Accellaration question

Just got my car all running after have been sat in the garage for a few months. I dont know if the previous owner was driving it but it did have MOT and Tax when I bought it.
Anyways my car is a MK1 Golf Cabby 1.6 GL 1984 with a Pierburg Carb and K and N air filter. I have just had the car MOT'd and changed the gearbox oil, Engine oil and filter, fuel filter, spark plugs,coolant flush and change and had the timing done at the garage. I am also using super unleaded petrol.
The car is driving really nice apart from an issue I have when I am pressing the gas peddle quite hard. When I do this the engine misfires. It is not as bad when I press the gas pedal more slowly. It also happens when I go up a hill. The distributer terminals are all good and so is the rotary arm,although I did not change it. The ignition leads look like the performance type ones that came with the car. Could these be at fault? I read on the internet you can spray soapy water on them to see for any leaks.This seams to happen when the engine is hot.
All help very much appreciated!

for leads do this at night and spray a mist of water over, any arcing will show up much clearer

give the carb a wobble while its running, if idle changes the flange underneath has probably split

Thanks mate. I will try that trick tonight! Is it also worth setting my spark gaps? If so do you know what they should be for a MK1 Golf GL 1.6? Am I best buying the 3 prong ones and do you have any suggestions of ones to buy? Is the flange easy enough to replace and will it not mess up the timing or anything else once I remove it.

Carb or flange mount are the two main culprits. As for plugs I'm running bosch super fours and they do a good job. Clean as a whistle everytime they get removed.

Thanks Jayc. I will get them spark plugs!  The mechanic at the garage said my carb was fine, but is it something I would only know by driving the car?

rubjonny said

for leads do this at night and spray a mist of water over, any arcing will show up much clearer

give the carb a wobble while its running, if idle changes the flange underneath has probably split

Just sprayed the leads and there is no arcing. I also gave the carb a wobble and idle stays the same. I havent changed the sparks ( thought I had). The parks all looked in good condition though but are single prong. I should change them really. Do you think that will make a difference? I did notice after setting the gaps on the sparks yesterday the car seemed to run better.All in all very happy with the way it runs. Very good pick up and good throttle response. Just want to get it as good as I can.

i go for tripples just so i dont have to worry about spark gaps, they can get bashed out of spec in the post. i wouldnt bother with supers unless they're cheap mind!
http://www.vwspares.co.uk/g1electrical.php

looks liek the 1.6 carb ones on there are tripples so bonus

Bosch spark plugs from here with free delivery, not sure from the picture if they are 3 or 4 prong plugs…
http://www.carparts4less.co.uk/cp4l/c/Volkswagen_Golf_1.6_1984/p/car-parts/car-service-parts/regular-service/spark-plugs/?408771280&1&bfd816b56ea94e27d2c53616fa901aa38022c155&000301

If you are buying new spark plugs best to fit some new HT leads they can make alot of differance in starting and running, just make sure you order the right type depending on what you have already, they will be a pin in the dissy cap where the HT lead fits or no pin. New dissy cap and rotor arm would also be on my shopping list as they don't last forever.

1, 3 or 4 probe will all perform fine (as long as right temp and gapping) only difference really with 3 and 4 is they last longer before wearing out.

just buy oem equivalent quality parts and you're sorted. no need to spend a fortune on uprated coils, leads and mega plugs engine doesnt care what coil, plugs, leads and cap/arm you have fitted. its just wants a nice strong spark at the right time

not saying that bosch supers or whatever are bad, just dont spend a fortune on em, linky above is not bad price really they can be really pricey from some places

I shook the carb whilst running the engine and I do not get a change in idle/revs. Could the flange gasket still be damaged? Is it easy  to remove the carb to check the quality of it without it messing anything else up?  

yeah its no problem to remove the carb, undo the top bolts and swing it out of the way. i found there was enough slack to do this without undoing anything

just dont tip the carb upside down or anything else all the petrol will come out

Thanks mate I will do that. I found today the car was not firing up like it has been. Took a while as it kept cutting out. Had to keep foot on the gas pedal and then as the engine warmed up it held up. This has happened after a longish drive yesterday. I am thinking to remove the carb and see if the flange is ok. I am finding it stays over 1000 rpms when the engine is hot. When driving it has been where it should be but I did find the engine was a little up and down in terms of the idle.Any further tips?Can I spray anything on the carb to see if I have any vacuum leeks or do something else?

spraying it aroudn the edge of the carb and inlet would show up air leaks, if its a 2e2 carb read this top to bottom:
http://www.vwgolfmk2.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=14917