85GSL Test Drive Questions

hecmanortiz · 03-28-2010, 08:57 AM

Hey all! I test drove an 85GSL yesterday and have a few questions.
The car has been sitting for about 2 months for sale. The owner had had the carb rebuilt but other than that it looks stock. It has 118K miles, 5 speed. When he gave me the key for it(he was working and couldn't come out and talk) he said that it hadn't been started in a week.

1. It started up with full choke and a couple of taps of the gas pedal. While the choke was on there was a slight stumble or miss. it wasn't regular in timing just like a missed spark then back to steady firing.

2. With the choke off it would come down to just above 1K RPM then down till it stalled. I had to keep tapping the gas pedal or use the choke to keep it from stalling. Eventually after dying at a light I got it back to the parking lot where it only stalled once then kept running after that. Even though it was running the idle was high and it kept bouncing between 1200 and 750. I don't know if the idle speed was set high because it couldn't keep idle at 750 or if the car would raise the idle to compensate for a condition that would cause it do tip below 750.

3. I ran it through the full RPM range in 1st and 2nd gears only to have it shut off completely. After letting it sit for about 20 seconds I was able to start it up again. Sounds like a fuel starvation problem.

Other than these items, idling which to me is a troubling red flag the drivetrain seems decent considering how beat up the body is. I found a couple of inches of water in the spare tire well but that can easily be fixed, the wipers don't work and the muffler has a leak.

Thanks for any/all responses.
Hector

03-28-2010, 08:57 AM	#1
hecmanortiz Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Hamilton, Ohio Posts: 40 Rep Power: 0	85GSL Test Drive Questions Hey all! I test drove an 85GSL yesterday and have a few questions. The car has been sitting for about 2 months for sale. The owner had had the carb rebuilt but other than that it looks stock. It has 118K miles, 5 speed. When he gave me the key for it(he was working and couldn't come out and talk) he said that it hadn't been started in a week. 1. It started up with full choke and a couple of taps of the gas pedal. While the choke was on there was a slight stumble or miss. it wasn't regular in timing just like a missed spark then back to steady firing. 2. With the choke off it would come down to just above 1K RPM then down till it stalled. I had to keep tapping the gas pedal or use the choke to keep it from stalling. Eventually after dying at a light I got it back to the parking lot where it only stalled once then kept running after that. Even though it was running the idle was high and it kept bouncing between 1200 and 750. I don't know if the idle speed was set high because it couldn't keep idle at 750 or if the car would raise the idle to compensate for a condition that would cause it do tip below 750. 3. I ran it through the full RPM range in 1st and 2nd gears only to have it shut off completely. After letting it sit for about 20 seconds I was able to start it up again. Sounds like a fuel starvation problem. Other than these items, idling which to me is a troubling red flag the drivetrain seems decent considering how beat up the body is. I found a couple of inches of water in the spare tire well but that can easily be fixed, the wipers don't work and the muffler has a leak. Thanks for any/all responses. Hector