does anyone know what the little metal thing is with the 2 vacuum lines coming out of it with one going to the front of the carb and one going to the back and has the electrical wire on it.
my 73 has it looped back into itself.
It's on the right hand side of the carb.
I could'nt figure out how to import an image from my desk top.

 

get an account with photobucket.com its free, then copy and past the [IMG] line at the end of your messege post. Then we can all see your metal thingy.

 

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...3/L-46carb.jpg

Thanks for the info, This is not my motor but it has the same "thingy"

 

I believe you're referring to the spark control solenoid #1997410 . Various vendors have them if yours doesn't work properly.
Regards,
Alan

 

Alan what does it do, on my engine it has a vacuum hose looped back into itself so there was no vacuum going to it, and unlike the picture my carb has no vacuum inlet on the back I have a Q-jet.

 

It is a pretty simple system. The vacuum that would be available to the distributor vacuum advance is controlled by a solenoid valve. At idle and in neutral, the TCS solenoid valve blocks the vacuum to the distributor vacuum advance and vents the distributor vacuum advance to atmosphere. In 3rd and 4th gear, a switch mounted on the transmission applies power to the the TCS solenoid and thus provides manifold vacuum to the distributor vacuum advance. So, there is no vacuum advance in 1st or 2nd, but only in 3rd and 4th. This was done for emmisions.
In addition, there is a two terminal thermal switch mounted in the passenger side head. When the car is first started and if the temperature is cold enough, one half of the thermal switch, the low temperature switch, will close and activate the TCS solenoid so as to provide vacuum for spark advance for a cold engine, for improved idle and idle speed. Once the engine begins to warm up, that thermal switch will open and the system will go back to normal operation.
If the engine temperature gets too hot, say while you are idling in traffic, the other half of the thermal switch, the high temperature switch, will close and activate the TCS solenoid to provide vacuum advance so that the engine will cool some. Once the engine temperature falls below the high temperature switch limit, the high temperature switch will open and the system will return to normal operation.
This is how the factory system is set up. Of course, after all these years, your particular car may have been modified to bypass some or all of these functions. I hope this helps. Explanation by CF member Longbros

 

Thanks for the info, somewhere down the line someone swapped out the distributor and nows there is no vacuum advance, that said do I still need this solenoid, The only thing still connected is the electrical wire.

 

In your case with your dist. you dont need it.Most guys get rid of them unless they are going to have the car judged.It might be worth a couple bucks to someone that is going for points.