Just found this site in the last couple days. I've got a 86 IROC with the 305 4 barrel VIN H. The engine has 60K on it but its had a rough life (the car was in a field full of mice). It seems to run fine on the road but won't idle worth a dang.
I'm no carb expert but here is what I have noticed. The idle stop solenoid is not engaging so I setup the idle stop screw. The car won't sit at a steady idle, it keeps "hunting" until it finally floods itself out. I know its flooding because I got to run my foot to the floor to start it again. Got to set the idle to at least 1500 RPM just to keep it idiling. I have run carb cleaner through it with no response. I'm also getting a clicking noise coming from the carb on the right hand side from some electrical connection going into the carb.
People are telling me to buy a new Edelbrock carb to replace the Roch. Can't these things be rebuilt to perform? I'm not interested in rebuilding a carb, where are some good places to send the carb in for a rebuild? What about this electrical connection in the carb, what does it do and do they replace these kind of items on a rebuild?

 

Ah, a fellow Coloradan. Welcome aboard.

Yes, the carb can be made to perform. That's exactly what I'm running, and it holds its own just fine. I'd put it up against a Performer any day (and you'd need a different distributor to do that, and then you'd get a constant SES light, etc., etc., etc.).

The clicking you hear is normal. That's the mixture control solenoid doing its thing. It cycles to keep the mixture at the proper ratio.

The solenoid you called the "idle stop" is a fast idle solenoid that engages when the A/C is on. It isn't normally on.

Sounds like you've got a flooding problem. You can take your chances and exchange it for a rebuilt carb at a local parts store, or send it to Jet Performance for a rebuild. There's also the Carburetor Shop in Denver (you can either give them the carb and they'll rebuild it, or bring the whole car in and they'll get it running right). Or, get a rebuild kit and some tools and do it yourself.

The mixture control solenoid wouldn't be part of a rebuild unless it is bad. Same for throttle position sensor.

Refresh my memory: Where's Mead?

 

Thanks for the update. I think I like the idea of taking it down there and having them rebuild it and get me running. Mead is located on I-25 and Hwy 66 just North of Longmont. My son is 14 and we bought this car so he can have something to play with and rebuild. We've got the interior stripped down to the metal and have located all the parts we need. In a couple of weeks the seats will be back from the shop and we'll begin the installation of the interior. The car is very clean on the outside and has only 60K on it. clean T tops and AC with 5spd. It was parked in a field for several years and had mice living in it. I gave the guy $2K for it, may have paid too much?

The solenoid I'm referring to is on the drivers side and according to the service manual it is engaged when the AC comes on and when the ignition is on and the car is going less than 45MPH. That seems to be the case because I got voltage when the key is turned on?

Appreciate your help, I'm saving myself a bunch of time by using these forums to hunt down some problems.

 

I should have remembered where Mead is, but I'm in Great Falls, picking up my mother-in-law to bring her to our place for Mother's Day, so didn't have a map Colorado with me. It's snowing like crazy here!

Just wanted to make sure you knew the solenoid wasn't supposed to be active all the time. I assume you mean you have voltage when the ignition and AC are on.

Several racers I know rely on the Carb Shop, and I have a co-worker who's Mazda pickup wouldn't pass emissions - they did a bunch of work on it, modified it so it works like it should at high altitude, and ran it through emissions for him. It wasn't cheap, but was effective. You'll have to decide if you want to spend that kind of money (talk to them about what they'll want).

You probably spent a little too much for the car, but so did I. Education is expensive, though. Water under the bridge, go have some fun.

 

Yeah, you are about 5 hours south of Calgary and we've gotten the better part of 2 feet of snow here in the last several days

 

Hey, Sitting Bull, do you know what the best part of Calgary is?

Highway 2 NORTH! Haha!

Boy, I miss Edmonton.

 

You mean "Edmonchuck" or "Deadmonton"?

What's wrong with Rhode Island?