Technical 1959 ford ranchero 352 FE; high idle in park and neutral, normal in drive.

I got this ranchero one year ago from my neighbor. He had it sitting in the garage for 15 years. Since I acquired it, I’ve replaced the following:

battery, starter, starter solenoid, cables, radiator, trans cooler, water pump, fuel pump, fuel tank, carburetor, spark plugs, spark plug wires, distributor cap and rotor, all 4 brakes, brake lines, master cylinder, and a rebuilt transmission.

it’s the 352 fe, with an autolite 2100 carb. It starts up great, and has perfect vacuum. I’m in the process of getting the dmv paperwork for it, and I have a temporary 90 day registration because I need a California certified weighmaster with its weight. Nearest one is roughly 12 miles from me, and I’ve been able to drive this ranchero just around my block, but I fear it won’t make the 24 mile round trip.

when it starts up, it’s great, I put it in gear though and it sort of stumbles at first, but it takes off. About a minute into the drive, its warmed up. Still can’t really put my foot on the gas otherwise it stumbles a bit. I have to slowly do it. When I get it home, and put it in park, oh man the idle is very high, in neutral too. I turn it off. Wait a few minutes, and when I turn the key it just cranks over and won’t really start. It almost drains the battery with me trying and trying until it turns over.

now, I have an electric choke on it, but it’s not wired up. Is this enough to cause this? Or am I missing something?

I’m a complete novice too, so go easy on me. My dad p***ed away a while back and he got me into cl***ic cars, and I’m trying to get this going in memory to him. He helped me with stuff like this, and now I’m on my own but it’s been a struggle

 

If you haven’t done it yet buy a rebuild kit for the carb. Clean and blow out everything as best you can, re-***emble and install.
If you live in California you shouldn’t even need a choke.

 

The carb is brand new, got it 3 weeks ago. Works great right out of the box. Messed with the idle screws to get it at a good idle when I fired it up. The vacuum gauge read around 18 which was right in the green. But unsure what’s causing it to run so high after driving it for a few minutes. Thinking of getting a manual choke conversion so I won’t have to mess with an electric choke. I do live in so-cal so it’s always warm here

 

If you think it might be the choke I'd disconnect/wire it open and see if that cures the problem. JMO

 

When you set the idle it should be at operating temperature. The mixture screws wont affect the idle but could cause a stumble if too lean. They are normally 1 1/2 turns out from seated or use that as a starting point. A stumble could also be not a big enough accelerator pump shot or not adjusted properly.
If the carb is only 3 weeks old you shouldn't be having any issues. Those carbs are dead simple and reliable.

 

If it has the round black choke thermostat on the p***enger side of the carb, loosen the three screws that hold the black cover and rotate the cover until the choke flap is wide open. Tighten the screws. Now the choke is inoperable, and so is the "fast idle cam" built into the linkage.
Without the electric part of the choke hooked up, there's nothing to open it as the engine warms up so it keeps choking and the idle stays high. That's your problem right now.

Terry

 

Agree with Terry. Check the high idle cam. Set your idle speed when it's at operating temperature, then after you get the choke operational you can set your high idle cam so it starts easy. The mixture screws need to be set when it's warm also. I turn them in until the engine starts to studder then back out until it's smooth, then go another 1/8 turn or so out. I think the spec is 2 to 2-1/2 turns out on the 2100s. Takes a couple rounds to get both screws turned out the same amount. If it still stumbles then report back. Remember, just because it's new doesn't mean it wasn't ***embled by an 8 year old before being thrown in the box...

 

So I just went out there and tried it out. No luck. I let it warm up for 5 minutes. Turned it off. Moved the electric choke all the way open. Tried to start it. It actually backfired. Still wouldn’t start. So I then put it back the way it was. Tried it again. Struggled and took three tries and it started. Turned it off again and tried to start it again, and nothing. Will try to upload some videos but let’s see if they go through or not:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1367614414097869

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1046824963357423

 

Ah couldn’t get the videos to work. I’ll try seeing if I can get them to work another way

 

When you 'messed with the idle screws', did that include setting the idle speed? Or just the mixture screws?
Take a look at where the idle speed screw tip rests and the fast idle cam to choke linkage. Once you familiarize yourself with the way that all works I'll bet the solution will be clear.