Hi, my names Logan and I just bought a 87 442 and have a few questions as I am new to these cars and haven't owned anything quite like this. Its got the 307 V8 with 80k miles on it and it doesn't seem to be running the smoothest. I start it up and it idles low and sputters and it stalls if I don't press on the gas, and when I do that it starts to idle high for a while by itself and then goes low again and idles pretty rough. I've had it stall at stop lights too and it didn't do this when I first test drove it.. The first night I drove it home the radiator sprung a leak only because there's this extra opening on it that had a bad plug on it and it was spraying out of that, that was an easy fix but do you think this is where all my problems came from is that something got wet with antifreeze? I also see I got a small oil leak just south of the oil pan plug and not sure if that's anything to worry about either... If someone could tell me if all this is something serious or if its an easy fix that would be awesome, thanks!!

 

Welcome to the site, check for a vacuum leak around the base of the carb, vacuum lines, and the front and back ends of the intake manifold. Also check the operation of your choke. Have you changed the fuel filter?


Post some pictures when you get a chance.

 

:d

 

Pretty!
Looks worth fixing
is that rocker panel rust?
Something wrong with your rear license plate :-)

A tune-up can't possibly hurt- new rotor and cap- crusty old parts will make for a faltering idle. Maybe plug wires. Plugs of course, and see what the old ones say about the goings-on inside the engine.

How well versed in troubleshooting and fixin' are you?

i.e., "check for vacuum leaks" - do you know HOW to do that?

 

Thanks . No it doesnt have any rocker panel rust just some chips in the paint. And no im not very much of an mechanic, but im learning slowly but surely
Paint is still original too, because it's checkered but you dont notice until you look really closely.

 

Welcome aboard! That's a very pretty looking car.

Take your troubleshooting one step at a time. Since this is a new car (for you) have you considered buying an 87 Olds Service Manual to help you out?

eg: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1987-OLDSMOB...-/380418283784

Chris, any car that's 27 years old and doesn't have any rust hasn't been driven.

 

Thanks Allan! And I do think that the guy gave me some manuals, i'll have to check them out . Amazing thing is this car has been a Wisconsin car all it's life, it's obvious it's rarely been driven in the winter, if at all!

 

Chances are all the manuals are related to the original purchase (owners manual, emission control etc). But it could also include the original Bill of sale, warranty info and window sticker. That would be really cool. The 87 CSM is a fairly large manual about 8 1/2" x 11" and 2" thick. You'd know it in a second if he gave it to you.

Sometimes the easiest fixes are also the simplest. If the car wasn't being driven much it might have bad gas or (shudder) that E85 crap seeing how it came from WI. Don't they use a lot of ethanol and E85 up there? If it doesn't have too much gas, it might be worth filling up with real pump gas and seeing if there's any improvement and take it from there. Take it for a good 20 mile drive (include some highway) to see some improvement and get some good gas through the lines and carb. Anyway = that's just a starting first thought.

 

Nice rig, well worth playing with.