C10 won't idle

[Grumpy old man]

Originally Posted by Marine-58

Now that I'm back at the computer can see the pictures. They didn't show up on the cell. As soon as I saw them, it all came back... One thing I hate about getting older is not remembering or misremembering things... Thanks again for posting these!!

I know what you mean just this morning I called my girl by the wrong name ,A few minutes later she brought me a cup of coffee and when she handed it to me she winked and had a smile on her face ...I've been scared to death all day !

[Scott_williams2]

Unfortunately that didn't work guys. It still won't idle

[Grumpy old man]

Have you adjusted the idle stop screw in so it will idle ? Just because it's a brand new carb doesn't mean it set right and ready to run out of the box

[Scott_williams2]

Yes I tried a million different setting so with same results. It came from natl carb factory set. Overall I'm really impressed with it. It's a great carb it just took weeks to get here. I'm gonna buy a new PCV valve tomorrow and clean out the intake fitting some more tomorrow hopefully it'll fix it

[Scott_williams2]

This is my truck. It's just an ole fixer upper. Lol and I was also just curious as to what this piece is. It sits under the intake in front of the carb. It swivels a quarter turn

[Grumpy old man]

thats your heat riser when cold the flap is open and directs heat to your intake manifold to help with atomization of the fuel until the truck warms up then the spring you see there on the counter weight relaxes from the build up of heat and directs more of the exhaust out to the tailpipe , see the pictures i posted above it should move easily

[HO455]

When you checked for the vacuum leak did you check all the intake manifold to the intake ports on the cylinder head for leakage? My AD's 235 occasionally has to have those bolts retorqued. That being said I suspect that your having a fuel supply problem. Start it up and and after it dies look down the inside of the carb and wing the throttle. You should see a good shot of fuel from the accelerator pump squirters. If not then remove the top of the carb so you can see how much fuel is in the bowl. If it is low or dry you have a bad fuel pump or a blocked fuel line.

[Marine-58]

This may be way off base but sometimes dumb ideas trigger a good one. I was just looking at your pictuers again. The choke looks to be manual but not hooked up. You also said that if you place a rag over the carb then it would run.

Could this be as simple as the choke not closing and your trying to run it while it is cold and no choke? Can you just close the choke and try it?

The symptoms as you describe are classic way too lean. Too much air, too little gas... What Grumpy is saying would cause this but the choke not closed would as well. Or maybe I'm just too tired....

Sorry meant what HO455 is saying...

[Scott_williams2]

Ok have to try it with the closed choke tomorrow and I'll check for vacuum leaks again. It isn't cold here in south Mississippi. It was very humid and around 80 somethin today

[Marine-58]

When an engine is cold, it just means not yet close to operating temp. Not necessarily that it is 40 outside. Until the engine starts warming up, it requires a much richer mixture.on .

BTW.. are you far from Keesler. Spent a couple months there back in 76 for TAD.

[Scott_williams2]

No not at all. I'm about 15 miles from it @grumpy

[Scott_williams2]

Ok guys I did like y'all said and sprayed for vacuum leaks on the intake and there was one by the fitting where the pcv hose runs. The intake has a small gap. I'm gonna tighten it up

[Scott_williams2]

That's what it is. Thanks a million for the help guys. I'm gonna change the gaskets this weekend with my dad. Do any of y'all happen to know what exactly the gaskets are called? Intake gasket?

[HO455]

Good to hear you found the problem. It is called the intake manifold but if it is the same as my 235 it is also the exhaust manifold gasket set too. So be ready to have to pull the exhaust manifold too.

[Scott_williams2]

Your right it is. I bought it and I'm gonna change the valve cover gasket while I'm at it. It's pretty nasty. Having to clean the manifolds off gives me an excuse to clean my motor lol. It's pretty nasty lookin

[Marine-58]

Let us know how it turns out.

[Scott_williams2]

Alright guys after a bunch of cuss words and sweat we got it. It idles now. It still has a slight skip in it but we're gonna go back through the basics. Adjust the carb etc. we're gonna have to replace the PCV valve it's Rusted and almost crumbled.

[Scott_williams2]

Ok guys it'll idle but it's still rough. It still misses a little while driving. Sometimes it still stalls when slowing to a turn. I'm gonna have to order a PCV valve and try that out. The old one was toast

[Marine-58]

Originally Posted by Scott_williams2

Ok guys it'll idle but it's still rough. It still misses a little while driving. Sometimes it still stalls when slowing to a turn. I'm gonna have to order a PCV valve and try that out. The old one was toast

Looks like you are on the right track. Let it warm up. Set the timing, adjust the carb etc. Do you have points in the distributor? If so, also check the dwell. Small adjustments each time. Very possible that there are multiple things affected. It may take going back and forth between each thing a couple times. i.e. you adjust the timing, then reset the carb which changes the idle rpm which will change the timing.

This all can take time and patience. But when you are done, it feels good...

[Scott_williams2]

Ok guys thanks for the help so far I'm bout to go pickup my pcv valve. Just wondering what is the correct timing on my truck? I set it to 8 degrees BTDC. Is that correct?

[Scott_williams2]

I believe I fixed it. The PCV valve helped a lot. It stalled one time when I slowed to take a corner and still was slightly skippy. but other than that it ran great. Had plent of get up and go. Me and my dad advanced the timing a tad bit and adjusted the carb and now it idles a lot smoother. Thanks for all the help I appreciate it. Hopefully it'll still run as good tomorrow

[Marine-58]

Glad it is running better. Hope you and your Dad enjoy driving it.