1977 Chevy C10 known as SharkBite

[77ChevySharkBite]

Yes it was a cold start.

[Sodell]

I think you are describing a backfire..

[77ChevySharkBite]

Hmm......how do I solve that backfire though?

[Sodell]

Is your choke coming on when you start it, when it is cold? And when you say you revved it up are we talking almost full on throttle?

[77ChevySharkBite]

Yeah my choke is working when I start the truck. No not a pedal to the floor on the throttle just a simple tap on the gas pedal.

[77ChevySharkBite]

Okay, so went outside in the nice cold weather at least for us Texas folk, let it warm up just drove it around the neighborhood. When I try to put any sort of load on the truck it's like it sputters and struggle and you can audible hear it. It will run and you can give it gas but it doesn't run like it should I can tell that. It idles smooth and fine without a beat only when it's revved or driving and trying to give it gas it sputters/struggles to go so any suggestion guys?

[knomadd]

Check for vacuum leaks. Make sure all your hoses are connected, not cracked, and any plugs are sealed and report back.

[77ChevySharkBite]

Well I decided to try something in which I thought of might been the source all along. I believe I initially had it plugged up to the right of the PCV port which I think is the non-emissions controlled, or intake vacuum I believe?

Well I went and switched it to the other port which I believe is the emissions controlled ported vacuum which is carb operated please correct me if I'm wrong, but not it's a millions time better still has a little sputter but I think if I advance it a tad more that will solve the issue. It's also idling a whole lot better and smoother.

[Claytona08]

Glad to hear you got it running!

[knomadd]

Check your timing again before you move your distributor. It sounds like you've either got a vacuum leak somewhere or your timing is off. Your distributor clamp may not have been tight enough and your timing might have changed. If your timing is where you set it last, adjust it no more than 2 degrees in one direction and see how it does. If it's worse, go 2 degrees in the other direction (2 deg. past the original setting). If it got better, but not great, try 2 more degrees... let us know what you find out.

Do you have any other issues with it? It's hard to diagnose without being there so the more info you can provide, the better.

[77ChevySharkBite]

That's really the only issue actually. Because before I switched the ports when I would go for a heavy rev it would backfire in other terms and when I would actually go to drive it it just would struggle to go and sputter. Once I switched the ports I could rev it fine no issues, and when I went and drove it, it still sputtered a little but I could lay it to the floor and it would handle it and not skip a beat.

I know it's my timing for sure, so hopefully tomorrow I can get it running good and warmed up and advance it 2 more degrees because I think if I can do that it'll run wonderful, because like I said when I swapped the ports it ran fine and idled a whole lot smoother.

I'm happy with the way it's running right now but I think advancing it a tad bit more would perfect the truck running.

[knomadd]

Sounds good. Don't feel like you have to stick with 2 degrees. It's just a good way to judge how the change helps, if you're close to begin with. Also, it might like 1 degree of advance better than 2, if you're that close to the ideal timing for your engine. I'd still try 2 and see how it handles. I just don't want you to think you have to do it that way.

Good luck!

[77ChevySharkBite]

Yeah I understand Duane! Thanks for the advice man!! Going to maybe try and get it tuned in nice and then I guess I'll just have to figure out some other side project to do

[Sodell]

Korwin, make sure you drive it around for a bit and get everything good and warm before checking your timing, but I would still make sure you no vacuum leaks.

[77ChevySharkBite]

Oh yeah definitely I make sure that it's good and warmed before I do any kinds of adjustment.

[77ChevySharkBite]

Well I have claimed victory!! I advanced it just a tad once it was good and warm and man does this baby scream now. There's still a few kinks I think I have to figure out is occasionally once i've really laid into it, it will bog down but then run fine thinking maybe after I step on it takes a decent amount of fuel away, and then the idle is kind of trippy too. I'm also saying the cause is because the truck doesn't have a true full tank of gas so that could be a bit of the issue too

[77ChevySharkBite]

Well guys I have good news but I also have some bad news.

Good news is I have a new job that will be good for buying truck parts, and working a lot more but bad news is i'll be working 7 12's for a month straight which means no real work on the truck anytime soon. So its probably going to be garaged for a good while.

[rs74]

Originally Posted by 77ChevySharkBite

Well guys I have good news but I also have some bad news.

Good news is I have a new job that will be good for buying truck parts, and working a lot more but bad news is i'll be working 7 12's for a month straight which means no real work on the truck anytime soon. So its probably going to be garaged for a good while.

Money is good. Especially when you are working on these old squares. We will be here when you get back to it.

[chevybuilder18]

Nice! I don't mean to be discrimitive to the edelbrock carbs but I hear a lot of people have issues with it back firing through the carb, if you got a timing leak, it could also mean your vacuum hoses are colapsing, the stiffer hoses is what I would use especially with the set up you have now. And make sure your lines don't have kinks in them. The fact that you can advance the dizzy and it get better is scary, I have Always retarded timing to get rid of the spark knock or back fire

[knomadd]

I don't remember reading that his engine knocked or backfired, so I don't think I'd be concerned about advancing the timing. If it was mentioned and I missed it, I apologize.

Korwin, It sounds more like the carb wasn't getting enough fuel since you said it ran out of gas and you didn't put in much fuel when it started running again. It might still be more than a fuel starvation issue though, but we won't know for sure until you get it filled up and drive it around a little.

Congrats on the job! I hope you're able to save up quickly and get this thing back on the road soon.

[chevybuilder18]

Originally Posted by knomadd

I don't remember reading that his engine knocked or backfired, so I don't think I'd be concerned about advancing the timing. If it was mentioned and I missed it, I apologize.

Korwin, It sounds more like the carb wasn't getting enough fuel since you said it ran out of gas and you didn't put in much fuel when it started running again. It might still be more than a fuel starvation issue though, but we won't know for sure until you get it filled up and drive it around a little.

Congrats on the job! I hope you're able to save up quickly and get this thing back on the road soon.

I agree either it gets not enough or to much. People mistake this problem with timing issues a lot. The jetting may be a tad to lean

[77ChevySharkBite]

Hey fellas, sorry just responding to everyone. I haven't ran the truck lately but last time I did it was running without missing a beat no sputter or backfiring through it so I think its solved for now until I do something new

Right now I have mine and the future Mrs wedding to pay for so once that's taken care of she knows I want to finish the truck but we also want to buy a house so i'll start buying the expensive stuff and then go for the little not so expensive later.

I got 3 weeks left for this job then i'll have a couple days off and then i'll be out for 2.5 months, I thank you guys for all the support and advise y'all have given me I greatly appreciate it, the project will be completed one day just at a slightly slower pace.

[chevybuilder18]

Congrats to the misses man! Rome wasn't built in a day and I understand I've gotta wait for my GED test than I can start major things. Plan on going to lincoln tech they got a performance aftermarket and mechanics thing going on there and its only a trade school, but I plan on taking ole quicksilver to indianapolis with me. I aint going without it lol. Anyways man congrats again glad the trucks running good. It may have just been the heat riser for the intake that's plugged off, coarse you live in a hot state but the cold may have stumped some fuel atomization up

[rs74]

Originally Posted by 77ChevySharkBite

I got 3 weeks left for this job then i'll have a couple days off and then i'll be out for 2.5 months

I am being a little nosey and maybe I missed it but what job did you take that has you out for 2.5 months. Drilling rig or something?

[77ChevySharkBite]

Sorry haven't really been checking in but I'm still alive and here actually just relaxing before I start up on the next job.

Roy, I'm a helper right now in the chemical plants and I do turnarounds with my father in law and we travel. I'll be leaving next week for Louisiana and that's where I'm going to be for 2.5 months.