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Engine won't Idle - Need Advice Please

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Old Jul 28, 2008 | 09:25 PM
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Default Engine won't Idle - Need Advice Please

Hi Friends!!
I replaced my electric choke on my '81 Vette this past weekend, reinstalled the carb and everything connected to it. Now, when I go to start it, it won't idle. It just kills right away. What would be the first to check? I removed the carb to get the rivets on the electric choke out. Bought a new gasket for the carb and connected it all back together (everything was running good except idled high cause of a bad choke). Any help would be greatly appreciated. I replaced the right-rear caliper as well and wanted to drive it out in my driveway to jack the car up and blead the brakes as well as giving the tires a thorough wash.
Thanks for all of your help!!
Johnson7340
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Old Jul 29, 2008 | 01:05 AM
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Does it not idle when it's hot or when you first start it cold?

If it won't do the fast idle when it's cold, maybe your choke isn't hooked up right (i.e. not functioning).
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Old Jul 29, 2008 | 01:22 AM
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Look for a vacuum leak such as a hose not connected to connected to the wrong port.
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Old Jul 29, 2008 | 11:32 PM
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Thanks for your help, moron here had the gasket on backwards!! I found out gaskets only go on one way. I now know how to take my carb out and put it all back on again. I'm learning slowly
Thanks guys.
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Old Jul 29, 2008 | 11:50 PM
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From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
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If it makes you feel any better, you're not the first one to put a Q-Jet base gasket on backwards. Over the years of supplying mail-order carb rebuilds, I have had 2 people install their base gaskets backwards with the phone calls following, "why won't my engine idle?" I had one guy tell me that I should label the Q-Jet gaskets "FRONT" and "REAR" so he would know which way to install it...
Lars
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