Expert: Dick Benjamin - 5/12/2006

Question
I have replaced the carburetor (Edelbrock), Wires, Distributor cap, Spark pugs, have tuned the car up to Specs. Car stalls when it is put into gear. What is the cause?

Answer
The engine isn't strong enough to keep running with the additional drag of the torque converter engaged.  This sounds like the engine is abnormally weak - the usual cause of this is a badly mis-tuned engine. This could be a wrong setting of the timing or a badly mistadjusted carburetor.  It is also possible that the valve timing has shifted, due to excessive wear on the timing chain or gears.  There is no way I can diagnose it from a distance - you are going to have to take it to a mechanic who has an engine analyzer and have him track down the problem.  

If this started coincident with all the work you describe, one must strongly suspect something wasn't done right.  If the engine idles smoothly and sounds OK, then the finger points toward the valve timing being off, but since that is a major repair, I think you'd best get someone to verify that before you spend a lot of money chasing a wrong problem.  

If the engine idles roughly, and shakes and sounds rough, I'd double check the spark plug wire connections, as a first guess.

Sorry not to be able to help more,

Dick