Losing Power In Drivetrain ???

[Doug C.]

Been fighting power loss in 86 Grand Wagoneer. Had tired/leaky 360 so I replaced it with new rebuilt one with RV cam. Still VERY low on power and only getting 6 mpg in the city. Really labors and will not tow my boat without overheating even with new radiator, stock fan with new HD clutch. Rig towed find for 3 years with old engine then fairly suddenly began to lose power. Shop found the transfer case was leaking and WAY low on oil. Magnetic test did not pick up anything much in the way of metal shaving so they fixed the leak and refilled it. Could the transfer case be damaged and not passing the power to the wheels? How about the tranny? Ideas???

[PhilSine]

Could be a lot of things. Just because the engine is new doesn't guarantee anything. Hook up a vacuum gauge to monitor your vacuum at all times and go from there. It could be timing, carb adjustments, a restriction in the exhaust, an intake obstruction, etc... But without proper diagnostics it will be hard to tell.

[Oracle]

sounds to me like you have a fuel line blockage. Check your lines to the tank and the tank itself.

[Don S]

Doug C.. Welcome to the IFSJA group of guys & gals.. Yes .. hope you enjoy it. The last time I worked on a problem like yours it ended up being a voltage dividing thing. A wire to a heater motor mysteriously got hooked into the circuit that feeds the coil. The engine lost about 65% of its power. Every time the heater was turned on the engine would die. When you get it figured out please give us a post.. good luck.. ;) .. ds..