So two days ago I had my car running really good. Timing was all in at 34 degrees and base was 22 degrees. Idled quite well revved nice and clean. Well today I was going to drive it for the first time and started it up. Keep in mind I didn't touch anything from two days ago. I warm it up and it won't idle anymore, exhaust smells bad, its backfiring every once in a while through the exhaust now. I have just about had it. I had it running perfectly. I have a 650 dp carb, points style dizzy with the crane conversion kit to electronic. all my plug wires were on right. When I shut it off there was some steam coming out of the carb which it didn't do this two days ago.

What went wrong?

 

It's a carb/fuel pressure problem. The "steam" is gasoline vapor when the carb drips fuel on the floor of the intake.
Make sure it isn't just some trash in the carb float valves by clamping off the fuel to the carb and running both the front and back halves of the carb out of gas and restart. If that doesn't fix it, check your fuel pressure to the carb.

 

The gas in the tank is almost 2 years old. But, It ran perfect two days ago.
Will try that though.

 

Anyone else?

 

Put in fresh gas, along with a can of detergent gas additive.

Replace your fuel filter(s).

Recheck float levels.

Old gas has this nasty habit of seeming to run well while it's running, while gumming up things.

"Steam" coming out of the carb after shutting it off isn't all that unusual.

 

I will do those things as well. Do you suggest maybe changing my plugs? What about cleaning the needle and seat like suggested above? If so what would I clean it with?

 

Get a cheap set from Walmart to use while tuning the carb and timing. Maybe $10 tops. Trying to adjust a carb to a smooth idle with carboned over plugs is almost impossible.

 

Any luck? I forgot to mention in the PM, but yea, a new fuel filter is a very good idea.

 

Well last night I got some things accomplished. I sifond the gas from the tank, replaced the fuel filter, replaced old fouled plugs with new ones, took the carb off and took it apart and cleaned it and blew out all the orphises. When I drained the float bowls, a big ol' chunk of debris came out of the primary float. Before I put the carb back on, I'm going to adjust the exposure of the transfer slot on the bottom of the carb. Do you know how to adjust the secondaries? I only know how to do the primaries with the idle screw. How much of the transfer slot is exposed? Is there a transfer slot on each barrel of the carb? I haven't started the car yet because I didn't pick up any premium gas yet.

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/carb...djustment.html

Chunks of stuff in the fuel bowl rarely helps it run better. Hopefully you took the needle/seat apart and cleaned them thoroughly.

Are you running the sintered filters in the fuel bowl inlets?

 

I only replaced the fuel filter towards the rear of the car. That is the only filter I have.

 

You need the sintered filters and springs in each bowl inlet. Holley will not honor their warranty without them, as an example.

 

Could you get me a link or pn possibly? You need one for each float bowl?

 

I just picked up the filters at a regular parts store. The springs might be more difficult to find.