Hey folks! I have a few novice questions about my '76 Maverick and was hoping y'all would tolerate my ignorance and help me out. I appreciate this community being so helpful, and I apologize in advance for how long this post is. 1.) I recently got an alignment done, and now I have a steering wheel shimmy while braking that wasn't there before. The drum brakes were just recently (2 weeks ago) replaced, so I'm not sure if this is normal. I'm thinking not? If your hand is at 12 noon on the wheel, when you brake the wheel will move left to right to about 11 and 1 until you stop. 2.) At freeway speeds, my Mav makes this odd sputtering noise? It's not accelerating weird or anything (though it does seem kind of... restricted?), but at around 55-60+, there's a sputtering noise from the back seat area somewhere that sounds similar to the lip flapping sound you make when you're trying to simulate what a car sounds like. Any ideas? 3.) The Mav idles pretty poorly. Today was an 80 degree day, and after warming the car up for 5 to 7 minutes, I was stalling out 500 feet from my driveway at stop signs. The car also smells like gas initially. After driving for a bit on the freeway and then getting off into stop and go traffic, she'll idle fine sometimes and be in a stalling mood other times. Is this something I can fix myself? 4.) After driving, I recently noticed that there's smoke (not a lot, very little) coming from the engine. It's not visible with the hood closed, I only noticed it because I opened the hood after smelling something burning. It still smells like burning plastic after extended driving, and it looks to be dripping 1 to 2 drops of something after parking. I can't spot what color the drops are, though. It looks like it's coming from where the engine meets the transmission? I took a photo and it's attached. I just had a bunch of work done to her so I'm bummed that she's still having this many issues. I'm hoping I can at least have y'all help me try and diagnose what the issues are before I decide what to do next. And again, thank you all for being so understanding with my lack of automotive knowledge and for being helpful. It's truly appreciated.
Heya! It's a 302 v8, 2bbl carb, carb looks to be a Motorcraft 2100? I took the air filter and housing thing off and the carb said Motorcraft D40E GA and when I googled that the 2100 came up. As for the manifold, I'm fairly sure it's stock, no idea though to be honest. Not sure how I'd find out without removing the carb. A couple other things I noticed when I checked on this just now: Is the air filter supposed to smell like gas really bad? I figure it's right by the carb so maybe, just asking. I attached a pic of the side of my carb because I think a screw I found is what lets me adjust the idle, wanted to check. I also attached a photo of the under side of my Maverick. The photo is right below the passenger side of the motor (close to the firewall/transmission), and that's where what I think is oil was dripping out. Might be responsible for the smoking? Just not sure where it's coming from. Thanks for replying! Sorry if I'm giving too much info or being long winded.
It looks like a carb rebuild is in order or replace it w/ reman. unit if your not ready to try a rebuild kit. That's where I wud start. From what I can see on the pix, gas is seeping around the split section where the top half bolts on. I wud also replace the vac hoses under the hood when carb is done. IMO you never get the car running properly w/ a bad carb.
Things to check: 1. Warped brake rotors 2,3. Rich idle mixture 4. Rear main seal if brown, front pump seal if red.
Thanks for the replies, guys. How hard is a carb rebuild? Is it something I could do with limited mechanical knowledge or would it be better to just head to Summit Racing and buy a new 2bbl? Also, what are the odds that leak I uploaded is a rear main seal based on the location? That's a super pricey repair, no?
Agreed 1000%... For carbs they don't come any easier than the Ford 2100, a kit and a couple cans of carb cleaner will make it like new... Try to find someone that has some experience that can help..
And you WILL have a fire. Take it from someone who had a fire on a Ford product from a crack in the fuel hose at the same location. Took off my shirt, threw it in a mud puddle and tossed it on the fire.
Rear main seal requires you to pull the transmission and drop oil pan, not for an amateur. More than likely the oil leak is from a valve cover gasket or the gasket on the back of the intake manifold.
Replace that fuel hose...NOW...Tighten the screws on the top of the carb(Just cinch em down don't gorilla them) Put a new fuel filter on it too, thats the thing that ugly hose is attached to. Yes that screw sticking up at an angle is the curb idle screw. See how it runs after those things are done. The carb may (Probably will) still leak at the bowl gasket or not...As for the leak...Looks like it may be oil. Check the oil level (Cold/not running) See where its at. Check the trans fluid too. At operating temp, at idle in park...See where its at too. Clean it all off under there. A couple cans of brake clean and a few rags work really well. Top off the fluids...Go for a ride around the block...Check the underside again to see whats leaking out. Most likely...Back of intake manifold or a valve cover gasket. If its a rear main, it will leak immediately upon start up after cleaning it all off...Trans fluid has an acrid eye watering stench to it (You can actually taste it in the air) Oil just stinks like an ash kind of odor...Anti freeze smells like maple syrup...Yum!!...It may take a few days to determine which fluid is leaking this way. Easier to put a clean piece of white card board under the car in the area of the leaks (After cleaning it all off) Run it a bit and then wait and see what you get...Good luck!!!
Thanks guys! I'll look into a carb rebuilding kit (it sounds like it'd be a fun challenge for me), and also try to get under the car to clean and diagnose as recommended. As for the fuel line, which one is it? The engine is all pretty haggard looking to me so I'm not sure which area you guys are mentioning. Is it near the idle screw, the one right below it in that side view? Or the one that looks like it's wrapped in an old white sock?
It is the one that goes to the metal canister (fuel filter) that is on the upper part of the front of carb. You can see that it all cracked and ready to come apart
Do not start your engine again until those fuel inlet hoses are replaced!!! You may also have other fuel line hoses in the same condition. Those also need replacing. Those hoses are at the lower front driver side of the engine and two underneath the car. Be ware that if you remove these lower inline hoses, fuel will run from the tank. I suggest before you go tearing into a carburetor rebuild, I would get some spray carburetor cleaner and apply it to the exterior and down the throttle bores. I would then do a simple idle mixture and curb idle adjustment. Also replace the air cleaner element, fuel filter and tighten the carb cover bolts as previously suggested. If these procedures are beyond your level of expertise, do not attempt an overhaul. Just get a rebuilt carburetor and have an experienced person install it. Enjoy your V8 Maverick!!!!!
