Hey guys im kinda new to electronic q-jets but my car since i got it last june has idled at about 1500 rpm. the car has sat a little while i have been fixing it up but now im trying to pass inspection. When I went the first time the kid wouldnt even test it he said the idle was too high for the computers. so i went home and tried to lower the idle via the distributor but if i went anylower than the first setting tthe car ran like crap and felt like it wasnt getting enough spark it wouldnt even start. so i out it back to the 1500 and went back this time the tested it and it failed the emissions but still said the idle was really high. im thinking it might be affecting the at idle test. You guys got any ideas how to get it lower?

 

Yes, figure out what is holding the butterflies off the proper idle position and fix that.

Lowering the idle speed with the distributor? Wrong in so many ways, especially when you're trying to pass emissions!

First, get a timing light. With the engine off, disconnect the flat 4-wire connector that goes from the base of the distributor to the firewall harness (if '82-'86 - if '87, it's a single wire connector). The connector can be hard to see tucked down below the distributor, but you need to find it. After it's disconnected, start the engine. Set the distributor to the proper advance (the value is on the emissions sticker by the radiator or under the hood - usually zero degrees for LG4, 6 degrees for L69), and check it again after tightening the distributor clamp back down. When it is set properly, shut off the engine, reconnect the connector.

Now, you need to figure out why the throttle is being held open. It can be an improper adjustment (usually isn't), a choke that isn't fully opening (very common), or an external problem holding the throttle open (like a messed up throttle cable, dirt in the linkage, carb gasket sticking into the throttle blades, etc.).

 

Thanks for the advice i will be trying this when i get home from work today.

 

I would begin by backing out the idle adjustment screw and see if you can reduce the RPM's that way. If not, then I'd start looking for vacuum leaks.

 

I used an edlebrock intake on my crate 350 and had to grind out the end of the slot in the throttle cable so that the linkage would let the butterfly valves close all the way. I dropped my low rpm by about 200.

 

i was having the same prob with mine... the carb was all gunked up and dirty so when i would tap the throttle to kick off the choke it wouldnt go because the linkage wasnt able to move do to all the nastiness... 3/4 of a can of carb cleaner and that sucker works like a charm now... didnt even have to remove the carb... had the car running so i could see what was hanging up... sprayed cleaner inside and out... good as new now ... oh plus my choke was set a little too tight as well

 

Stop the NASTINESS!!