Running Rich

[steve from staten island]

This is the second rebuilt 2 barrel i have on my stock 383 and no matter i cannot get it to stop running rich. The vacuum gage is steady with only the slightest moment of around 18. Could it still have a vacuum leak? There is not many places it could be leaking. Could there be a slight intake manifold leak? Im out of ideas. I pulled one plug and it was fouled, I'm pulling the rest tomorrow

 

[69L48Z27]

Rich should not be a vacuum leak. Go through the carb and make sure everything is set right. You might want to lower the float and try leaning out the idle circuit.

Without being there it's hard to diagnose. Could be a handful of things.

 

[Moparstyle]

A intake leak will usually make it run lean have you checked float level or if your vacuum advance is working on your distributor i would also check fuel pressure

 

[PurpleBeeper]

These guys make good points. Making sure the float isn't set too high and/or the fuel pressure isn't too high & just forcing fuel past the float is a good place to start.
1. How do you KNOW it's running rich?
2. How is (are) the plugs fouled?

 

[khryslerkid]

Make sure the choke is completely open when hot. Could be set too strong when cold.

 

[snakeoil24]

a choke will foul plugs so fast you might never catch it. Install at least two new plugs on either bank. LOCK THE CHOKE OPEN. Then start the car right away. drive the car a few miles and come back and let car cool. If the plugs are still fouled then you have a problem with float level or accelerator plunger is leaking into intake. In order to find this you have to lock out he choke right before you start it up. It will be a tuff start but you will need to do this to find the cause.

 

[WileE]

The exhaust crossover may be blocked up. What manifold is on, has it been off & the crossover checked ?

 

[Ski 61701]

In addition to what others have said, check your plug wires with an ohm meter make sure they are good. I had a brand new set once that I decided to ohm out, and I had a wire about 2 feet long that ohm'd out almost 10k when it should'v been 500 ohms. So throw that into carb out of whack, plug wires too much ohms, plugs wrong heat range and there is your prob.
To check for vacuum leaks use an unlit propane torch and go over carb base and intake flange to find leaks without damaging painted surfaces

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

Steve,are there any adjustment screws on that carb?Been so long I forget

 

[Bill Monk]

Taking a look at the plugs will tell you a lot but I doubt it's a vacuum leak, as others have said, that usually results in a lean condition + if you are holding a steady vacuum of 18 you can pretty much rule that out