<VV> Help!!!!! I need help in correcting a severe lack of power problem.

[JRVIDRINE at aol.com]

Folks, 
I am at my wits end on the cause of my problem.  It has no power and won’t 
get up above 45  mph.  I haven’t had my 62 Monza Coupe running right ever since  
before I broke my ankle in April.  For the past month, I have been attempting 
to get her running right, but  run into dead ends each time.  I can get it to 
idle, and it will  accelerate and run smoothly while in neutral.   
Some background:  This spring the car was up on jack stands  to replace the 
broken emergency brake cable.  I got that done and was working on  cleaning up 
the engine compartment and repainting the shrouds and changing out  the 
perimeter seals from shroud to body.  I was just about finished with that when I 
fell and broke my ankle on tax  day.  I was back working on it with  my cast on 
about 6 weeks later, but that really slowed things down.  Prior to starting 
this work, it ran  fine.   
No matter what I have tried the car has no power and will  not run more than 
45mph.  It will  stay in low gear (powerglide) until I lift my foot and then 
it will shift into  high.  Then additional petal will  finally get it up to 
45mph or drop down into passing gear, but no speed greater  than 45mph.    
To give some background on the car, I will list the  following work that I 
have done in the recent past (last year or so):  (1) Gas tank cleaned and sealed 
with new  sending unit and gas screen; (2) Two brand new NOS carburetors; (3) 
Installed a  metal cased Wix fuel filter above the left rear wheel where the 
flex hose used  to be; (4) I have just replaced the vacuum advance today.  I 
was thinking that perhaps I wasn’t  getting proper vacuum advance; (5) pulled 
the muffler to see if the exhaust was  restricted.  It wasn’t restricted as  it 
would do the same thing without the muffler.  I used a uni-sync to balance 
the  carburetors and set the idle as best I could.  Finally get it to idle 
fairly well at  1000 rpm.  It doesn’t want to idle  slower.  I changed out the 
rubber  hoses that connect from the carburetor base to the metal tubing that feeds 
 vacuum back to the powerglide’s modulator.  That shouldn’t have done 
anything but good in my opinion.  I have set the points at .016 and the timing is  
set at 13 degrees with the vacuum disconnected.   
Another thing that is troubling is this, although it will  idle fairly well 
when shifted into reverse or drive it chokes down and runs very  rough and dies 
unless you give some judicious gas by pumping the  accelerator.  Again no 
power - - top  speed 45 mph.   
At one time I thought I had a dragging brake causing the problem (the  brake 
actually was dragging) until I adjusted it loose.  I am sure that isn’t an 
issue  now. 
I have wondered if it is a  fuel pump problem, but several people have told 
me that if it is, it would surge  while accelerating.  I don't seem to feel 
anything like that.  It has  a mechanical fuel pump and could be the original for 
all I know. 
I would appreciate any and all help and suggestions on correcting this  
situation with the car.  I haven’t  been able to enjoy it all summer because of the 
broken ankle and now that it is  healed I can’t drive it.  What a  bummer. 
Thanks 
Randy Vidrine  
Branch, LA