help noob with no clue what to do (warning long)

Well here's my delima I am a noob really when it comes to hot rodding but know most of my basics (I think) anyway here's my current quirk coming from my 61 falcon.

I am running a bone stock 170 with a two speed ford-o-matic when I bought it from the PO he said that it had been tuned up and bored .60 over when he bought it. said it sat most of the time he owned it I believe it according to the title he owned it 5 yrs only drove 1k+-. anyway the timing was off and it blows oil like nobodys buisness but hey it was a hotrod the price was right etc. well I got the timing finally close but still not "right" but when you take off the thing bogs down like crazy for a second then takes off liek it's flooding.

so, next step I check the fuel air mixture the screw is like totatlly out, Well i screwed it all the was in then back out like 3 turns. (I am stupid or at least somewhat on track?) well then i slowly turn it in till it idles nicely. every thing is cool.. fast forward a day. I am setting in traffic and it dies...kinda wierd i think but what ever so start it back up boom same thing it won't idle so I get in a parking lot and start the trouble shooting process.

(Keep in mind it won't idle so i can't really fine tune the fuel air screw) so screw it I back it out nothing i can start it up and hold the pedal down.... runs fine.... back out screw it all in back out three turns .... nothing damn so i get on the road runs fine kicks down if you accelerate hard... if you get going say 50ish? let off pedal you get a little backfire.... hmmm? so i think maybe it's a clogged fuel filter? pull into autozone.(i know i know but hey my wife is in the car and wants to get home) new fuel filter I"m like all right here we go ... start it up no dice... still same symptoms won't idle runs like a champ. so we make it home and i park.... idles fine for 2 min then dies now damn thing won't idle @ all. Now When i move the mixture screw it appears to do nothing so change in rpm.

so I stopped tonight at the local parts store and did the only thing I could think of ordered a new rebuild kit for the carb?Am I on the right track?


Sorry for the short novel but wanted to let every kinda know what's going on in my head and how i went about it. Comments, Jabs, whatever let me have it need to learn and my skins thick so let me know how dumb I am guys.

Also I'm planning on replace the motor soon think i'm gonna go back stock as I have a free 170 block sitting in the garage so i think I'm gonna go back that way unless some one can convince my of the errors of my way

 

slow down before you reinvent the wheel start with basics do a tuneup does it have fresh plugs are the points in right is the fuel pump even working its a lot simplier to tune a sour running engine than put in a different engine that has the same problems i would suggest a pertronix fresh cap rotor and wires and plug leave the carb alone you will probably cause more problems than you cure that eng trans combination is basicly sound but no powerhouse give it and you a chance to come around remember that is a very simple engine its a good unit to learn on its very forgiving

 

yeah rebuild that carb. your needle & seat could be messing with you! sticking & unsticking. i'd also run 2 fuel filters, one before the fuel pump & one after. if its all new to you couldnt hurt putting some fresh points & condenser in as well.

 

oh sorry since I have bought the car I put in new points condenser plugs wires oil change and I have only run premium in it like i said yesterday new fuel filter the fuel pump is new as well he said he replaced it and it looked new the old one was in the new ones box when I got it and so I think ?? that I troubleshooted correctly again though I"m more than open to the fact that I could have my head very far up my butt. thanks for the prompt responses

 

The hesitation from a stop or at the begining of any acceleration could be caused by a bad acellerator pump in the carb

 

Sounds like that carb needs a rebuild or its just junk!!!

 

Carbs varnished over, and full of debris!

Gas is only good for 6 months anymore. Me? I'd get the hard parts outta the way and drop the tank, replace the rubber lines, and swap the fuel filter again.
Then you know your fresh and ahead of the game when you do that new engine.

 

sounds like your on the right track
clean out that tank and lines
and rebuild the carb

 

What kind of carb is it? Autolite 1100? Couple other things to check, did you set timing with vacuum advance plugged? Fordsix.com has lots of stickys about your carb and motor that might be helpful.

I think it's probably sticking needle as stated before, or wrong float level.

Good luck, they are fun motors.