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Revs in P/N, wont accelerate in Drive modes

2K views 8 replies 8 participants last post by  puttster 
#1 ·
Hey guys, new to this forum.

Ive got a 65 Marauder which, mechanically, is similiar to the Galaxie (Which ive had a few of as well). Ive had it for a few years but kids, work, life, prevents me from working on it that much. Now the kids are starting to entertain themselves and its giving me a little time to work on the car.

The current issue Im talking is acceleration. Ive got a reman carb, tuned up ignition and all the basics to have her run, at least well enough to cruise it around a few blocks. But its been 10 years or more since ive been elbow deep in an old car and I just want to reach out and see who has any ideas.

In park or neutral, it will rev up no problem. However, in drive, it accelerates very slowly, or not really at all, regardless of petal position. SOMETIMES but rarely, if I mash it it will kick down and rev up but not often enough to be predictable. Ive checked the kickdown linkage and it appears to be working properly. Ive put a new filter and fluid in the trans a while ago (Mercury MX) just not sure where to check from here. Tomorrow I plan to replace the modulator but is there something I am missing?

Im leaning towards something with the transmission controls only because it seems to work properly in park or neutral which should mean that ignition, fuel are working well enough.

Any thoughts are appreciated!
 
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#2 ·
Maybe, but not necessarily. Just because it can free rev without a load, does not mean the problem is with the trans and not the engine. Have you determined that the trans starts off in first gear and will shift up and down? It might help to raise the rear wheels off the ground and run with the trans in gear to see if things work with just the driveline load. Is the timing set right and does the advance work properly? Is the carb tuned and is the compression good? I'd suggest tuning the engine, get the carb and ignition set first, before mucking around with the trans, it has to be done, anyway.
 
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#3 ·
Another NC guy!

So... what happens when you press the gas in drive.. Does the engine just start to bog and stall or does the engine rev normally and it just isn't moving.

-Zig
 
#5 ·
In drive if you mash the pedal it does not rev up, nor does it feel like it's bogging. I had someone come over yesterday and the dwell and timing were way off, so we set those correctly and I haven't driven it since. I'll post an update when I do.

Thanks for the input guys
 
#9 ·
Is #1 pointing towards the master cylinder?
In the carb, assuming the float is correct and that gas squirts in when you hit the accelerator, the circuit you need to be concerned about is the jet -> perforated tube -> booster. The sediment from years of evaporating ethanol gas can build up and block that pathway. Pull the booster unit and clean each little hole and soak the jets path with carb cleaner and flushed with a syringe.
 
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