Edelbrock carb problem

[88GThatchback]

Im helping my friend work on his 66 mustang with a 302 and we put on a torker 2 intake, valve covers, and an Edelbrock 600 carb. We also tried to put in a new distributor but we were having some problems getting it to run. We put the old distributor in and eventually got it to run. The problem is it is running WAY rich. The lowest it will idle is 1000 before it dies. When you rev it, it blows grey/black smoke out the tail pipes and will sometimes backfire. We drove it around the block and it had no power, backfired, and ran like crap! After we shut it off, we tried to restart it and it blew a big fireball out the carb. The vaccume is about 8. I think that is a little low but if it had a big vaccume leak wouldn't it run lean? What do we do now?

Thanks,
Clay G.

 

[jikelly]

Well the first thing you should do is adjust the idle mixture screws. You can't miss them, they are located on the front of the carb and can be turned by hand.

1. Turn the two idle mixture screws all the way in until they stop.
2. Try and start you engine. If it starts and continues to run then the carb is flooding and fuel is getting past the fuel float needles or there is a crack in the housing or bad gasket.
3. Turn both idles screws out one turn and try to start the engine.
4. Repeat step 3 until the engine starts.
5. connect your vaccume gauge and adjust the idle screws remebering to turn them in sync until you achive the maximum vaccume level.
6. Take your car out for a spin and see how it runs.

You should also check the metering rod valves to ensure that they are not locked up. To do that simply loosen the screws on there covers located on either side of the carb by the primary venturies. The valve should push up against the cover as you loosen it. Move the cover out of the way and the valves will be free to pop up. They simply ride on a spring and are actuated by engine vaccume. If they are frozen, Unfreeze them.

Good luck

 

[Jonstantine]

are you sure you didnt screw up the timing?

because a brand new carb will often need to be tuned; but it shouldnt run that bad

and you played with the distributor (which could mess up the timing)
this would be my first guess based on the description you gave

 

[88GThatchback]

We played with the timing for 2 days to try to get it to run. We don't know if its a standard 302 or a 302ho. We are using the 302ho firing order right now. Is there an easy way to tell the difference? The timing is at 10 degrees now.

Clay G.

 

[jikelly]

Yeah if the timing is off adjusting the carb won't help. Do you have the specs from your cam? Probably not I would think that you should be able to find the timing according to the block. Would it help to record the order that the intake valves open in? Would that give you the correct firing order?

Dude I had a nightmare of a problem with the timing after a rebuild. I did pretty much the same thing yours is doing only I managed to singe my eyebrows during a engine backfire. I wound up pushing my car to a mechanic and he got it running in 20 minuets. He didn't charge me anything for it I guess because he got such a good laugh out of my story.

 

[10secgoal]

Tap the carb on the right side and left of the throttle bore. If the carb is new, the floats are probably stuck. It may also be a vacuum leak, but doubtful if it is smoking out the back. P.S. Get rid of that intake, it's costing you HP, torque, and money.

 

[Jonstantine]

whats wrong with the torquer 2?

 

[10secgoal]

It has to be the worst intake edelbrock made in my opinion. I've had the performer,have the performer rpm,had the victor jr, and torker 2. I was very unimpressed by the torque and hp made with it. I had much beter luck with the rpm on same motor. Even victor jr made more torque.

 

[88GThatchback]

We got it to work! It was the firing order. We put headers on it today and switched the firing order and it started right up. Runs great. Kinda loud right now because of the open headers. Thanks for the help.