The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks 65 short stepside 230 carb problems

Picked up a 65 short stepside this weekend in central Oregon and had some major carb problems on the way back to Canada. Ran fine yesterday and most of today. Just outside of Everett Wa. it started hessitating and I suspected low fuel as the gauge did not work. Shortly thereafter it got progressively worse to the point of only running with the choke on. It seemed to get better if I pulled over and let it idle for a few minutes but within 3-4 minutes it was back to running crappy. Just managed to limp it into the border where it sits waiting for customs clearance. I suspect I have carb issues and possibly icing. Any thoughts?

Sounds like icing. I'm not familiar with that engine, but the symptoms sound like a problem I had years ago after I put a header and an aftermarket air cleaner on a 4-cyliner. I've never had the problem on any other engine/vehicle, but it sure was a hassle when it was cold & foggy.
Can you rig up a shroud around exhaust manifold and a tube to the air cleaner? Didn't these engines have that kind of thing originally?

cm

Icing can be caused by a vacuum leak. Try tightening the mounting studs and carb bowl screws. Also make sure any rubber vacuum lines are not cracked,broken or not attached. It may need rebuilding and gasket replacement.

Forgot to add that the truck sat for 22 years and the owner just started driving it in the last couple of weeks. The plugs,wires and fuel pump were replaced. There was a bit of a stumble off idle but besides that the truck ran fine. No problems cruising 65-70 mph for most of the way. The first 100 miles on Saturday was warm and sunny. Sunday was rainy and colder the farther north we drove, hence the icing thought. Tried some Seafoam to clear any dirt or sticking parts but did not help.

fuel filter??? check all vaccum lines, check timming. all i can think of right now.


I picked up a 65 6months ago from kennewick washington, guess i got lucky as mine ran good all the way home.

I would go with the fuel filter first and then maybe the fuel pump. Maybe putting out good pressure but not enough flow for the freeway speeds. Now if it was a fleetside that would be a whole another can of worms.
Tom

Well it turns out because the truck has sat for at least 22 years, the carb was filling up with junk from the tank. Thanks to burgundybolt for the help today in relocating to a safer place along with the troubleshoot on the side of the road. Took the carb apart this evening and ordered a rebuild kit. Going to clean the tank when I get it home. Thanks all for the word advise.