Idle speed too high vs. sputtering in gear... ?? what to do

[Anonymous]

Hey all. My '68 200cid ('69 head + Carter YF 1V) seemed to idle very fast (no tach yet, so no figures on it, but it seemed very fast). I backed the idle speed screw out a bit and dropped the idle speed down a hair to a more comfortable speed (or so it sounds). The problem is now when I put her in gear (forward or reverse), she sputters pretty badly and will stall if I don't feed her some fuel. In park or neutral, she idles great at this setting, but I'm tired of having to put it into N at stop lights!

What should I do? Should I just crank the idle speed screw back up and let her rev higher in park? Should I be checking for other issues (mixture, ignition, etc)? I've got an MSD box hooked to the regular dizzie (scrounging $$ for the DSII..soon...very soon...). Maybe it's something with the tranny (2-Sp FOM), vaccuum, whosiwhatsits (can you tell I'm a real expert on tranny's? )

Thanks all!

 

[Anonymous]

Well first, you need to get a tach or something that will get you an accurate RPM reading. "Sounds too fast" doesn't really help diagnose the problem.

You can get one of those inductive tach/engine analyzers at your local parts store for $30-$50. They have RPM, will do Dwell, Ammeter, all sorts of stuff. It's been invaluable for working on the car. That will at least get some information to get us started.

You should also set idle with he car in gear. Have someone hold the brake with the car in reverse, and set the idle speed as low as you can to give the car good idle. Don't worry so much about the park idle speed.

Also, make sure your choke isn't stuck in the fast idle speed.

Finally, check for vacuum leaks. That would make it very difficult to get the car to idle properly.

Good luck!

 

[Anonymous]

definitely check the choke setting...although if it still idles too high when the car has fully warmed up and the choke has been disingaged then do what corellian corvette said...put it in gear and make sure the parking brake is on...then set the idle...it also sounds like the timing is out...i would say retart the timing a bit...i can get the car idleing at 400 RPM...which is really low...without too much of a problem..although it will ocasionally stall...but check the timing and see where its at...but before u do anything to the timing u should check for vacuum leaks...alsoi when the idle speed is set really high you need to apply more braking pressure which can wear the brakes down fast...but i had a freind drive before and i noticed he had a heavy food so i cranked the idle speed up and he seemed to like that better...didnt seem so sluggish at the start..

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks gents. How do I check to make sure the choke isn't stuck on this Carter YF? If I'm not mistaken, the choke housing is the black round cover on the backside with little hash markings on it, right? I should be able to turn that clock or counterclockwise to adjust it. Which is which (which way kicks the choke off sooner)?

 

[addo]

To adjust the choke, first get the engine warm, then shut it off. Make or note a reference mark on the choke cap (the black part you refer to). Loosen the cap screws. With one hand holding the throttle open (to release any resistance to the fast idle cam), turn the choke cap until you can see movement occurring, in the form of the choke closing again. Turn it back the other way, and then past your reference mark. You've now advanced the choke so it will pull off sooner.

As Albert said, set the idle with the engine warm, and the car in gear. You are also advised to load up the alternator by switching on stuff like the high beams, heater and/or AC. Remember if you made that mark in the first instance, you can always return to your start point! Can be handy sometimes...

Regards, Adam.

 

[Anonymous]

cool..thanks for the how-to! I still have a generator in her, but that will be changing soon (adding A/C and swapping to chrome alt at the same time).