Ok guys heres the story. 1984 Camaro z28, 305, rochester q-jet. Last week I noticed that my intake gaskets were leaking, with the stock intake manifold. I had recently purchased an old Weiand 8004 spread bore, dual plane, aluminum intake, so I thought this would be a good time to put it on. So, with new gaskets and restrictor plates, I put in the new intake manifold. When I put the carb back on and set the timing, we started having idle problems. I have tried the idle screws, and we got it close, but then my throttle kept sticking in the up position at around 3000 rpms when I hit the accelerator (or manually pulled the linkage). So, I cleaned the linkage, changed the return spring to brand new, and it still won't go down unless I manually pull it. So, I thought perhaps the throttle plates were catching on the manifold itself, so I bought a 1" carb adapter (I know it's too tall for the little hood clearance we get, but I wanted to see if it worked. SO now, I start the car, it revs to 3500 rpm, then dies......so what the hell is going on? I've been struggling with the idea of a vacuum leak somewhere, but can't seem to find it. Also, i'm getting constant vacuum from the ported vacuum connections. Please help!

 

Sounds like you forgot to hook up the electric choke again. If the choke doesn't get all the way open it will "hang" on one of the steps of the fast idle cam, which is part of the choke linkage.

Look for the arm with the big triangular-shaped head on the end of it in the choke linkage between the choke element and the body of the carb. Push it down gently until it stops (will be nearly horizontal pointing forward). That forces the fast idle linkage down into it's home position. See if it drops your idle speed. If so, your choke isn't opening up for some reason (usuall a bad connection of the power wire to the choke element electrical terminal).

 

looking at my choke now, and I'm thinking that might be the problem. It appears as though the part that attaches the throttle plates to the choke linkage isn't making contact with the rest of the linkage. I have swapped the connection to the choke element, so it is good....but the linkage doesn't look as though it's accomplishing anything. Still revs to 3k on start, and dies. Any ideas?

 

Not really. Tough to diagnose choke likage problems over the internet not looking at it.

Thinking about this from another angle.... a rev way up followed by a stall is typical of a BIG vacuum leak- like the PCV or power brake booster line left off. No chance it's anything like that, is there?