The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Carter 3211S Adjustment

I just purchased a carter 3211S that was supposedly rebuilt. It looks to be in good shape, so I installed it on my '57 Chevy 210 with a 235 to replace the old Rochester BC. Once the float bowl was filled with gas, the engine fired right up and idled fairly smooth.. Problem is that it won't do much other that idle. Once I give it any gas, it stubles and either stalls or backfires through the carb. What can I do to get the carb at a baseline for running right? What are the float levels supposed to be? mixture setting? Etc. things that I can look at to help out?

P.S. The engine is stock other than headers and mallory distributor. Ran great with the Rochestor. Just WAY TOO RICH!!

It is used on 60-62 235 ehgines. The foat level is 7/16. The float drop is 1 3/16. Idle jet 1 1/2 turns open initial setting.

Thanks! I'll check that tonight. Once I make sure that is correct I'll adjust the carb. I read in my factory manual to set rpms with the idle speed screw to 450 then adjust the idle jet to achieve max steady vacuum. Then re-adjust the idle speed screw back to 450 rpm. This was for the factory Rochestor BC, so I'm guessing it would be the same for this replacement carb.

Also, I have a vacuum brake bleeder with a gauge on it. Can I attach this to the intake manifold port and read vacuum that way or to I need more specialized tooling?

Alright. I was able to spend some time on it tonight, but made no real progress.. Just have more questions. First I started it and got everything up to operating temperature. Then I set the idle speed screw to 500 rpm. Next I was trying to adjust the idle jet screw for maximum vacuum on my brake bleeder gauge. I'm getting almost 15 psi, but don't know if that is good or bad. The engine still won't come off of idle no matter how gentle I am on the throttle. The first thing I noticed is that the engine still runs even with the idle jet screw turned all the way in..

So I pulled the top off the carb and checked the float..... I have a measurement of 1 1/2 up and 2 1/5 drop!! If 7/16 up and 1 3/16 is the true measurement, then I am way off. It's so far off that I am almost afraid to bend the tabs that much. Please help!!

So I found that I was measuring the from the gasket to the bottom of the float not the top like I should've been.. The float was still off, so I set it correctly. I put it back together but the engine still won't run off of idle. If I keep pumping the pedal I can get it to get higher revs, but I figure that I'm just running off of the accelerator pump fuel because if I leave the pedal down, it just dies. I'm must not be getting any fuel from the main jet, but still can't figure out why the engine is still running with the idle mixture screw all the way in.

Can anyone help with some advice?????? Thanks!

Took the carter off.. Re-installed the Rochester. Runs good again.