The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Engine stalling at low throttle

Hi! I have a problem that I'm not sure what do to about. I've found that at very, very low throttle (the barely-pushing-the-pedal in stop and go traffic kind) my engine wants to sputter and die. It idles just fine, and at higher throttle it goes ahead and picks up and runs normally. I've tried adjusting the ratios on the carb, but haven't had any luck. I have a 350 engine and non-points ignition system. Thanks for any advice!

a bad vacuum advance would give those symptoms

Bill

Also you might try advanceing the spark a little & richening up the idle jets.

Sorry, i forgot to mention i have an electric distributor.

ah - you did say non-points ignition, my miss ... so what bender says, try more advance

Bill

Maybe the accelerator pump?

chicklin, that's what I was thinking also.

Ok, i will check these things tomorrow night when i have some time. Timing i can do, not sure how to diagnose/fix the accelerator pump on the carb.

for a start on the pump, watch down the carb throat [engine off] as you tweek the throttle linkage, should see an immediate squirt of gas - if not or it seems a "delayed reaction" open the carb and pull out the piston and see if the leather/rubber sleeve is deteriorated

Bill

I probably should have put this in one thread, but i had an overheating issue yesterday. Could the timing be off far enough to cause both these problems?

Ok, checked the accelerator pump, and it looks ok. I have a 4 barrel carb, and the front two give a little squirt of gas. Didn't have time to mess with the timing, since there's not much daylight left when I get in from work. Will try to find time tomorrow.

Ok, Pulled out a timing light and a engine gas analyzer and got my timing and fuel/air mixture right. the problem is mostly gone now. Thanks for the help everyone!