Will Not Idle

[Anonymous]

Hey Guys,

Alright, I have a 1960 Comet with a 144 six and Comet Drive. I have replaced the carb with a brand new not reman 1908 carb, replaced cap, rotor, points, condensor, plugs and wires. Points gaped to .025 and plugs gaped to .032. The car starts ok but will only run with the choke. Timing was set initialy at around 10* BTDC. Idle mixture is set 1.5 turns out. If I open the choke and let off of the gas the car dies. Does not sputter, no chugging no back firing. Just shuts off. Pull the choke and she will start and idle again. I can keep her running when the choke is open only if I keep pumping accelerator. Now the car has sat for years so I filled the tank with 10 gallons of new gas. There was still some old gas in there. I have not replaced the fuel filter yet, I have one on order at NAPA but it wont be in till Mon. Also the metal fuel line is collapsed at one place but not completely. She does not seem to be starved for fuel though at high RPM's so I didn't think the filter is plugged yet. I feel its carb. I have not checked the float level yet, I will be honest. Could that be the problem? The original carb was doing the same thing though and I had set and checked at least three more times that float level. I came to the decision that that old carb was just plugged beyond cleaning. I had rebuilt it twice, the second time actually soaking the body and the main body in carb solvent for two days. That was when I found a brand new Holley in the original box, never used. I don't have the dash pot installed, but I don't believe I need it. The Holley 1908 doesn't have the provision for it like the 1904 did. Besides it'll die even if I bring the RPM's down slowly.
Well, I have been breathing too many fumes tonite and i am at the end of my patience. If anyone has any ideas I would appreciate them. Maybe you have encountered the same thing at one time!

Duane

 

[Anonymous]

Komet;
First thing I suspect is the old gas. It does not take much of the old stuff to ruin the new stuff. Try removing all of it and install all fresh gas.

The next thing to try is to open that carb mixing screw to 2 turns until all the old gas is through the system, maybe for 1/4 tank or so. Then adjust it back. The rest of your settings should not be causing this problem.

Good luck!

 

[FastRonald]

8) Hey Komet..did you try to adjust your float level? I'm in the South west suburbs of Chicago. Are you close enough for us to lend a hand?

 

[Anonymous]

When you set the timing you pulled the vacuum line right? With the vac plugged did the motor act any different? I'm wondering if the diaghram is ruptured and causing a vacuum leak. It sounds to me like your starving for fuel or a combustable fuel, not the old gas which may have lost its volitility. You may want to perform a "suck" test on the vacuum hose to see if the dizzy plate is fully moving. If it's not moving your diaghram needs replacing. Another side note is keep an eye on the fuel pump as well, a stiff old diaghram and running bad gas through it could cause the diaghram in there to go south and rupture. You should pull the fuel line off at the tank and blow the lines out after draining the gas out and replacing it with new. I think you made a major phoopa by not doing that first but don't feel bad, I learned the hard way. Pull the fuel line off the carb and run some gas into a jar, let it sit for 10 mins. and check for crap in the line like rubber pieces or rusty mud. If so your going to have to go back to square one.

Steve

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies. So far since the post I have purchased a new fuel line and filter and checked the float level. Like I said I was just lazy when it came to draining the tank. The car started after its 30 year hiatus so I thought "what the heck"! Plus I thought mixing the 10 or so gallons of new would elevate the old gas, not bring the new down! I am going to check for vacuum leaks this week.

Fast Ron, I live in Jefferson Park, by Lawrence & Milwaukee but the car is in Elgin at my in-laws due to garage space. I wouldn't mind meeting you sometime. My wife and I plan on hitting a lot of shows this year, however the Comet is NOT a show car. Just an old car, so I will only be showing her as a relic! I kind of dig the rat rod scene and cannot afford late twenties or early thirtties iron yet and the Comet was $400 plus what I have invested in pars and time. You can seen some in work pics here: http://photo.starblvd.net/vesparex?st=album&pg=0

Thanks, and if anyone else still wants to chime in with ideas or experiences, please do!

Duane

 

[FastRonald]

8) Hi.I'm in the south west suburbs.in Palos Heights. The six is in my oldest Son's 81' Fox body Granada. He plans to hit some cruise nights with it out our way.

 

[61Futura]

Duane.

My 61 had sat for 29 years and shortly after getting the car running with another engine & rebuilt carb, it started acting similar to what you discribed. The problem was rust from the fuel line had gotten into the carb and plugged it up. Mine only had 1 fuel filter just before the pump. The line from the pump to the carb looked good from the outside, but was rusty inside.

Steve