The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 54 chevy 235 wont stay running

This engine is in a 49 chevy pickup. After not running for 2 years I noticed rust and junk in the fuel . I cleaned the gas tank real good and thought that stuff was every where and after inspection I found it in the carb , beside the fuel filter . I inspected the plugs and wires and points .Decided to replace it all. Even the ballast resister I replaced. It will start and it idles really smooth and very quiet. Wont stay running it just dies. Start it up again run the RPM's up a bit not too much and with holding at higher RPM's it shuts down . I have a manual choke and I tried chocking it thinking it was starving for gas and it didn't keep it from dying. The carb was re-mfg and earlier I had dismantled it to make sure the float was adjusted right and all the ports were open by spraying carb cleaner through all of them . I cant hear any vacuum leak and dont think there is any leak because it idles so smooth and quiet when it does run for the short duration. Some one with lots of (experiance) SP? might be able help trouble shoot this for me I hope.

If the fuel issue is good. Take the line from the Carb. Put it into a can and crank engine over. Stop and see if fuel is in the can. No ignition just hit the starter. Got fuel? Pump is working. No fuel? Crud from the tank got the pump. Replace or rebuild if you can. Got fuel, good. Test for compression. Two out of three. Check for spark. Got spark? 3 for 3. Now, you can start on the tune up. This chart will be helpful:
http://www.tpocr.com/chevr.html
Get the points set. Set the timing. Start. will it idle? Use a vacuum gauge to set the timing, adjust for max vacuum, then back off about 1 inch mercury. With it at idle, set the idle mix screw to max vacuum. Put on a dwell meter, it will tell you if the points are right. So far so good? Now with it warmed up set the valves. Then with it at idle blip the throttle and watch the dizzy. Did the dizzy move? Yes, good. No? vacuum advance is not working. At this point you can try to rev it up some. Is it smooth? Yes? Done. No? More to look at. Let us know how it works.

I had a similar issue; not sure if yours is the same.

look here

https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1073324#Post1073324

Shop Shark ; I appreciate your imput .Most of this you suggested has been done except compression test and vacuum and timing. When it runs the short 20 seconds or so it is very smoothe and quiet . Check what I said in my post again . It will take a while to check your suggested items but I will sertanly do it . Have to get a vacuum guage and a buddy to help me . Easier that way. When I find any thing out I will post it. Thanks again.

Shop Shark what is a dizzy lol, I never heard of this term before. My x-wife is dizzy .

Dizzy normally means distributor..at least in my parts. lol Sometimes if ignition coils are bad they will just plain die when they get hot...and once they cool off they work fine again. I'd get a new set of points, condenser, and coil....and since the carb has been sitting with fuel in it for 2 years...maybe get a new one of those to. TJ