New to me used 2.3l

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

I switch the ESA bracketry back the 1987 version, horizontal orientation, and i am now shifting smoothly.
I will no longer spell bote, rather boat.
I took her out and what a great ride i had. 3 years and it seems to be correct. Touch wood.
I am not able to post pictures? Error message states "....the site administrator will need to..." something... cant make out the rest of the text.
Next.. adjusting the carbueretor.
Last year i bought a rebuilt 2 bbl from Flying Fish and have now installed it. Tough adjustments made i can get the 2.3l to idle at 850 to 900. Specs call for 600 to 650. New plugs, points looked fine and i added white lithium...
Smoothly accelerates.till about 2500/3krpm. Then a stutter pop ...pause and then accelerates to 5000 nicely.
Both air mix screws are out 1.5 turns

I had a similar issue with the idle as you are, I found out that the counterweights for the advance in the distributor were bad.

 

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

The carburetor which came with the motor did not look as clean as the one i bought last year. Last years carb was storen inside, the one which came with the engine has surface rust.. spiders even

I'm thinking it may be a distributor issue. I'm the person on FB that suggested changing your shift brackets fyi.

 

[fritzL]

I'm thinking it may be a distributor issue. I'm the person on FB that suggested changing your shift brackets fyi.

88 Capri....
Thanks very much... that was the magic there...
I have not open up the cap on the distributor... and with you batting 1000 i will shortly.do that. Other things took priority...

Many thanks again.
I feel my confidence returning..
.
I have built.hot rods and motorcycles

It has taken about 3 year to get where i can feel good about taking the boat to the lake

 

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

What I found out in regards to the higher idle that the counter weights for the mechanical advance were worn out, I bought a used distributor and that problem was fixed. Could it be the cause of your other problem I can't say because I didn't experience that one.