1973 dodge charger idle issues

[rainman160]

Hello I have a 1973 dodge charger that I had to change the head gasket on.

After doing all of that correctly we found that the car would not run correctly without 40 degrees advanced.

I found that it had a bad carburetor so I replaced it with a new stock replacement. (2bbl)

I set the transfer slot before I put it on.
I reset the distributor and was able to get it start and it had about 23 degrees advanced (with vac advanced off and caped) no matter what I do I cannot get the initial timing below that degrees of timing. And would love any help or suggestions.

 

[pnora]

What engine? Sounds like you have a bad vacuum leak.

 

[rainman160]

What engine? Sounds like you have a bad vacuum leak.

318 we checked by running propane around the manafold gasket and there was no increase in rpm

 

[pnora]

318 we checked by running propane around the manafold gasket and there was no increase in rpm

What gaskets did you use on the intake?

 

[rainman160]

What gaskets did you use on the intake?

Corked with a rtv coating

 

[pnora]

Corked with a rtv coating

Side gaskets.

 

[rainman160]

Side gaskets.

Fel-pro with rtv

 

[pnora]

Fel-pro with rtv

Well Fel-Pro make many kinds. Are they steel or paper side gaskets?

 

[rainman160]

Well Fel-Pro make many kinds. Are they steel or paper side gaskets?

Steel

 

[pnora]

Steel

Why was the head gasket replaced? Thats not a common failure. Did it run OK prior to the head gasket replacement?

 

[rainman160]

Why was the head gasket replaced? Thats not a common failure. Did it run OK prior to the head gasket replacement?

When I bought it they pervious owner took it to a shop to be rebuilt. They messed up the installation and the head gasket had a puncture in it. It would still run and was for the most part running good even with coolant running through the block.

 

[pnora]

When I bought it they pervious owner took it to a shop to be rebuilt. They messed up the installation and the head gasket had a puncture in it. It would still run and was for the most part running good even with coolant running through the block.

So you have never seen it running good?

 

[rainman160]

So you have never seen it running good?

Yes I have.

 

[WileERobby]

Did you set your distributor off #1 TDC compression ? What does your vacuum gauge read ?

 

[pnora]

Yes I have.

Well the carburetor did nothing to fix it. I would start with a compression test.

 

[rainman160]

Did you set your distributor off #1 TDC compression ? What does your vacuum gauge read ?

Yes I did ported is at 0 manafold vac jumps around all over the place.

 

[WileERobby]

Is the distributor indexed ? Is it 180 degrees off ?

 

[rainman160]

Is the distributor indexed ? Is it 180 degrees off ?

The distributor is good. If it was 180 degrees off it would not run at all.

 

[pnora]

The distributor is good. If it was 180 degrees off it would not run at all.

I guess you have it figured out.

 

[1STMP]

Maybe this will help. Still sounds like
you've got a vacuum leak.

Did you run the propane under the intake on top of the valley pan
instead of just down both sides?
Also check carb to intake gasket,
plus any, and all vacuum hose
connections, open (uncapped)
ports, or cracked lines.
How do the brakes feel? Could be
a problem with the booster as well.