Problem/symptoms/solution found!

[ksurfer2]

I had been struggling with a slowly worsening issue with my car. It has been running like crap, very hard to start and would not idle. I could keep it running at idle, but would immediately die when I put it in gear. When it would start it would rev way up to about 3,500rpm and then die. I could get it to keep running by feathering the throttle. Even then it was hard to keep running. I would touch the gas pedal and there would not be much response and after a delay of a second or two, it would rev way back up again. Without constant attention on the gas pedal, it would die. I had not touched timing or other carb settings. It sounded like a vacuum leak. However, I don't have vacuum running any accessories....no power brakes, no vacuum advance on the distributor. All the vacuum ports in the carbs are plugged. One or two of the vacuum plugs looked like they were cracked, so I replaced them....no change. I was about at my wits end and ready to "phone a friend" for any type of suggestions when I noticed some signs of blow-out from under the carb plates on the intake (the carbs spit a couple of times while I was chasing the issue). I pulled the plates off, put a thin layer of RTV down and reassembled. Now it starts easy and idles like a champ. Should there have been some sort of gasket or sealer here when I got the intake from indy?

 

[RemCharger]

I had been struggling with a slowly worsening issue with my car. It has been running like crap, very hard to start and would not idle. I could keep it running at idle, but would immediately die when I put it in gear. When it would start it would rev way up to about 3,500rpm and then die. I could get it to keep running by feathering the throttle. Even then it was hard to keep running. I would touch the gas pedal and there would not be much response and after a delay of a second or two, it would rev way back up again. Without constant attention on the gas pedal, it would die. I had not touched timing or other carb settings. It sounded like a vacuum leak. However, I don't have vacuum running any accessories....no power brakes, no vacuum advance on the distributor. All the vacuum ports in the carbs are plugged. One or two of the vacuum plugs looked like they were cracked, so I replaced them....no change. I was about at my wits end and ready to "phone a friend" for any type of suggestions when I noticed some signs of blow-out from under the carb plates on the intake (the carbs spit a couple of times while I was chasing the issue). I pulled the plates off, put a thin layer of RTV down and reassembled. Now it starts easy and idles like a champ. Should there have been some sort of gasket or sealer here when I got the intake from indy?
View attachment 1425365

Sealing that would be more the end user technicians problem.

 

[Kern Dog]

Stating the obvious......
You didn't use a base gasket between the manifold and the carburetors?

 

[ksurfer2]

Stating the obvious......
You didn't use a base gasket between the manifold and the carburetors?

Between the manifold and the carbs....yes, there are gaskets. The plates shown in the pic I attached came installed on the manifold. The leak was between those plates and the manifold, not those plates and the carbs.

 

[ksurfer2]

Sealing that would be more the end user technicians problem.

Yup.....I know that (now).

 

[Fran Blacker]

Think they should've sent them loose or a sticker "no gaskets". The old adage assume nothing.

 

[Nxcoupe]

Sealing that would be more the end user technicians problem.

Sorry, but I disagree. If it's the end user's responsibility, then it should be separated in the packaging and loose. It should also come with a gasket.

OP, read on the package the silicone came in and verify it is gasoline resistant, as most are not. It will swell and repeat the same issue. It's happened to me.

 

[dvw]

I've used RTV or gaskets. The RTV eventully gets eaten up by fuel. The plates come loose with gaskets. Currently it has gaskets with the attachment bolts held with blue Loctite. So far so good.
Doug

 

[Nxcoupe]

I've used RTV or gaskets. The RTV eventully gets eaten up by fuel. The plates come loose with gaskets. Currently it has gaskets with the attachment bolts held with blue Loctite. So far so good.
Doug

This^ is what I'd do. Make a gasket and then use loctite.