chris75stingray

on an edelbrock carb do you turn the screws clockwise or counterclockwise to get a lean idle mixture?

some say that you turn them clockwise to lean it out but when i first put the carb on my car, the catalytic converters were getting red hot indicating a rich mixture, so to fix this i turned the screws counterclockwise thinking it was leaning it out and that worked.

so turning them which way does what?

wombvette

Clockwise (in) leans.

Gary79

clockwise will lean the engine out, and also make it run, temperature wise, a little warmer.

Big Fish

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought our smog motors were supposed to run a little rich so the un-burned fuel would burn in the catalytic converter and cause it to heat up and operate more efficiently.

kb2fzq

Try this:

http://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/stories/carb.html

Cory1970

if you want to loose power and backfire in the exhaust........

too rich is usualy not a good idea unless you are building a forced induction or nos application.

454_71Stingray

Great link. I love Edelbrock and Carter carbs had several, Once you get them set they are rock solid.

Big Fish

And wasn't that the purpose of the smog pump? To add air so the un-burned fuel would burn in the catalytic converter? I agree that there will be a power loss, but I thought this was the way the smog motors left the factory. Clean emissions, the heck with power.

bextreme1

Nice car! mine used to look something like that! Now, she's a beauty. I would just remove the cat and replace it with a straight pipe. I did it to mine. I can't remember where I got it but I think it was Corvette America. If you remove it, retune the carb to your liking and you're done.

chris75stingray

thanks for the info . i new i was doing something wrong. the cats are going to come off as soon as i can get it emissions exempt. then a 383 is goin in

bextreme1

I don't know where you live but I don't think there is any state, maybe CA, where a 31 year old car needs emissions testing. I'm in NY and here, I think if a car is 25 yrs. old it's automatically exempt. Every year I need just a safety inspection. Check on your states DMV site.

mkflanagan

smog motor?not me man!!

jetvette

Just be warned, the Federal (read all states) laws clearly specify that if a car is manufactred with smog equipment it cannot LEGALLY be removed or made inoperable. Correctly stated above that most states do exempt older vehicles (Age Varies) from annual/semi-annual TESTING/INSPECTION ONLY. If caught with modified smog equipment, irregardless of age, car can be impounded and registration revoked until smog equipment is returned to original factory spec's.

Now, do a lot of owners do it anyway, SURE DO!!!

kb2fzq

True, here in NY...BUT!...has your converter been removed?
(...where were you when I asked this question 4 months ago)

bextreme1

Yes, my converter has been removed and replaced with a thru pipe that mounts directly to the cat mounts that were there. I think you can get it from Corvette America. I had the engine rebuilt at the same time I did the exhaust and now have a 350/350HP which sounds great.

Also, I can't remember ever being stopped by the FBI to see if I had correct exhaust. States are the ones that rule emissions on the local level and if it is exempt by the state I don't think it's a problem.

kb2fzq

Oh, I have the test pipe...it's leaning up against the wall in the livingroom...and I've been waiting for some better weather...I've been obsessing about how to cut the old bolts...and now I see I can pull the cat shield, looks like 4 bolts...but the question is...you've had your car thru inspection with the thru pipe on, in NY, and nobody blinked...is that true?

bextreme1

Yes. I've had my car thru inspection twice. In NY you would only need a Safety Inspection.i.e. lights, brakes etc.

As far as replacing the cat, you need to take everything off but leave the flanges that are used to connect the cat. The replacement part has the flanges that match the originals. All you do is bolt the new pipe to the flanges and you're done. You can cut the bolts off with a hack saw or a torch. Either way don't mess up the flanges.

Bill