Does it still have a catalytic converter? Is it plugged with crap? Put your hand over tail pipe. Tighten up the intake manifold bolts?

 

I had the intake off and have replaced the gasket double checked for tightness and the balancer is new as well so the timing marks should be good. Tomorrow i might spend some time messing around with it but at this point im not really sure what else to do beside put a timing light on it but i dont have one at the moment

 

They can be a bear to figure out. My '87 has a vibration at idle that I can't figure out. Don't really want to swap out the balancer just yet so trying to run down the same things: timing, distributor re-index, plugs, cap etc.

I tend to think your issue is fuel related-I had the same issue intermittently and a new pump fixed that.

 

FYI, the balancer being bad won't cause a vibration unless it's nearly falling off.

It's there to dampen harmonics which you couldn't detect anyway.

 

Thanks Cruiser-That's good to know-the balancer looks ok too. I did the distributor re-index (followed your instructions), checked timing etc. Vibrates until it hits about 1000 RPM then its fine. I think it did seem a little better after re-indexing. My wife drives it every day to work and it doesn't bother her but it's one of those things I'd like to fix. I'm leaning towards the flex plate or valve springs.

Working on my '84 Grand Wagoneer the most lately. Just had to pull the rad as it started leaking pretty bad. Always something to work on!

 

I see timing lights at garage sales and flea markets all the time. Usually for next to nothing too. I've got two myself (both from garage sales).

 

Steve, make sure it's not the fuel. Now, if water gets in it mixes with the ethanol, then you have this weird crap that sort of works, but not really. Comes up allot for me since I have a bunch of carbonated engines, 9 times out of 10, trouble is the fuel. Maybe pull the rear line off the rail and run it to a gas can. It's the rear wire off the ballast resistor that goes straight to the fuel pump. If you do flush it, use Chevron premium to see if it's better. (that Techron stuff REALLY does do things)