Need some help/advice with getting 1980 Chevy C20 running smoothly.

[willem445]

Hello all, Im a new member here and this is my first post.

This summer I have taken on the project of getting a 1980 Chevy C20 Scottsdale that has been sitting behind the trees for 8 years. To get it to start I had to replace all the spark plugs, put a new starter on it, put new gas in it, replace the battery, and redo the wiring to the starter. It starts right up now but it does not run correctly and this is where I need advice.

Here is what it sounds like now.

WP 20130606 005148Z - YouTube

It runs but if you let off the gas it will almost immediatly die and afterwords the engine acts like it flooded. The exhaust is also blackish which means its too fuel rich.

The carb was filthy so I removed it and cleaned it up. I am still in the process of cleaning it. I would put it back on now but when i removed the carb I noticed that it is rusty on the engine block and I was wondering if there was any way to clean that up.

Picture of engine with carb removed.
http://i.imgur.com/DKYofOa.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/PYYdKQq.jpg

Im thinking it could also maybe be a problem with the distributor that is causing it to run incorrectly. Would the spark plug wires need to be replaced after 8 years of not being used?

Here are a ton of pictures of my project.
http://i.imgur.com/nvzUnF8.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/eH5xW6O.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/wUqh2z6.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Lmn5SQy.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/fn3MxbA.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/67dPHZ3.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/2JijiXE.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/KHcSmTU.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Nz9g4t0.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/qn7uCkD.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/jiDNdzQ.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/cz6qDZ2.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/9IiVHkK.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/H95Smi7.jpg
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http://i.imgur.com/NPVj5c9.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/aXFmpRe.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/SH8SK9z.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Z5GTfby.jpg

[gchemist]

Welcome to the site. It sounds like one of the cylinders is not firing. Check the plugs. You should be able to find which one is not firing correctly. You can also use a timing gun on each wire. Remove and clean the distributor weights. The springs and weights are probably rusted. If weights don't move, advance does mot at higher RPMs. Connect a $15 vacuum gauge. Use this to interpret results.
http://www.centuryperformance.com/fo...a-Vacuum-Gauge

A lifter could also be stuck. Remove the valve covers and check that the entire valve train is moving. Check compression. All cylinders should be close to each other and within 15 PSI of the next closest cylinder.

Why was the truck parked? Engine damage may be the cause it was parked.

[willem445]

Thank you for the reply. It was parked because my dad got a new truck years ago and had no need for the chevy so he just parked it. He said it ran fine when he parked it.

Ill put the carb back on and see what it runs like afterwards. If its still having issues ill look into that vacuum gauge.