/6 dodge ram, can't get it to idle right

[66plyValiant]

1986 dodge ram, has 225 /6 with a carter 2 barrel carburator, when I got it ran rough and had lean burn, done complete tune up including new cap, rotor button, plugs wires and non lean burn distributor.

had miss at idle before doing anything; runs alot smoother now but still has a miss, like a plug only getting fire every other time, pulling 19" of vacuum steady, doesn't seem to have any vaccum leaks; haven't done compression check. also idles high, turned idle screws out and it still idles way to high (1000-1100 RPM)

rebuilt the carburator it did have a little dirt in the right side jet but after cleaning and rebuilding it still runs the same with the same miss and high idle

 

[MOPARoldtimer]

My only thought would be to check the voltage at the coil primary with the engine off and the ignition switch in "run" position. If it is low, check your bulkhead connector battery feed and ignition return lines, especially the spade connectors inside.

 

[66plyValiant]

My only thought would be to check the voltage at the coil primary with the engine off and the ignition switch in "run" position. If it is low, check your bulkhead connector battery feed and ignition return lines, especially the spade connectors inside.

I even thought that as well so I took my homade mopar start box it has coil, ECU and ballast on a steel plate with a plug for the distrubutor and 2 alligator clips for the battery, direct to battery it still runs the same:banghead:

 

[mcnoople]

High idle makes me think vacuum leak. Does it have the original hydraulic lifter system or has a mechanical valvetrain been installed? What did you set the timing at when installing the dizzy? I would run a compression test and disconnect plug wires with it running to see if you can narrow it down to a specific individual cylinder. My valiant had a spit/sputter that was caused by a bad valve on cylinder 1 that did not affect the vacuum guage reading.

 

[66plyValiant]

I've set it by hand so it ran good and then put a light on it, seems to be around 10 degree's BTDC

tried a propane torch around intake and such with not much luck of finding the leak if there is one

if its a burnt valve I likely won't fix it as much as the engine will be removed and replaced with a very low milage 318 (24,000 miles)

 

[BillGrissom]

Explain more what you mean by "idles high". One can usually adjust the throttle stop to run as low rpm as possible until it dies. Do you mean, "it won't idle well except if I adjust to high rpm" or "the adjustment doesn't let me lower the rpm enough"?

 

[66plyValiant]

Explain more what you mean by "idles high". One can usually adjust the throttle stop to run as low rpm as possible until it dies. Do you mean, "it won't idle well except if I adjust to high rpm" or "the adjustment doesn't let me lower the rpm enough"?

throttle stop screw turned all the way out, and the choke cam screw backed out some, throttle plates completely closed and still idles way too high

going to go through with an unlit propane torch again and see if I can find a leak, otherwise the truck doesn't work too bad until it gets warm