Help please! My 1982 Malibu Classic wagon suddenly runs terribly

[Luke's82]

Not sure if this is normal or not... but some gas trickled out of the vacuum lines when I disconnected them.

 

[81Regal]

No that's not normal, there shouldn't be any gas in a vac line.

 

[Luke's82]

I didn't think so. What would be causing that?

 

[81Regal]

Just a guess but dirt in the needle seat.

 

[81Regal]

Or a bad float.

 

[pontiacgp]

try removing the gas line to the carb and block the line off. Start the car and let it run out of gas. That should free up the needle if dirt is preventing it from closing. After the carb runs out of fuel put the gas line back on and start it up

 

[Luke's82]

OK, how do I block the line? Also, the fuel filter fitting that requires a 5/8" line wrench is very stuck. How can I get it to break free? I don't want to bend the line, and it's starting to round out. If it's dirt keeping the needle from closing, would this cause it to run like garbage like it has been? It's weird, it doesn't seem to be running overly rich as there's no black smoke out of the exhaust.

Also, is there any diaphragm or regulator that could cause this as well? The car has always run a bit on the rich side.

 

[81Regal]

You can try to take the line off at the pump, then clamp off the rubber line to the pump so you don't get gas all over.

 

[pontiacgp]

since you don't want to apply heat to get the fitting off freeze it...

http://toolmonger.com/2009/01/20/freeze-your-nuts-off/

 

[Luke's82]

That looks like a cool product I will have to try. The line fittings look really rusty on the pump. When I get the fuel filter off, I wonder if I could temporarily reroute the line back into a gas can, and just let it pump into the gas can while the carb runs out of gas. Then I could check pump strength at the same time.