Carburetor People Needed
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 564
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From: Riverview Florida
Carburetor People Needed
The as yet unidentified crate motor in my '81 has a healthy cam, headers, and an Edelbrock carb. When it's warmed up it runs well but it's an evil beast at anything short of fully warm. I have basically no experience with carb tuning ( I'm much better with injection) and have 2 questions;
1. The carb has a choke plate but I can't find anything on the carb that would close the choke. There is a short lever on the right side of the choke shaft with nothing connected to it. Should there be something to pull on this lever to close the choke when cold or to push it open when warm?
2. Idle speed in park, warm engine, is 1100 RPM. Put it in drive and it drops to 500-600 and the idle gets so lumpy from the cam that the engine wants to stall. Is there a way to keep the idle from dropping so far?
1. The carb has a choke plate but I can't find anything on the carb that would close the choke. There is a short lever on the right side of the choke shaft with nothing connected to it. Should there be something to pull on this lever to close the choke when cold or to push it open when warm?
2. Idle speed in park, warm engine, is 1100 RPM. Put it in drive and it drops to 500-600 and the idle gets so lumpy from the cam that the engine wants to stall. Is there a way to keep the idle from dropping so far?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
why not spend $20 and buy a good book on the particular carb you have? it will be money well spent.....especially when it comes to tuning and upgrades....
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 88,393
Likes: 2
From: eville in
Originally Posted by bobs77vet
why not spend $20 and buy a good book on the particular carb you have? it will be money well spent.....especially when it comes to tuning and upgrades....
money Well spent
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 904
Likes: 0
From: Murphy NC
#1 The carb you have must be a manual choke. If so they make conversion kits for $50 to convert it to electric. Otherwise run a cable throught the firewall to open and shut it.
#2 The problem is with your stall converter, not the carb. You need a higher stall speed to keep the engine running with a big cam. A quick fix is to turn up the idle speed. There is a screw on the linkage that you can turn in.
#2 The problem is with your stall converter, not the carb. You need a higher stall speed to keep the engine running with a big cam. A quick fix is to turn up the idle speed. There is a screw on the linkage that you can turn in.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,380
Likes: 6,391
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
The carb you have is set up for a divorced choke - not a good setup for your system. You need a choke coil mounted to your manifold in order to get it to work, and you probably don't have provisions for doing this. Either get a carb set up with an electric choke, or delete the choke system altogether.
If your engine is as lumpy as you indicate, and if the cold-running is that balky, you need to richen up that carb a bit - you're running too lean. Once richened up, your cold operation will improve significantly and the rpm drop will be less pronounced.
If your engine is as lumpy as you indicate, and if the cold-running is that balky, you need to richen up that carb a bit - you're running too lean. Once richened up, your cold operation will improve significantly and the rpm drop will be less pronounced.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 564
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From: Riverview Florida
Edelbrock makes an electric choke kit for my carb that I will try. Right now the choke just stays open.
I have ordered a manual from Edelbrock which might help point me in the right direction.
I appreciate your expert advice.
I have ordered a manual from Edelbrock which might help point me in the right direction.
I appreciate your expert advice.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,675
Likes: 13
From: Sudbury MA
Suggest you get in touch with Lars who is also one of the people who responded to your message.
I have never met him personally but haver seen his postings on this forum for years and sent him my carb to restore for my 68.
This man knows more about carburetors in his sleep than the rest of us do combined when awake.
He is also one hell of a decent guy who helps everyone and anyone.
Guaranteed he can solve your problem.
Kurt
I have never met him personally but haver seen his postings on this forum for years and sent him my carb to restore for my 68.
This man knows more about carburetors in his sleep than the rest of us do combined when awake.
He is also one hell of a decent guy who helps everyone and anyone.
Guaranteed he can solve your problem.
Kurt