Rough Idle, Accel and pops

I have a 1973 Ventura, about a month ago I noticed my gas tank wask leaking so I had to drain all of the gas out (just filled tank) I put the gas in some buckets. I still had about 4 gallons left in the bucket so I dumped it into the car the other day. Now the car idles kinda rough, from a stop acelleration almost stalls the engine and I hear pops from the exhaust. I think that the gas that I put in might be the problem, do these symptoms support this?

Dude,

It could be one of two things. The fuel filter could be clogged from stirring up "debris" in the tank, OR, water in the tank and/or stored fuel. Remove the filter and test the volume into a fuel-safe can. Most filters are made of paper, and in SOME cases, have been known to disintegrate when exposed to water. It definitley "sounds" like a fuel delivery problem.

If you find water (will look like sour orange juice...), get some "tank dry" additive. It will evaporate the water "out".

Jim

Thanks, for the quick reply Jim. Changing the fule filter is the first thing that I am going to do when I get home, as I have an extra. Before I asked about changing the spark plugs and I was having a problem getting at the ones on the passenger side of the car. I said that this was because of the AC condenser however this is not the case, I can work around the condenser. My problem is a very large black...thing...that sits against the firewall on the passenger side. There doesn't appear to be any way to get the plugs out with this in place. I think it is part of the AC system. I can get a picture of it if you are not familar with this.

if you can jack it up its easier to go through the fender/wheel well area on the older pontiacs

I am resoting this car with parts from another car. I recently had the fender off when I swaped it for the better one. But it didn't make a difference I still couldn't get to it..here are a few pics

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=64311233&albumID=879433&imageID=53874924

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=64311233&albumID=879433&imageID=53874919

So, where exactly is the fuel pump on a 73 Ventura? Shouldn't it be in line, between the fuel pump and the carb? It's not, there is a steel line all the way from the fuel pump to the carb. It's a Rochester 2 barrell carb, must be in the carb?

So, where exactly is the fuel pump

I assume you mean fuel filter...

It should be in the carb. You should see a large fitting screwed into the carb, where the fuel line goes in. The filter should be inside this fitting.

Unscrew the fuel line, then unscrew the fitting and the filter should fall out. There likely is also a small spring in with the filter. Make sure the new filter and spring go back in the same way they came out.

Also, the bucket where the old gas was kept... was it covered and sealed?

If gas is not kept in a reasonably well sealed container, over time, the more volatile components of the fuel will evaporate first. The remaining gasoline looks and smells like gas, but is thicker, and does not pass through a carburetor's jets in the usual manner.

Think about the last time you sucked a milkshake through a straw. It's more difficult to suck that up than something like Coke, right? Same thing with partially-evaporated gas... essentially it makes the fuel mixture too lean because it does not 'suck' as easily.

Change the filter and add some fuel line alcohol to the gas as shown above. Also, try adding as much fresh gas as possible. This may thin-out the old gas enough for it to pass through.

The gas was not very well sealed and had started to evaporate. The good thing is that I have less then a 1/4 tank in it right now. I'll add some fresh stuff and see what happens