The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Having problems with My 216

I have had a hard time getting My 216 to run good ever since i got it 2 years ago.
Tried to go for a ride yesterday, first time this year 😅and it was hopeless.
When the engine is idling and i press the gass pedal, it pops trough carb and almost stalls. But if i have a little bit choke on, it revs very nice and easy but blows a little Black smoke. Seems like it is running lean without choke? Or vacuum leak? What do you think? Im going to see if i can find out something tomorrow. So hope anyone here have some
Advise before i start 😂

Fresh gas for starters.

What have you done to it since you got it 2 years ago?
Points?
Condenser?
Spark plugs?

I got fresh gas in it. It got new distributor CAP, rotor, plugs, plug Wires and overhauled carb with new gaskets and acc pump. Timing seems to be right on also.

I have also adjusted the valves. Opened the carb again today. Didnt find anything obvious. Cleaned it and put it back together. No change at all. Tried to check for vacuum leak But Didnt find any of that either. Need some advise for further investigation. It idles very good, But when i try to rev it it pops and backfires and almost stalls. With 1/2 choke on, it revs perfect But idles alittlebit rougher.

Compression test?

Jon.

I have not done a comp. test yet. Will do that!

Is the Vacuum advance working?

Not 100% sure, But I think so. When i rev the car with choke on, it moves AS it should. I have also tried to suck on the vacuum line, and it seems to hold vacuum.

Here is a quick video. Dont mine the belt squeal.
But in the start of the video i try to rev it without choke, and then i pull the choke on so you can here a different and then i take the choke of again towards the end of the video. You can clearly hear it is much happier with choke But why? I still kinda think its ignition related But dno what😂🤦🏻‍♂️

Adding choke strongly suggests a fuel issue .

Accelerator pump
Power valve
Jet or drilling Blockage
Missing ball bearing .

Points?

I was also thinking fuel issue, But cant find any problems. But im gonna change carb and see if the problems Get better or Worse.

I did not find the exact points on rockauto. So i have not Changed them yet

Long shot, but if you have vacuum wipers, check to see if that system leaks. Take a propane torch and shoot some propane around the carb area, carb cleaner could do it to and see if there are leaks there. If you have a rochester B replace it with a carter YF, compression test should tell you something or eliminate a cause.

Just found out why my 216 is running like %^&@. The carb. insulator was cracked, so much so that it was sucking air. This was after rebuild, I did not notice the crack. It expanded after torquing down. Doc

Do you have a vacuum gauge? Find out what vacuum you are pulling at idle.
Do you get a decent spark from the spark plugs?
You need to do more testing.
Jumping down the rabbit hole of throwing parts at your truck to find the magic bullet is not the best way to go.

That will do it! When you order one make sure you get the right size.

I would bet 52 Carl's last nickel that you have a vacuum hiccup somewhere........Joe

My last nickel just got spent on an unexpected 235 rebuild, but thank you for obligating my hard earn cash to perpetuate one of your vices, vicariously through me. I'm always here to help.

OP, Check to make sure that the small hole in the carburetor base lines up with the hole in the gasket.

Could the probleme be My spark plugs?😅. I bought some of rockauto last year. I use motocraft sp476 resistor plugs. Heard now that i should never use resistor plugs on these engine. I just drove the car around town now with a little choke, and it runs perfect with choke As said earlier. Pulled the plugs and they all are pitch Black with soot.

Who was the "expert" who advised against resistor plugs? If he had one more brain cell, that would make two he could tub together!
Jerry

Motocraft in a Chevrolet?! Blasphemy, I say.
Regardless of the likelihood of infecting your Chevrolet with Fword rust mites, wrong spark plugs won't cause heavy soot. Running an engine with the choke closed trying to overcome a carburetor or vacuum leak issue certainly will.
Find your vacuum leak.

I recently had a similar problem. Mine turned out to be the Bakelite insulator at the carb base. I pulled it and it crumbled. I had to use some sticky to get the crumbs out of the intake. Installed a solid insulator and it runs good now. I hope this helps.