I'm having a tough time getting my car to idle smoothly (or at all), especially on a cold start. I just rebuilt the 318 LA in my 71 Scamp, and it's just getting broken in. Edelbrock 1406 650 cfm carb with electric choke, Performer intake, headers, Proform electronic distributor with orange ECU. The carb is brand new, along with the distributor and ECU.
I set the initial timing at 8* BDTC, but the idle wouldn't come below 2000 in park without retarding it to about 0*. I set the initial timing with the vacuum advance disconnected and plugged on the carb side. It WILL idle eventually around 900, but that's after at least 10-15 minutes of warm up. Even then, it's sounds pretty choppy.
When I shift into reverse or drive, it will die unless it's been driven for quite some time and is very sufficiently warmed up, or if I double foot the pedals and give some gas to prevent the engine from dying.
This morning when I dropped it off at the alignment shop, I idled past a gentleman in the parking lot who had some comments that caught my ear. Yes, I know I have a leak at one of the headers, but he said he noticed a fuel smell. That made me realize that my exhaust does indeed smell very rich. This is peculiar, because I had the idle screws set all the way to lean in order to keep the idle down.
One thought that I had while I was driving home from the alignment shop was that maybe my choke isn't opening? I think that would explain the high idle, rich smelling exhaust, long warmup time, and rough running, especially at idle after warmup. Does my theory make sense? I can't check it until later today when it's back from the shop. I've read here that 10* initial timing and 32-36 total is recommended, but 10 initial just wouldn't cut the mustard. I've also read here about transfer slots, but since my carb is new, I wouldn't think I'd need to start there when troubleshooting?
When I get the car back today, I'm going to test the choke circuit and watch to make sure it opens during warmup.
I set the initial timing at 8* BDTC, but the idle wouldn't come below 2000 in park without retarding it to about 0*. I set the initial timing with the vacuum advance disconnected and plugged on the carb side. It WILL idle eventually around 900, but that's after at least 10-15 minutes of warm up. Even then, it's sounds pretty choppy.
When I shift into reverse or drive, it will die unless it's been driven for quite some time and is very sufficiently warmed up, or if I double foot the pedals and give some gas to prevent the engine from dying.
This morning when I dropped it off at the alignment shop, I idled past a gentleman in the parking lot who had some comments that caught my ear. Yes, I know I have a leak at one of the headers, but he said he noticed a fuel smell. That made me realize that my exhaust does indeed smell very rich. This is peculiar, because I had the idle screws set all the way to lean in order to keep the idle down.
One thought that I had while I was driving home from the alignment shop was that maybe my choke isn't opening? I think that would explain the high idle, rich smelling exhaust, long warmup time, and rough running, especially at idle after warmup. Does my theory make sense? I can't check it until later today when it's back from the shop. I've read here that 10* initial timing and 32-36 total is recommended, but 10 initial just wouldn't cut the mustard. I've also read here about transfer slots, but since my carb is new, I wouldn't think I'd need to start there when troubleshooting?
When I get the car back today, I'm going to test the choke circuit and watch to make sure it opens during warmup.