I put a new Edelbrock carb on my 350. It started right up but seems to be idling really high. Does screwing the idle screw in slow the idle or speed it up? The old quardajet I had was a piece of junk. I took the truck out last night when I thought the idle was good but after cruising for a few minutes the truck died when I slowed down for a 90 degree turn. Do you think this is due to bad timing or bad carb adjustment? By the way, when I did take it out last night the horsepower is MUCH better than the quadrajet... I just can't get this timing and idle speed figured out. I'm not experienced enough to tell if the timing needs to be advanced or retarded and which way I need to go with the carb settings. HELP PLEASE????
Have you checked the timing with a timing light? Also, are you adjusting the idle screw or the mixture screws? I find a tach is helpful for setting the mixture.
You might need to adjust your mixture screws. The instructions on doing this come with the carb. I screw mine in all the way and then back 'em out 2 1/2 turns. After that, I adjust my idle. Mine likes it at 650-700rpm. Bogging out or stalling in a turn, may be fuel pressure. Edelbrock Performers like 6psi.
eldelbrocks are notorious for the floats not being adjusted right. Something about them being shipped and jostled around. Look down the throat with a flashlite and see if the boosters are dripping at idle. Thats a tell tale sign.
Yeah, I heard china is manufacturing them too now which makes me wonder. I'll adjust the mixture screws in the morning and see if that helps.
What rpm do you have it idleing at ? I second checking the float level if it died making a turn too. The float problem won't be your idle speed problem though. The mixture screw settings are a deal where you screw them till they barely seat, screwing them in to hard will damage the needle. Now back them out 1 1/2 turns and fire up the engine. You would then start fine tuning the screws slowly in till it starts to run rough. Turning the scews in a 1/4 turn and waiting a few seconds for the signal to get to the carb then another 1/4 turn, repeat till it's rough. Then back them back out the same way, you'll be able to hear and feal the highest rpm reached. Once you go past it, it will have fewer rpm's and start to run rough again, now go back in again till you hit that highest rpm. You would do that to each screw twice alternating between the two, then readjust your idle again if need be.
Oh dear God! The Darwin award for the year goes to................ME! I've been super busy with work with the holidays coming up and working on the truck really late at night. I forgot one major thing here........... the freaking adapter plate! I had a spread bore Q-jet on there and the Edelbrock carb is square bore......... Duuuuuuhhhhh! So I'm going to try it with the adapter plate and that should clear things up. I've set the idle and mixture screws before, but for the life of me couldn't figure out why it would not adjust much. I'm so ashamed! hahahaha.
swade41, I am familiar with this process/formula. But on my 392 Hemi, I have 2 4's? What is the procedure?
Ha ha, I have two Carters on my t-bucket and that is how I do it. Front carb one time around then to the rear carb, then back to the front and lastly the rear again. It's time consuming but sure puts you in touch with what the carbs need, I get into a trance like state listening and feeling the cars idle...lol I know weird, but the same can be used when your girl needs a high beam adjustment.
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