C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Engine won't Idle - Need Advice Please

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 28, 2008 | 09:25 PM
  #1  
johnson7340's Avatar
johnson7340
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
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
Reply
Old Jul 29, 2008 | 01:05 AM
  #2  
Z-man's Avatar
Z-man
Race Director
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,643
Likes: 8
From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
Default

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).
Reply
Old Jul 29, 2008 | 01:22 AM
  #3  
71406's Avatar
71406
Burning Brakes
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 3
From: CA
Default

Look for a vacuum leak such as a hose not connected to connected to the wrong port.
Reply
Old Jul 29, 2008 | 11:32 PM
  #4  
johnson7340's Avatar
johnson7340
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Default

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.
Reply
Old Jul 29, 2008 | 11:50 PM
  #5  
lars's Avatar
lars
Tech Contributor
Supporting Lifetime Gold
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
Photogenic
Top Answer: 3
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,375
Likes: 6,375
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Default

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
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Engine won't Idle - Need Advice Please





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:28 AM.

story-0
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-2
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE