i was on my way to work and i was stopped at a stoplight i went to take off and got up to 35mph and it started studdering and i let off the gas and pressed it again and it would go a little bit but would eventually slow down and shut off. i was wondering what the problem is, i think it could be my tranny or my carb any help is greatly appreciated i need to get her running again. thanks. :-(

It could be the trans, it could be the carb. It could be one of a gazillion other things...bad fuel, restricted fuel filter, fuel pump, bad plugs, bad plug wires, bad rotor, bad coil, bad EGR valve, bad catalytic converter, bad computer...etc etc etc. I guess what I'm trying to say here, is without seeing the car, it's near impossible to diagnose what's wrong with the car. It could wind up costing you a small fortune if you were to replace everything I or anyone else tells you what to try or replace to correct the problem. I think what I would do, is take your Elky to a reputable certified mechanic that does computer diagnostics and have them check the car to see what's wrong, this would probably cost $40-$50 bucks. Look at it this way...It's kinda like you going to the doctor for a check-up cuz ya got a pain somewhere, but you don't know if it's serious or not. Would you trust your best buddy to tell you that, "Hey man, those chest pains you keep having are just from all those burritos you've been eating, take some extra strength Tums and don't worry about it, now lets go party." Naaaaa you wouldn't do that would you? After having the diagnostic check done, if you can repair or replace the part or parts that are causing your problem, then by all means you go ahead and fix it. If you can't correct it, let the mechanic fix it...usually they'll put the money you paid for the diagnostic check towards the repair bill. Hope this helps and I hope it's nothing serious! If you feel like trying it, you could purchase a scanner that plugs into the OBT by the ashtray along with the code book and try to find out what's wrong...but sometimes the codes are not specific enough to figure out the root of the problem. The cost of the scanner and the book would run about the same as the diagnostic check by the mechanic.

I'd start with a fuel pump. If thats not it, your only out $15 :mrgreen:

thanks for the help, i will check my fuel filter my friend who went to uti told me that could be the problem, i still hope its not the tranny though im going to change the fluid just in case too. i will keep you posted.

Not that I can actually lend a hand but I'd start by checking some things and ruling out some stuff. Pull the fuel line and crank the truck. If you have fuel squirting out then its "probably" not the fuel pump. Pull a plug wire and insert a Phillips screwdriver in it and hold it close to the block if it has spark you can almost rule out the Ignition completely.

If the truck was running and it died, I would not think it was the transmission at all. It sounds more like a fuel or ignition problem but then like someone already said it is pretty hard to diagnose a problem if you not actually there to see what is going on.

I guess if the transmission locked up then it would cause the engine to die but then so would the rear end or any part of the drive train that locked up. I'd think that would be pretty obvious so I'd bet you can rule that out also.

The electronic modual in the HEI distrubitors will go out with little or no notice and they will sometimes act like the fuel pump is bad, if that is what it is. Then it can be the fuel filter too.

If you have an Autozone by your house, then they will do a computer, battery, and starter check for free.

If you have an Autozone by your house, then they will do a computer, battery, and starter check for free.
Don't forget the alternator, coil and distributor module....

thanks for your help.

ok, this is where i have to jump in. i would'nt trust most tests done by a discount part store. I dont about anywhere else, but around here most of these guys cant hardly look-up parts not alone diagnose a vehicle. Also machines don't diag. cars trained techs or mechanics do. I don't know how many times i got cars into my shop after some part store has done some test and sold them the part and want me to install it. then after the job was done the part they sold did'nt fix the problem, and i had to here about it. Next time i here a commercial on the radio saying we test this and we run free code scanner tests i'm going to kill somebody. OK sorry about the rant, but just remember any service give for free has no value and should not be trusted. It's better to pay a tech for some diag. time and fix the problem the first time then to throw a load of parts on and pray it works. well thats my 2 cents, ok maybe a nickel

I agree particularly with the advice to have a mechanic with the proper diagnostic tools check it out. The cost is minimal and can save a lot of headaches. If the motor ran and then shut off as you described, I can't imagine how it could be a transmission. I don't have a problem with the fuel filter/pump test recommended. As described, it's simple, quick and if that's the problem, it's a cheap fix.

Have you checked all your vac lines. I had a major compression prob after I pulled and replaced my engine in my 79 (pre computer of course)
it turned out I had a couple of vac lines that had erroded and broke apart.
I also had trash in my trans vac line couldn't get here to shift into 2 or3 replaced the line problem gone

well yesterday i was driving it to get it fixed and it drove normal no studdering, and i couldnt find the place i was looking for so i was like everything must be ok so i went back home later that day i went to get something to eat and it did it again. i got the new fuel pump and filter and changed them today took it for a test run and she purred like a kitten again i think i fixed the problem. thanks for your help.

...i got the new fuel pump and filter and changed them today took it for a test run and she purred like a kitten again i think i fixed the problem. thanks for your help.

Glad that's what seemed to be the problem! http://www.corvetteforum.net/c4/alchemist/thumb.gif Easy fix!