VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Trucks and Vans 81 El Camino

81 V6 3.8 with Rochester carb.. 100K miles, problem, runs
rich and started missing on no. 5 cylinder.. Has good spark,
new plugs, wires.. A TPS was installed 5oo miles back and since
it runs rich and has a choke problem.. Question can the carb adjustment cause the same single cylinder to miss? What other
items should I check? The compression is 130-140 lbs.
Would someone volunteer to send me via e-mail the adjustment
procedure for this carb. Carb has electronic controled main
metering jet. tks

There is an adjustment for the metering rod....is done with a dwell meter and if I remember correctly a special tool is used. The plug on that cylinder may be becoming fouled due to the rich mixtire. I will see if I still have my 1981 shop manual. Not sure but may be an adjustment for the TPS also.

Thanks Gene I sure could use the adj instructions.. I have
a shelf full of various manuals but none for this carb.
I think the miss is cured, changing plugs and moving wires
which was put on by previous owner took what I believe was a shorted wire off the short.

Roy,
I gcan't find my 1981 manuals...must have given them away. I do have a 1985 manual that covers the same carburetor. There are about 20 page sides covering the adjustments. I will try to scan the most important ones tomorrow. There are numorus gauges and special tools required but will give you and idea.

Tks again Gene, I think I have the special tools and have a dwell
meter, I just need to know what to do with them. I might have
to call on others to help shake the moths out of my brain.

Roy,
Does your El Camino have the E2ME carburetor?
An electrically operated Mixture Control Solenoid mounted in the float bowl is used to control air and fuel mixture. Fuel metering is controlled by special stepped metering rods, operating in the jets, positioned by a plunger in the mixture control solenoid. The plunger in the solenoid is controlled by the ECM which gets its signal from the oxygen sensor in the exhaust. A common problem with these carburetors was the failure of the Mixture Control Solenoid. What ever position the solenoid was in at the time of failure would cause the engine to run lean or rich depending on its setting at the time of failure. Also the condition of the oxygen sensor can have an effect on the Mixture Control Solenoid. I had to replace the Mixture Control Solenoid twice on the 81 Monte Carlo we had several years ago.The first time it failed the solenoid was in the lean position and the engine would only run at idle. The second time the solenoid was in the rich position when it failed.
I have a 1981 shop manual covering this carburetor if you need it but I would guess the settings are not your problem since they were all pre set and sealed at the factory.

DD

Hi Don, yes its the E2ME and I will take u up on the loan of the
81 manual.. I will be calling you for a time you will be available for pickup..Thanks for the offer.

DD....thanks, that will be better that he has the complete manual rather than just some select pages.