Can anyone help with a problem I've been having with my 83 camaro? The engine wants to stall on takeoff. Typically when I come to a stop and then have to take off in 1st gear. I have a 305 V8 engine. Does anyone know if there is a common/typical problem with this year or engine? I've been told the electronic advance timing could be the cause. It is not a crossfire engine. It has a carbeurator rather than fuel injection.

 

Check your accellerator pump on the carb. Usually inexpensive, and easy to rebuild.
Easy way to check is take off air cleaner, open choke if its closed, look down inside carb (without car running) and push on the throttle. If you see weak, or no spray from a tube in the side or middle, rebuild carb or accellerator pump at least.

 

I too have an 83 n mine duz bout the same! If I tromp it the engine boggs at first then takes off! Is it my carb?

 

Threadjack. But it could also be ignition. Which engine does it have? If V8, does it still have the computer controls connected?

 

Accelerator pump and secondary air valves flopping open too fast are the two most common problems. The accelerator pump has a rubber cup that seals it to the pump bore. They get hard as hockey pucks after a couple decades and don't seal up.

If that's the problem at least the lid (airhorn) casting of the carb has to come off to replace the accelerator pump cup. If you are in there check the two larger diameter brass pullover enrichment tubes that hang down from the bottom of the airhorn casting just in front of the secondary air valves. They act as a secondary-side accelerator pump and have a nasty tendency to literally fall out. Response will always be "flat" when you open the secondaries if they have fallen out of the casting. Repair is simple, however. Just put a couple drops of penetrating-grade Lock-Tite on the ends of the tubes and gently tap them back in place. They'll never fall out again.

The secondary air valves opening too quickly is usually the result of the vacuum diaphragm on the front/driver's side of the carb either being totally non-functional and/or the diaphragm inside it is ruptured and has a vacuum leak in it. It SHOULD retract fully and hold vacuum if you apply vacuum to it. If not, replace it.