My 1974 Vw transporter won’t stay running

[dbskylark]

Hello- I am new here and have scoured the site trying to find similar issues. There have been a few posts but not exact. Anyhow, my problem with my newly bought 1974 VW transporter - it will start and idle for a few minutes but then die unless I keep reving the engine but if I stop it stalls. It’ll start a few times afterwards but wont stay. I was able to drive it for a while but until recently it has been having this issue.

Here are the specs the seller I bought it from had posted


Engine build: Type 4 2056cc GE code engine 091 Transmission from 1978. Camper Special heads, 96mm JE pistons and NickaSil coated cylinders from Raby's Aircooled Technology. Mallory Uni-Lite distributor, custom breather box and custom header/exhaust from Chris Foley at CFR/Tangerine Racing. Weber (Spanish) 40IDF carburetors set up by Eddie at Painter's Grinding. New danish heat exchangers, new heater mechanicals.

The heater is not installed and neither is blower motor.

[SGKent]

Air-Fuel
Spark
Compression

Figure which one of the three is missing and there will be the path to fixing it. The rest depends on how mechanical you are, and how willing to learn. If the answer is you are willing to spend some time on this then get a mentor here and let them walk you thru the problem. At this point it can be in any of the three areas above. Don't start fiddling with things hoping to find it lest you make things worse and create more problems. Work with someone to make a systematic approach. If unwilling to do that then see when Colin (Amskeptic) and/or Robbie (asiab3) will be in your area. I think Colin will be in Utah late June, and no idea on Robbie's schedule. He was in OK the other day.


One thing you might consider is getting a smoke generator from ebay etc., and checking for broken vacuum lines. Or you could spray non-flammable windex around the bases of the carbs, fittings etc and see if there are any RPM changes. Some folks use flammable carb cleaner but in a newbie's hand that is always a danger. Likewise some folks use an UN-LIT propane torch around the carb bases and hoses to look. Don't let it get inside the distributor lest you accidentally make a small explosive device.
_________________
“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[dbskylark]

I am most definitely willing to learn. I just don't know where to start.

[Wildthings]

How old is the fuel? Ethanol laced fuel does not age well and will clog jets if allowed to sit in the bowls for very long. It can also cause deposits to build up on the valve stems which will cause the valves to hang open, killing the compression.

Did this run well when you bought it? A PO trying to unload a non runner will tell you almost anything to get rid of it.

[SGKent]

[dbskylark]

[dbskylark]

[SGKent]

[dbskylark]

Yes it is.

[SGKent]

if it is at dead zero when the bus is running, and it doesn't ever move even a little then the fuel pump is not pumping or the fuel line is blocked. Do you or the prior owner add a switch to the bus that turns off the fuel? Is there any reason the fuel pump would not be running?
_________________
“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[Wildthings]

You need to determine if you have a mechanical or electric fuel pump. If electric you need to make sure it is running. An electric pump could either be powered directly from the coil or fed through some kind of relay.

Since the tank sits so high the engine may well just be idling off of gravity flow, but as soon as the engine is revved and needs more fuel it starves out.

[SGKent]

How about an update?
_________________
“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[dbskylark]

Sorry work has gotten into the way .

I know it’s an electric pump.

I’ll have to crawl underneath and see whether it’s direct. I believe it is direct from the coil

[Abscate]

Take your time. We will be here. Well, most of us will be here.
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.ssS!