I’m having some weird issues with my '68 White car…
I’ve installed a new brake booster and have the vacuum issues pretty well resolved, I think. I have been doing the idle jet/idle speed Dance now for the last week, and thought I had it pretty well dialed in. Lately, though, in the mornings, I’ve had the fast idle work fine, but when kicking it down and putting into gear to back out and drive, the car stalls. The car doesn’t start then, again, unless I stick a screwdriver into the flapper of the carb. It seems to be flooded?
Also, though, once running and all warmed up, I am noticing that the idle speed when out of gear is racing, yet when in gear, it sounds real good. Sometimes, though, the idle speed stays good and I almost stall when in gear because it is so low…
Is this the idle circuit jets being too “open” perhaps? It is wildly swinging from a good idle to a fast idle speed and I can’t seem to get a grasp on it…
I’m assuming you have an autolite 2100 carb, and if so, have you done the paper clip adjustment to the choke? If so, then it’s most likely a vacuum leak somewhere. If not or if you have no idea what the paper clip adjustment is (like me until a few years ago) you’ll never get your carb to run right. Google autolite 2100 choke adjustment and you should run across a web page with a step by step as to how to do the adjustment.
I just thought of something else to check-- the throttle lever can work loose where it attaches to the throttle plate shaft. I had that happen on one of my 2bbls and it caused an erratic idle just like what you describe.
Hmm…OK, I need to further research this paper clip “fix”. Upon reading it, I get confused…but I found it. Thanks for the tip, Yorgle! (and for the other one)
The sequence in which you adjust the choke on a 2100 is the key. Each adjustment is dependent on the one before it being correct. Once you get it, you’ll be amazed at how well your carb “just works” I literally haven’t touched mine in over a year of daily driver use.