Thread: won't idle

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so I tried my hand at rebuilding my edelbrock. Didn't go so well . I can get the engine started but only if I keep my foot in it, will it (run albeit at a higher RPM). It took awhile for me to find time to actual put it all back together after dipping in carb dip. I think either I've got a vacuum leak or some nastiness that was left from the dip (the stuff drying and leaving a nasty powder). Is it possible to hit the idle passage ways with brake cleaner? Also if I'm careful, can I reuse the carb to intake gaskets? (Yes, gaskets, I'm using actually the mr. gasket half-inch spacer with the alternating gasket and aluminum plate setup).

to rule out the vacuum leak, spray carb cleaner around the gasket and if the engine rpm is not affected, then no vacuum leak. I have used the carb gaskets numerous times over and over with no problem. I would use carb cleaner to hit the idle passage ways. Not sure if that will cure your problems but I have sprayed cleaner down the carb several times.

I think I'm going to have to pull the carb because I don't think the idle passage ways can be gotten to on vehicle. Thanks for your response. I'd try the spray thing but I can't get it to idle, so it's hard to check that.

OK, carb is off engine, I pulled it apart, but I don't know, I think I may have some bad gas issues. The gas doesn't smell too bad but . . . . .for a second there smelled like a wetdog. . . .LOL. I may try pulling the gas out of the tank and putting fresh in. I wonder if bad gas would cause my issues, it's been about 2 months or so. I may have Perfomance Specialists in Houston build me a Q-jet. . . . . .Is there a way to make sure the idle passageways are clean on a carter/edelbrock AFB?

Good read straight from the horse

http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_...ers_manual.pdf

Thanks, that's what I needed. I guess I need to take off the idle mixture screws and squirt me some cleaner down there.

Yeah, a lot of things went wrong on this one. I can tell you the carb stayed in the dip a lot longer than one hour. . . . .so the carb is ruined?

No the carb is NOT ruined. The cleaner removes the coating, not the same color anymore.

why did you decide it needed a rebuild to start with .. those carbs arent known to leak .. there`s only one top gasket .. if it`s the same as my edelbrock carb that is ( built like the old afb carter ) .. the idle circuit is very sensitive ..

Sounds to me like you have the floats set too low.

I set the floats using the included ruler with the carb kit. I thought about them being too low but I'm not sure that's the problem. I had to adjust them a little almost none. I rebuilt it because I was getting VERY poor gas mileage. I replaced the distributor thinking maybe the ESC was causing my ignition timing to be retarded, but that didn't help. The plugs were new, it could have been the wires I guess. But I checked the compression and I had about 130 lbs on every cylinder. The air filter was clean. That leaves fuel and camshaft. I may have to change the camshaft since I changed to a four speed auto with overdrive from a TH350C and it may put cruising RPM at one that has low vacuum causing the rods to pop up with the spring tension.

mine is a gas drinker also but i dont want to really bother with jet changes and such .. i just blow the sut out now and then .. i have an edelbrock 500 on my 4.3 chevy V6 .. its just a tad rich..

Ok, I've got it to idle, kind of. I drove it around but seem to be running low on vaccuum (I hit the brakes and it feels like manual brakes, plenty of pressure at the pedal just a little slow in stopping), so it's not the proper idle mixture. Also seemed a little lean. I tried putting a vacuum gauge on the timed side of the carb and on the port side but neither showed any vaccuum reading while the engine was idling (poorly). I sprayed a WD-40-like spray around the carb base but didn't change the engine running. I also sprayed the vacuum ports (the two in front) while it was idling (poorly) and it didn't change anything. Is there a different place to check vacuum while idling? Thanks for all the help!

can you check at the brake booster?

Originally Posted by BigRedTrucker

I also sprayed the vacuum ports (the two in front) while it was idling (poorly) and it didn't change anything. Is there a different place to check vacuum while idling? Thanks for all the help!

Spraying into the vacuum ports should have made a difference if the spray is flamable (or for the worse if it isn't) Use the big 3/8 vacuum port in the lower/front of the carb. Are you positive you have the correct intake/carb gasket?