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The distributor is a summit racing model. It is SUM-850001-1 summit blueprinted hei distributor with vacuum & mechanical advance. It cost $90, no need to buy an expensive name brand. Was a plug & play, easy install, woks well. I think you can get the specs from summit. I set the initial timing...

Hey everyone, Just wanted to pass along that I think I've solved the problems with my 81 vette! After much discussion with a lot of you guys I did the following: 1. Replaced the fan clutch. Don't think it was the real problem but for $35 it was worth eliminating one of the4 variables. 2...

Agreed, I was just wondering.

If you mean the front air dam under the front of the car, yes it's still there.

The distributor is not new but the plugs & wires are new. I may replace the distributor just to be sure but like you, I keep coming back to a fuel problem. I haven't tried changing jets or metering rods but maybe that's something I should look at.

Thanks Hey everyone, thanks for your time & responses. I really appreciate every one of them. I will continue working on the vette as money, time & health allow. I'm always open to suggestions if anyone has more. One question, can you change the cam on these vettes without removing the engine...

I do not run the cheap gas in the vette. I usually rotate between the middle grade (89) & premium (93) when I fill it up. The computer module is still in the car next to the battery & still hooked up but doesn't run anything to my knowledge. I was hoping it would still work the lock-up converter...

It could be the HEI I suppose, the one I'm using isn't brand new. I've thought about buying a whole new distributor just to be sure, but haven't yet. But the way it acts, it really makes me think it's the carb. It's like it's running out of gas but usually only when it's hot & at idle or just...

Thanks, my thoughts also.

On 81's the computer only controls the carb, the distributor, the electric fan & the lock-up converter, correct? I have changed the carb & distributor to non-computer controlled units & installed a thermostatic switch for the electric fan. The lock-up converter just no longer locks up. So what...

Symptoms are pretty much the same, maybe a little worse. I think that air flow has a lot to do with it. It seems to get awful hot under the hood. I've never seen a car get that hot that wasn't overheating. I never thought about the fan. The fan is turning & so is the electric fan but I supposed...

Coolant temperature is not an issue. I don't believe spark is the issue either, it starts well & runs well until it gets hot. Every time I check the fuel pressure, it's at 6 psi. I haven't tried re-jetting the carb but don't really believe I should have to do that. The problem occurs mostly at...

I removed the computer controlled HEI & replaced it with a normal non-computer controlled HEi with a vacuum advance that runs off the carb. The initial timing is set at about 10 degrees at idle. The timing does advance as you rev it up but I haven't checked how much. The thing is, it runs well...

It is a mechanical fuel pump & has the return line as the original.

Hey everyone, Hope everyone is doing well. I haven't been on here in awhile due to a lot of life circumstances. But I've got a problem with my 81 vette that I've been working on for a year & still can't get fixed. I posted about it on here a long time ago but couldn't find a cure. Anyway, my 81...

My 81 has the original clutch fan & the original electric fan. I think the fact that there is no good way for the engine heat to exit the engine compartment may the problem. My fuel line & filter does run in front of the passenger head & across the intake manifold like yours. I applied "cool...

It only seems to want to die at idle or slow engine speeds when the car is not moving. Once the car is moving it seems to clear up. It only acts this way after it has been running at 180 degrees or above for a little while. Until it has been hot for awhile, there are no issues, it runs like a champ.

Yeah, it'll idle all day even with the air cond on if I keep the hood open. I don't think changing the thermostat would change the top end of the temp range, just the bottom end. :ugh

The outside temps have been in the high 80's - low 90's & quite humid. The choke is fully open & the fuel pump does have the return line connected. The problem definitely gets worse if I'm sitting still in traffic. It seems to run ok running 35+ mph at operating temps. But when you go slow or...

The problem was occurring before I made any of the changes but I guess was not as noticeable because the engine didn't run as well as it does now. The engine runs much smoother with more overall throttle response. It doesn't have quite as much kick when you initially open the four barrels but...