The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 54 Won't Idle, sluggish

This is my first post, but I have been reading the discussion forums for a couple of years...have been a great help working on my '54 3100, 235 6 cyl.

Something happened while I was driving it yesterday and I'm looking for ideas where to start.

I drove about 3 miles to a friend's house. Truck seemed fine, peppy, smooth, no issues. Parked about an hour, came out, started fine, but as I drove away I felt hesitation and while driving about 45 mph, truck felt sluggish. Made it home, but while in garage, idle was way rough, engine sputtering. Finally died. Got it started quickly and engine revs fine with a few sputters, but barely idles then dies out.

Have about 200 miles on new plugs, wires, points. Fuel pump recently rebuilt and can see gas in glass pump bowl and filter bowl...doesn't seem a problem.

Ideas on where to start looking for the problem?

Thanks!

The guys at this place are going to jump on this one...which is why we're here. Filled up the truck lately, you may have picked up bad fuel.

welcome to the shop, Forever seems like the time of year for carb problems around here - sure sounds like a carb problem anyway, others will chime in

I'd think there might either be a vacuum leak or some bits of junk causing the needle to not seat, so it's flooding the carb

Bill

Just another idea. Is you choke stuck in the closed position?

Im with red58,,,somethin stuck in the needle/seat. Floats sticking? Fuel level too high? Is there gas spewing out from the carb sides,or throttle blade area? Sometimes a light tap (with a 32oz. framing hammer) on the inlet area will dislodge the "culprit".
Marty

Any of the above could be your problem, but you mentioned you have 200 miles on a new set of points. They need to be rechecked because the rubbing block will wear-in to the cam and change the gap (or dwell if you have a dwell meter).

Is it putting out black smoke out the exhaust
(flooding)? It does sound like a fuel problem, I'm not sure what you mean by sputters. Is it missfiring, or coughing back through the carb.
If it is popping back through the carb it probably is not getting enough fuel.

I,m with Waldo on the points. If you did not put grease on the rubbing block it can wear down & cause this or they can slip if the screw was not tight.

My guess is electrical. I'd recheck the points & make sure they're still correct. Please let us know what you find.

Delux54- I really like the specificity of the 32 oz framing hammer (those 28 ouncers are junk for this kind of work)

Thanks tlorber,things always go soooo much better when you have the proper tool for the job . :hammering:

All, thanks for the ideas. I'll take a look this weekend (can't get to it until then) and let you know what I find. Thanks again!

All, I finally had a chance to go out and troubleshoot the problem. Started the truck, it started roughly. Same problem, would not idle and lots of sputtering (not backfires, just hesitated and sputtered when I pressed on the accelerator). Held accelerator half way in and ran it at a level (high) rpm for about 15 seconds then pushed it up to a very high rpm for a couple seconds. Let off accelerator and engine returned to normal idle. Smooth idle and acceleration, no sputters. I'm thinking red 58 and deluxe54panel were on the mark. I am surely overdue for a carb overhaul and maybe I need to plan on that sooner rather than later.