OK, when I accelerate from a stop, my car first, shifts in to drive almost immediately.
Then if I accelerate too hard the car shakes a lot. If I back off just a little it smooths out. I have to accelerate slowly.
Same if I try to hit it while moving. I have to downshift to second and slowly give it gas or it will shake.
Any ideas? Motor, carb, tranny?

When the engine is idling, it sounds fine, smooth. When I get up to speed, city or highway, it is smooth. I got on the freeway the other day and it took a while to smoothly accelerate to 65 and then it was fine. When I try to give it too much gas to pass somebody, same thing, some shaking.

I have to have just the right combo of shifting and accelerating to keep it smooth. I really need to know what to fix!

My best guess is a tranny problem.

Car is a 1952 Chrysler Windsor with a 318 and torqueflite out of a 1989 Dodge Diplomat

Thanks!

 

Is your shake rpm specific regardless of gear or load specific regardless of rpm?

A sudden throttle application do it no matter what the speed? Does she backfire at all in the pipe? or thru the carb?

 

I think load specific.

OK, here are some examples, if I accelerate hard off the line it shakes, I have to go smoothly.

If I am going 35 and nail it, it shakes.

If I am going 35 drop it in to second and hit it, pretty much no shake.

If I get the RPMs up before shifting, I seem to be OK.

I can get off the line smooth, wind it up a little and then nail it, chirps in to second and again in to drive.

Hard acceleration at any speed in drive gives me some shake.

AARRGGHH!!!

The engine seems sound. I can rev it just fine in park. A little hesitation because I cannot get that damn Edelbrock carb tuned just right. (I miss my Holley)

 

Flex plate or torque convertor is my best guess.

 

My initial thought would be fuel related to float levels. If you dont need a sudden enrichment from the carb, aka a lot of fuel, she purs and runs good. So mild throttle keeps her fed. To much and she dies from fuel starvation.

Fuel pressure or the lack of can do the same if more fuel is needed and none there to meet the demand. So low pressure or restriction.

I would clean the carb well and check fuel pressure and make sure filter has been serviced.

Other than that its kind of like throwing darts with out seeing it. I recommend make sure all normal replaceable parts are up to snuff to eliminate tune stuff.

What carb is it?

 

If it shifts to drive immediately something is wrong with the throttle pressure adjustment... Does the carb have the correct Mopar arm for the linkage ? Can you feel the vibe in neutral ? Verify that it is a 318 with the correct neutral balanced converter. Check U joints and drive shaft angle/ pinion angle. Does it do anything unusual when going over bumps

 

I will head out for another drive tomorrow and try to be more specific with the problems.

I will let you guys know what I find out. Thanks.