Engine issues

[Mccurdy7778]

Okay I don't own a bus, but I am shopping for a bus. I'm new to the pancake engine. Anyways, I found a nice looking 78 riviera that I like however it has an engine issue. Apparently it starts up and idles fine, cruises decent, but once you hit a certain rpm it wants to die. The owner says he had a guy check it out and he said the problem is the afm sticking catching, and needs to be ground down slightly or bent.

What do you guys think? it sounds like an air or fuel issue to me so i could see it being this afm thing. Maybe an O2 sensor?

if it is the afm is it simply a matter of pulling it and making sure it doesn't catch when it opens up? give it a good clean?

Thanks for the help.

[busdaddy]

Could be an AFM issue, or crap in the fuel tank, or an ignition issue, too tough to call with so little information.
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[KentABQ]

From what I know/understand about the AFM, it's best not to futz with it. So grinding, bending, polishing, cleaning it is strongly NOT recommended. It's a very delicate piece of precision equipment, even after 40 years.

Amskeptic has a fantastic thread on dealing with the AFM. I learned everything I know about it from his write-up. So I'd highly recommend searching the Samba Bay Window forum to find it. I'd look, but I'm on my second margarita, and am not sure if I'm using this dang keyboard correctly...
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-Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"

"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!" ---WildIdea

Bus ownership via emoticons:
---williamM

[Abscate]

A good PPI will cost $500 and will Tell ypu what danger lurks.

You can’t evaluate an engine readingstuff on the internet.
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[Wildthings]

If the price is right and that is all that is wrong with it, just grin and buy it.

[timvw7476]

[aeromech]

5:05 pm is a little early for two margaritas don’t you think? Usually takes me to at least 5:30 but then again, you old people in Palm Springs go to bed early I hear.
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[airschooled]

[KentABQ]

[andrewtf]

Boy - I was going totally the other way.......

5:05 pm and your only 2 margaritas in....Kent - I thought you were better than that. I don't want to accuse you of being a lightweight, but.....

And Emma and I are waiting to tomorrow to install the last cv because its warming up to a balmy 50* (sorry Robbie - were were waiting for new 12 point cv bolts).
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'75 Riviera - 'BIG EMMA' (Pan American highway trip paused for a make over)
'77 Riviera - Murphy' (being reborn.... slowly)
'63 Austin Healey

[SGKent]

[curtp07]

If the owner is talking about grinding or bending the AFM, he doesn’t know anything about his bus.

I would look it over VERY carefully.
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Subaru