1981 Buick Regal stalling problem.

[tbalonick]

Its a 1981 Buick Regal, V6 3.8L engine. Idles fine but when you start accelerating normally it begins to die and then stalls unless you quickly take your foot off the gas. If you snap the throttle open then accelerate normally itll go but its very sluggish and wants to stall and when you hit second gear it no longer stalls but still runs very sluggish for a 3.8L. Im pretty sure the problem has something to do with the carburetor. It isn't a vacuum leak, already checked for that. Its also not an issue with the fuel pump or fuel filter because when i slightly cover the area where choke plate is (not sure the technical name, i think air intake?) with my hand and rev it it does just fine without any hesitation or stalling. I dont do much work with carburetors so im not actually sure what the issue could be. Any ideas or advice is greatly appreciated! Thank you.

[HotZ28]

Fuel pump could be weak, but you should also rebuild the carburetor, in an addition to a new fuel filter.

[tbalonick]

I highly doubt its the fuel filter or pump because when I manually close the choke slightly and then move the throttle everything runs just fine. It seems as though the choke isn't closing or opening when it should be but im not entirely sure. Closing the choke wouldn't improve a bad pump or filter I wouldn't think, choke open or closed those two thing would show signs no matter what.

[maxwedge]

There is also a sock or tank filter on the tank pick up that fits those symptoms. Common back in the day.

[HotZ28]

Symptoms also point to an accelerator pump, or idle/main jet problem. I would not hesitate to rebuild the carb, it's very simple.

[tbalonick]

Ok some more added detail, i found a connector for the a/c was disconnected and i plugged it back in, still ran poorly after but then i switched the a/c on and although it didnt blow out the vents everything seemed to run significantly better when the a/c was on so now im really stumped...

[HotZ28]

You previously stated>

It isn't a vacuum leak, already checked for that.

[tbalonick]

It was an electrical connector for the a/c not a vacuum line. There weren't any vacuum leaks I could find, did all the checks for one so that why i say there isnt a vacuum leak. I was just wondering if this a/c thing could help narrow down a solution because it runs so much better when the a/c is switched on and that's kinda weird...

[HotZ28]

You have a high idle solenoid that will slightly increase idle speed when the A/C is turned on. You can also adjust the idle screw on the throttle linkage to increase idle without the A/C OFF; however, when you do turn the A/C ON, the idle may be too high.