68 Satellite carb issue

[mr300z87]

Hi all, I am new to this forum and am looking for advice on what I believe to be a carb issue. I have a 68 satellite with a stock 383 4 barrel carter avs carb that I have owned for 18 years. Up until this past summer it's has ran flawlessly but the summer after sitting for 6 months the car developed a really crappy idle and seemed to be popping out the exhaust. I am asking its is carb related because it does not see to be a miss just a low rough idle. It drove ok but seem to stumble at light throttle. Sencodarys open when it is floored.

Just a little more about the engine. It was originally a 1970 2 barrel motor with about 40k the stock casts iron 4 barrel manifold and 4 barrel was added before I got the car. Over the years the engines as had a stock roadrunner cam with new lifters installed, petronics ignighter ignition up grade. I did rebuild the carb 18 years ago when I bought the car. I run stock hp manifolds into dual exhaust. It has not had a complete tune up in some time but usage is very low and was running fine when stored last

My plan is to rebuild the carb but I also have a carter thermoquad and spread bore manifold I could install. Could todays crappy gas have caused this issue. I run ethonal treatment in my boat. My questions is do I rebuild the carb or just replace it?

It is almost winter again here in no so I have some time before cruising season is here again. Most of my engine trouble shooting has be on fuel injected cars so my knowledge of carbs is limited. Any advice is much appreciated.

Mike

 

[Meep-Meep]

I would still check all the basic tune up stuff before messing with the carb. What are the chances of two plug wires crossed? Have you or anyone else pulled some off to check plugs and got them on wrong? Check the firing order then check or change plugs.

 

[mr300z87]

Thanks for the response. But unless someone other than me went into the garage and moved plug wires while I was asleep all is correct with the distributor and plug wires, and I have checked to make sure none of the plug wires are broken or mouse chewed. Also none of the electrical wires seemed broken or shorted. There are no visual signs of a vacuume leak externally on the carb. I do not have power brakes so I know it's not the brake booster. In the last 10 years the car has been driven less than 1000 miles so fuel has been evaporating from the carb a coupe times each year for a long time. Which is why I am leaning towards the carb. Forgot to mention in my original post at cold start (55f degrees outside) and high idle it ran fine, did not start rough idle until after choke came fully off. The exhaust does not smell as rich as it has but not really lean either. I have a rebuild kit and figure it can't hurt to go through the carb. I have heard that the ethanol in today's fuel car wreak havoc on carb seals.

 

[Meep-Meep]

Just trying to hit all the possibilities. I have had issues with the OEM Carters where the leather accelerator plunger looses it's seal against the bore (probably from being dried out). It's also possible that the idle feed restriction got plugged up with muck. I'd still check the plugs or throw a new set in.

 

[oldbee]

Also,check wiring connections at coil.Drove mine up for gas one time(after sitting a long time)& wouldn't start after filling up.-1-strand of wire still attached going to " + " side of coil!!!!!!!! Also, if you put in another leather acc. pump,remember to slightly flare out the lip close to the spring to make it seat better. Small screwdriver works great. Does sound like it could be the carb.(possibly from crappy gas)

 

[mr300z87]

Have not had a chance to look at the car again but I have checked all the obvious. The carb rebuild kit is sitting on the shelf just need to find the time get out there and work on it. Now I have no power in the garage which means no lights. Ahhhhh does it ever end and this weekend is full of kids soccer. Can a carb sit in carb cleaner for too long. As I might be able to do disassembly on Sunday but would be at least the day after tg before I could re assemble?

 

[oldbee]

Probably,would be all right..Probably---NAPA used to have some awesome carb clnr called Pettisol(?) something that would take the gold anodizing of a Holley in a couple hrs..AND make your fingers look like prunes if you didn't wash it right off. AH, the good old days.

 

[mr300z87]

It has been a while since my original post but family obligations and other projects have been in the way of getting the car running. First let me take a step back and describe my engine its a stock 383 (was a 2 barrel) 906 heads, automatic which now has a Mopar Performance RR cam and an AVS carb (1971 LO Performance model). Many years ago the ignition had been converted to pertronix ignitor with their flame thrower coil. I have owned the car for close to 20 years and it has always run good. Since my last post back in Nov I disassembled the carb and soaked in carb cleaner, rinsed, blew out all passages and re assembled using a carb kit from NAPA. The carb seems spotless inside and I followed the directions in the manual to a T. After re installing the carb I still had the miss so I figured a full tune up was in order (probably should have done the first). New cap, rotor, plugs(some were cracked) and wires(checked the firing order 4 time), the idle is now smooth but I have no power under load. In gear the engine bogs and the car barely goes then stumbles and dies. Timing seems OK and I have 15 inches of vacuum at idle. Sorry for the long winded post but I am frustrate and stumped so any advice is greatly appreciated. Car show season is in full swing and I would love to get the car back on the road. Mike

​

 

[mr300z87]

Finally got her running again. After messing around with the original carb and a int the box rebuilt thermoquad, I put an AVS carb I bought on ebay for parts on the car set the timing and she was running great. Actually better than I ever remember. Will be good to get another Mopar out to cruise nights in the coming weeks.

 

[coloradodave]

Glad to hear you got it on the road. If the car is driven that little it's a good idea to use Sta-bil additive in the tank because the gas starts to degrade a lot quicker these days. It's very common to take a carb apart that's been sitting with old gas and find a 'gel' in all the small orifices. Really screws up the idle and low speed circuits.

 

[wannadrag]

Glad to hear you got it on the road. If the car is driven that little it's a good idea to use Sta-bil additive in the tank because the gas starts to degrade a lot quicker these days. It's very common to take a carb apart that's been sitting with old gas and find a 'gel' in all the small orifices. Really screws up the idle and low speed circuits.

X2,they say within a month gas starts to go bad.