Friend at work is building a bucket list toy. 69 Firebird convertible that he cloned into a Trans Am. Guy who did the body and paint was an absolute artist. Car is gorgeous.
My friend also paid some guy who claimed to be a Pontiac specialist to build the engine. Took him two years. Thankfully, it's sound and runs pretty well. Guy ran it on a dyno and sent it to the shop where the body was being done where it was installed. He then asked my thoughts on why the car was hard starting and wouldn't idle. I said I don't know. I'd have to look at it. We get there yesterday after work, pop the hood, everything looks ok with one big glaring problem. It's got one of those Holley Quick Fuels on it with absolutely no choke whatsoever. We started the engine and manipulated the throttle until it got warm and would run on it's own. It wanted to idle at about 1500 RPM.
I shut it down, connected a hand held vacuum gauge and a timing light, turned all four idle mixture screws in and then back out a turn and a half and started it again.
As I did each corner, the vacuum signal became stronger and I was able to close the primary throttle blades to where they belonged. Ended up getting a nice, solid 850 RPM idle with excellent throttle response. Made me feel like a million bucks because I haven't messed with anything with a Holley carb in about twenty years.
My friend also paid some guy who claimed to be a Pontiac specialist to build the engine. Took him two years. Thankfully, it's sound and runs pretty well. Guy ran it on a dyno and sent it to the shop where the body was being done where it was installed. He then asked my thoughts on why the car was hard starting and wouldn't idle. I said I don't know. I'd have to look at it. We get there yesterday after work, pop the hood, everything looks ok with one big glaring problem. It's got one of those Holley Quick Fuels on it with absolutely no choke whatsoever. We started the engine and manipulated the throttle until it got warm and would run on it's own. It wanted to idle at about 1500 RPM.
I shut it down, connected a hand held vacuum gauge and a timing light, turned all four idle mixture screws in and then back out a turn and a half and started it again.
As I did each corner, the vacuum signal became stronger and I was able to close the primary throttle blades to where they belonged. Ended up getting a nice, solid 850 RPM idle with excellent throttle response. Made me feel like a million bucks because I haven't messed with anything with a Holley carb in about twenty years.