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Old Aug 24, 2013 | 10:28 AM
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I have a '72 with an original Q Jet. The Q Jet has been rebuilt two months ago by a very good vette mechanic. Engine rebuilt 5,000 miles back and tyranny rebuilt two days ago. Car has been running well.

Last night I was driving home and it smelled a little rich when I started it but thought nothing of it. Four blocks later it died. Couldn't get it started and running well enough to get it home. It was extremely rich. Flooded. Black smoke and lots of it. When I gunned it black on left side and white on right sometimes. Mechanic stopped to help and was only mildly concerned about white smoke.

Car was towed home. This morning I got up, rapped the carb with butt end of a hammer a few times to loosen any wayward crap. Car starts, a little black smoke at first, then runs well but slightly rough. It's drivable for sure. Any thoughts or advice? I'm a little afraid to drive very far.
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Old Aug 24, 2013 | 10:42 AM
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needle and seat stuck. Known problem.
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Old Aug 24, 2013 | 10:51 AM
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Originally Posted by zuendler
needle and seat stuck. Known problem.
So no real fix other than rapping on carb as I did?

Thanks for your response. I've been a classic vette owner for four months so this is very new to me. (Though I was a gas station mechanic in 1972 while in college.)
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Old Aug 24, 2013 | 11:49 AM
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Probably some debris stuck in needle and seat. May have to open it up and clean it. Did the rebuilder replace the in-line filter, some people don't. Old cars, old gas tank can have some rust debris in system. Use stock filter.

Last edited by Scott Marzahl; Aug 24, 2013 at 11:51 AM.
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Old Aug 24, 2013 | 02:39 PM
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Was the float replaced and height set correctly?

Black smoke is usually a sign of rich running but white smoke is not a good sign. Usually white is a head gasket or worse......

Hope you get it sorted soon.
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Old Aug 24, 2013 | 02:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Scott Marzahl
Probably some debris stuck in needle and seat. May have to open it up and clean it. Did the rebuilder replace the in-line filter, some people don't. Old cars, old gas tank can have some rust debris in system. Use stock filter.
Yes in-line filter replaced. Just ran it around town for an hour. Quite rough at first but would idle. At the end it seemed normal. Topped it off with 10% ethanol yesterday. Topped off again with real gas today.

Maybe crap in bad fuel? Very odd.

No black or white smoke now.

Last edited by dbarnesid; Aug 24, 2013 at 02:42 PM. Reason: More info.
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Old Aug 24, 2013 | 07:30 PM
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you said 'vette' mechanic, I'd look for a 'carb' mechanic, member 'lars' would be my choice
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Old Aug 24, 2013 | 07:39 PM
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if i still had one thats where id go.
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