Thread: It roars, It stinks, it won't idle, but by God it runs---

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Just fired the engine in the roadster pickup--open headers---sounds like world war 3---big time stink---new paint on engine and headers "heat curing"---garage full of smoke--heart going to explode with excitement. Had to pull my truck up to the garage door and boost the battery that is destined for hotrod duty---took forever to get gas up to the carburator. I can only assume that for it to run as well as it does that I must have got the timing chain and sprockets on correctly. I'm not sure, but I may be one tooth out on the distributor installation---had to turn the distributor body counterclockwise when viewed from the top untill the lump that sticks out on the side of the distributor cap was getting damn cozy with the recessed firewall before it would run smooth. Don't seem to have any engine oil leaks (thank God)---however I see a small puddle of tranny fluid under the radiator---will have to check the tranny cooler connections at bottom of radiator. Right now the engine will continue running if I keep diddling the accelerator pump slightly, but dies if I just let it idle---I think that is probably fuel starvation caused by bad float level in the old quadrajet. (I've never had that quadrajet apart, just scrubbed 20 years of dirt off the outside of it)---will get it rebuilt.---Am I happy---you bet your sweet bum I am.

Sounds like you're on the right path....the rest will be getting the carb right, timing, etc....Yes, you might be a tooth off on the distributor, but that's an easy fix. The tranny fluid leak is no biggie either. From the sounds of it, you're relatively pleased!!!! Good luck. John

Good on ya, Brian. I never doubted for a minute that it'd run. (I can safely say that, since it's been proven that it does, Hehehe) It's the best sound in the world when your project is finally fired for the first time.

Oh yeah the carb... I just had that same problem with a holley.
Opened it up eeeeeuuuw.
That old gas turned into a thick white chalk. No accel pump action at all. Least u had that!

Congrats, Brian. One of the first sounds of spring has always been open headers in the garage. I like to do that every spring just to let the neighbors now that I lived through the winter!!!

It's a great feeling, ain't it? Eyes watering, neighbors come running from the sound, head starts pounding, can't breathe, yep, it's a wonderful thing. (cough) (cough) ahhhhh.

waydago brian, you probably need a carb job for it buts that life. i know i will need one once i get my old motor in and started.

Outstanding Brian - I have been following along with the build & I can see the swell in your chest from all the way over here on the other coast.

Glad to hear that Brian Ya gotta love the new paint baking smell and the smoke in the air. Screw the first robin singing signaling spring...the first open header motor just fired up...springs now officaly here guys!

BG

good job!!! now i wanna hear that you got the carb all ready and the timing perfect and then you'll probably be even 10x happier than you are now... and even more once you get it broken in and can goto burnin those tires up!!!

Nice one brian! Now clean out that carb, turn back that distributor and go raise some hell! and spring is here now? Aww, that means I have to change my avitar

Brian, congratulations! That's progress. For a moment I thought I caught up to you with the brake lines, but you are way ahead now, almost ready to roll! Maybe you will post a picture of the engine from the side so I/we can see the headers and steering clearance? I have my headers now but need to install them. Once I get my Lokar shifter and parking brake I will order the body and maybe I will get to the engine-start point by August?

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

That's great nerws! Progess is a wonderful feeling. I'm betting you can't wait to drive it now! Keep up the good work and thanks for keeping us posted on the project, it's great inspiration to the rest of us.

Pat

Don Shillady---look at my post titled---Install steering shaft and multiple u-joints in model A roadster pick-up --it shows everything you asked about.