Sluggish 74 400 big block issue

King Hooter

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I'm going to show my ignorance on the mechanical side here 74 Monaco w/400 I'm looking into the seller stated could use a tune up. When I asked about that he said she's really sluggish to drive and he'd would not go anywhere long distance. What could be at issue here? Being 700 miles away I can't get a good read on that.
I know my 81 Imperial w/318 can be a bear at times too. But I know why with that car.
 
I'm going to show my ignorance on the mechanical side here 74 Monaco w/400 I'm looking into the seller stated could use a tune up. When I asked about that he said she's really sluggish to drive and he'd would not go anywhere long distance. What could be at issue here? Being 700 miles away I can't get a good read on that.
I know my 81 Imperial w/318 can be a bear at times too. But I know why with that car.


It can be a bunch of items that add up, Fuel tank and lines, how long had car sit before the seller started messing with it? All used cars need a proper tune, every car I have purchased has had the timing retarded to crawl power. New plugs, would be good to take with, wires should be good enough to get you home. But fuel and ignition are my first two thoughts on it. Any photos of car and engine? Any more history on the car?
 
Many times a seller says “it needs a tune up” When they have no idea why it runs bad, or it has major flaws they are hiding.

Cruddy fuel system from sitting. Fuel filters, check the fuel pump pushrod for loss of length. Cap, rotor, plugs, wires.

high miles, bad compression, jumped timing or loose chain retarding the cam timing =no power.
 
I would add that if you are not familiar with the mechanical and are likely to pay to have it fixed.
Try to take the person your going to hire with you.
It could be any number of things. If it runs and does not knock or smoke or have a ton of blow by I just buy them if the price is right.
 
I do have a little mechanical ability and knowledge, although my major was in making them pretty. I'm leaning towards the fact of not being driven much. I'm hoping that it would be something simple and easy that I'd be able to tackle like plugs ect. I believe there has been 3 owners in the past 5 years. Really hate the fact that it's sitting in the Cincinnati Ohio area and I am in southern Minnesota.

Full disclosure I nearly purchased this very car almost 5 years ago. But at the time I couldn't afford to pay to replace the transmission.
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Could just need a tune up and/or carb work. It could also be something far more serious, never know until you get into it. If the price and overall other condition is good enough that you can absorb the worst case scenario, might work out.
 
Looks like a good car. There has been enough words wasted on reason. Pull the trigger on that *****.

We will cheer for your success or moan for your misery.
My money says its a runner.
 
We KNOW that the 8.2cr 400 is not a really HOT engine, BUT that does not mean that it can be responsive (a KEY point in driving enjoyment, to me) to drive. IF there is some reliability issue or IF it's a performance issue can be determined later. As long as it doesn't make unusual noises, it can be a reasonably easyh fix. Might even be that the base ignition timing is not set correctly and/or needs a vac advance unit? OR the balancer has "moved"a bit.

What was the issue with the transmission, earlier on? Other than that, what other descriptions of why the owner is afraid of it nmow? Has it left the current owner stranded? One main point could be that all of these things might decrease the transaction price a bit, for better or not.

Keep us posted,
CBODY67
 
If you’re looking for performance that rivals modern 1000cc 4 cylinders, look elsewhere!
 
What was the issue with the transmission, earlier on? Other than that, what other descriptions of why the owner is afraid of it nmow? Has it left the current owner stranded? One main point could be that all of these things might decrease the transaction price a bit, for better or not.

Keep us posted,
CBODY67
Back when I passed on this Monaco while it was still in Minnesota the trans was, and I quote reverse is weak. Well the reverse was non existent and couldn't get much more than 35mph on the test drive. At that same time the motor ran ruff until you gave her a little gas and smoothed out.

From what I can decipher from a Blues Brothers site (they really want the clips) one of the owners before the current one replaced the transmission and the carb.
 
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