Re: 83 swb thats been sitting awhile (pics)
 

I don't see any wiring. I'm 90% sure there isn't any to the carb other than the electric choke. I replace some vacuum lines and it seemed to idle a bit before it died. So next week on my days off I will pull air pump and all the vacuum lines involved with is. Then I will replace and vacuum line I can find so I can eliminate vacuum leaks. Then after that I'll try to track down the next issue. Thanks for all the help. I would be at a complete loss if not for this forum. I really want to get this engine running smoothly before I pull the engine to replace gaskets and put on cam, headers, intake.

Re: 83 swb thats been sitting awhile (pics)
 

Update: I've slowly gotten the truck to run better by changing out vacuum lines and this but it will not idle!. I got angry so i took it out on the truck. I got it in drive and went out into the wet grass in a field and whipped a couple donuts. Stupid I know.
But here is where I am at now. I've been replacing and deleting vacuum lines. I pulled all the smog, vacuum lines included. I need to know if these slip fit rubber things are important and if I can just get rid of them and plug straight into the fitting. This picture might make more sense.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...0/DSCN0222.jpg
The missing middle hose went to the valve on the manifold.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...0/DSCN0221.jpg
There is also a hose that loops back around into the same port. wtf?
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...0/DSCN0223.jpg
I hate this stuff and I'm sure you guys find these questions annoying but I am at a lost with getting this thing to idle. Oh and are those circular things mid line necessary?

Re: 83 swb thats been sitting awhile (pics)
 

Now I can rule out the cat being plugged. I cut it off today and it didn't change anything besides its super loud and when running the fumes are STRONG. It sounds like a big cam so its gotta be a vacuum leak right?

Re: 83 swb thats been sitting awhile (pics)
 

Just an observation. For your own personal safety. PLEASE replace this fuel line from the Pump to the Carb with the one piece steel line it came with. Over my long career working on vehicles , I have personally seen vehicles burn to the ground with a fuel leak at his location.
Rubber hoses will not last due the extreme heat.
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x...7/DSCN0223.png

Desert

Re: 83 swb thats been sitting awhile (pics)
 

Every single square body Chevrolet I have owned I have replaced the stock metal line with 3/8" hose and a Fram G2 inline filter & have NEVER had a leak or an issue!!! It's all in the care that you install it with - secure it out of harms way & so that it isn't "flopping" around to get damaged. Use a p-clamp if you have one.
The metal line SUCKS - especially in hotter areas & if you have more under heat than stock as in the case with uncoated headers.

Re: 83 swb thats been sitting awhile (pics)
 

a good number to start with on ur 2 fuel-air mix is 2 1/2 turns.. sounds like vaccume leak but could be fuel pressure at least 5 to 6 pounds to make run .. run a compression check on all 8 see if any is low no more that 20 pounds from highest to lowest.. also if loosing fuel pressure might try loosing the cap on tank cap might be bad but deftnly sounds gas starved or gas overload.. without being there i cant tell one more thing to add when u bypassed the switch be shure ur using a good fuel line that wont breakdown from the crappy eythnal they put in gas now and strong enough where it dont suck together and cut full off

Re: 83 swb thats been sitting awhile (pics)
 

i just seen where u rebuilt the carb.. 2 questions there did the kit have green seals for the xclerater pump.. plunger on top and did u put a new float in it it and set it to cut fuel off at proper height..

Re: 83 swb thats been sitting awhile (pics)
 

Thank You for that.

My only concern is not with any performance gains by temperature. Think of it this way, If you develop a leak here because of a cracked rubber hose , loose mini clamp, or even a leaking filter , you will never know it until it lights off. the engine will still get most of its fuel and run fine. I know you don't believe this but there is a reason that GM made this a steel line.

To have any fuel spraying under the hood with Hot manifolds or headers would be Bad. Even an HEI distributor will light off raw fuel. Please I am not preaching to you guys.

I have been a mechanic for a very very long time and have seen over 20 vehicles totaled because of fires , mostly related to this.

Sorry to steal this thread , I love my trucks as I'm sure you guys do. I surely don't want to loose them because of anything that could have been prevented.

If you guys get a chance please read this article to the end, it may change your thinking on all fluids and there properties.

http://pieforensic.com/articles/arti...cle-fires.html


Now back to the thread at hand....

Desert

Re: 83 swb thats been sitting awhile (pics)
 

I've seen a few vehicles with rubber fuel line at the carb. It says fuel line so I would hope that it can handle fuel. Those clamps are super tight and its only a cheap fix until I get this thing going. This problem has to be the same one that caused my grandpa to stop driving the truck 10 years ago. Something is causing vacuum loss but I cannot pin it down. Could it be electrical? Are there any solenoids or anything that can go bad?

Re: 83 swb thats been sitting awhile (pics)
 

Yeah I remember some green seals in the kit but I don't remember replacing them. The guide I was using did not say to I don't think?

Re: 83 swb thats been sitting awhile (pics)
 

Felt unproductive working on the motor and not getting it to run any better so I decided to change the oil in the rear.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...0/DSCN0224.jpg
Not sure if these numbers mean anything. Counted the teeth and divided. Came out to 3.07xxx. So 3.08?
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...0/DSCN0226.jpg
Painted the cover, not sure why since everything else is still rust.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...0/DSCN0228.jpg

Re: 83 swb thats been sitting awhile (pics)
 

yep 3.08 open... good time to chase down a 3.73 with posi.. or 3.55s

Re: 83 swb thats been sitting awhile (pics)
 

Just a little update for you guys:I didn't give up yet. I haven't worked on the truck at all since coming back to college until this weekend. I went home and my dad said get that truck out of my yard before it becomes permanent. So I went with my grandpa and he bought some new shocks to put on before we put the bed on. I powerwashed all the mold and junk off the bed and we put it on. It was actually easier putting it back on than it was taking off. The truck fired up easily but it still won't idle. I drove it about 3 miles to my grandpas house by throwing it in neutral while going downhill and staying on the gas. It actually drove decent when opened up on the highway. It just won't idle and I'm out of ideas. Hopefully he gets someone to look at it while I'm gone. When I get home I will take more pictures. I'm excited to work on it again but I'm at school so all i can do is look at this forum. haha

Re: 83 swb thats been sitting awhile (pics)
 

How apart did you take the carb?

1.Did you blow out all the passages with carb cleaner? Namely the idle feed passages?
2.Where any of the pitot tubes loose on the air horn? Did you tap them back into place?
3.What did you find in the float bowl when you took it apart? any black particles?
4.Do you have the fuel filter in right way around? Hole toward the exterior of the carb. Black flapper to the inside against the spring?

Don't get discouraged with it, especially since you are absorbed with school. When I was in college, cars took a very far back seat and didn't get much more attention than gas & oil changes during that time unless something actually needed repairing.

Alex.

Re: 83 swb thats been sitting awhile (pics)
 

The bottom section of silver looks to be original or really well done. The roof, however, is not original. I still think it looks great though, original or not. I would re-do the roof as just red and keep the red/silver two tone look. Then drive the wheels off of it!

Re: 83 swb thats been sitting awhile (pics)
 

Just an update, I have no pictures so it is not very exciting but I got it to run and idle. I even drove it down the street and back without it dying so I am pretty excited. Im not sure what did it. Ive rebuilt the carb and it still didn't idle. Last time I was home I ran some seafoam through the brake booster. Still didn't idle. I came home today and messed with the timing and some carb adjustments and now it magically idles. I was just about to pick up an edelbrock but I guess I will give the Q-jet a shot. Tomorrow I will give it a tune up and see what I can do about the awful belt squeal. Pics to come.

Re: 83 swb thats been sitting awhile (pics)
 

Sweet!

Re: 83 swb thats been sitting awhile (pics)
 

Kool project, and nice that you saved that truck.

Re: 83 swb thats been sitting awhile (pics)
 

I've done a full tune up and I thought I was moving along but I went out the next day to start it and it won't idle. I messed with idle settings and timing. Nothing. Next day i go out and it not only idles but it idles at 1500-2000 rpm. This thing is ridiculous. I really want to get a 350 slap an edelbrock on it and call it a day but right now cash flow needs me to get this 305 going for the time being.

Re: 83 swb thats been sitting awhile (pics)
 

Well the q-jet is out. I was getting so frustrated with no idle and running rough. I found a Holley street dominator, edelbrock 1406 and carb spacer and breather for 300. The carb had was bolted on ran, then taken off. Seemed like a decent deal to me. The only thing that worries me is the intake is like spread bore or square bore. seems weird to me. A couple days ago I pulled the inner fenders to clean up and make it easier to work on.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...0/IMG_0190.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...0/IMG_0191.jpg

Today i pulled the old intake. The lifter valley and rockers all looked pretty clean. Looked good to me for a 90k motor that say ten years. I forgot to snap pics. I put the new stuff on and started buttoning things up. Hopefully tomorrow after work I can get a filter, fuel line, and a gasket for the distributor, and find out if the carburetor was the problem. My only worry is I tore off all kinds of vacuum lines and have no idea where they go now. My two main concerns are the deal that taps into the water jacket next to the water neck. It has four prongs for vacuum lines. The other is the fitting that goes into the intake behind the carb. It has three prongs on it. Two are big and one is little. Any suggestions are appreciated.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...0/IMG_0192.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...0/IMG_0193.jpg

Re: 83 swb thats been sitting awhile (pics)
 

No replies but in case anyone is following this, I got it running very smoothly with the new intake and carb. Its so nice to have an engine idle without struggling and no idle. I hooked up what vacuum lines i thought were necessary I'm still confused on a couple. here are some pics.
This T goes to the intake, cruise control?, and the ball in the next picture.http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...0/IMG_0195.jpg
Not sure what this ball does but the hose is broken down and collapsed. I'll replace it if it is important.http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...0/IMG_0194.jpg
Here is the fitting on the intake. If someone can point out where these hoses goes that would be great.http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...0/IMG_0196.jpg
My next task is hooking up the throttle and TV cable. I just have to find the right brackets. I'm unsure of how my cruise control works so Im not sure what I need there at this time.

Re: 83 swb thats been sitting awhile (pics)
 

looks much better
that threaded rod with a hook thats for the cruise diaphram
aluminum piece faceing your carb,holds the vacume for cruise

gona need a breather for the valve cover
you can leave the fittings alone/empty in the water jackets till you find replacements
of course blocking any loose lines to the carb
my Holley pushed the kickdown and throttle cable over
it was extendend,works ok tho

Re: 83 swb thats been sitting awhile (pics)
 

I scratched my ankle while working on the truck last week and then swam in the river. My ankle was triple the size in three days due to an infection. A couple shots in each butt cheek and a bunch of pills and i'm ready to work on the truck again. Got the truck to idle great and I think the timing is close. I'm waiting on the brackets for the tv cable before I drive it back to my garage to do the brakes.
This is the first time this truck has idled on its own in over 10 years! I'm pretty excited to work on it more and get it on the road. Its such a clean truck. I got really lucky to get to work on a 99% rust free straight truck.
Here is a quick crappy cell phone video I made of the truck. Remember this is the same motor that was completely dry of oil when I got ahold of it. Amazingly its held oil for about 9 months now with only a couple of drops here and there.
Anyway here is the video. I was excited but its pretty boring.
Struggling to get the video in my post. heres the link. http://youtu.be/WeGS4s39xgE
The interior needs work! haha

Re: 83 swb thats been sitting awhile (pics)
 

Here it is

Re: 83 swb thats been sitting awhile (pics)
 

nice,i'd bet that feels real good after waiting 10 years

Re: 83 swb thats been sitting awhile (pics)
 

Nice score, good to hear you got it running good.
Look forward to updates, just brought a 84 SB to restore myself

Re: 83 swb thats been sitting awhile (pics)
 

Ive been really plugging away at this truck as of late. I really wish I had taken more pictures along the way. All it lacks is exhaust, a windshield, and decent tires. Here is a short video I threw together in literally 2 minutes. Just to give you an idea of how far it has come. The burnout at the end is with open headers. Enjoy!

Re: 83 swb thats been sitting awhile (pics)
 

Sweet!