PLZ HELP chevy 350 quadrajet, Unilite distibutor. WONT IDLE IN GEAR

[down4thakrown]

i found out the the volt meter needle wasnt all the way connected to the wire so it ended up the ground and ignition module are ok. so i move the all the wires over 1 spot opposie way of points to see what happens and didnt start. so i moved them back checked the firing order it was right, then started it up and.........back to the same way it was runnin before, idle screw all the way in, timing at 35* and runnin at 1400 rpms so i just did the stare down and stood there looking at it a few moments then i seen this: there looks to be a gap inbetween intake and heads, then i notice a light smoke lurking that area but i cant tell if its coming from there so i hose it down with carb cleaner and it doesnt change much. so i keep staring then i notice these two little holes in the back of the carb that are right next to the bolts for the carb/intake and i put my finger over one and it changes the wheezing noize iv been hearing and thought it was normal. and when i put my finger somewhat under nieth the hole the weezing goes down a whole lot and i do the other side and i can hardly hear it. and when i spray it with carb cleaner then idle goes way up. i know the gasket is on right. because i checked. unless the side with the the bigger hole goes in the front.i think i got the wrong gasket for the carb. or somthing you can see where the air has been leaking on the gasket like the gasket isnt right.

 

[pauly383]

That black in the gap on heads and intake , thats the gasket .

What intake is that ? What gasket for the carb ?

Sometimes square and spreadbore dual pattern intakes leak if the right gasket or shim isn't used .

Its usually the other way around though , holley or edelbrock on q-jet manifold that does it .

Try the thin gasket with the q-jet gasket on top of that .

Also , I have sprayed paint on the gasket , and while still tacky put it on and it hepled .

 

[down4thakrown]

i dont think thats a gasket this is a pic right next to it.
i dont know when i the guy built my engine i asked him if he'd put a aluminum intake and he said its an extra 115$ so i thought it was a good deal thinkin im gettin atleast a wiend or edelbrock or somthing namebrand. but i get this no name pos.
whats the other way around? the guy gave me this thin piece for the carb but i could of swore he said it was for the afb's and performers. maybe its for the q/j

 

[pauly383]

When you buy a quadrajet , you are supposed to get a thick gasket , thats what they take .

Where the intake and the heads meet , in that pic , use a something thin like a piece of wire and feel in there , you will feel the gasket . Theres no way thats open to the lifter valley .

Maybe tighten the intake bolts a little bit , carefully just real hand tight , not torqued or anything .

 

[down4thakrown]

i used the only gasket it came with. its like an 8th inch thick. should i turn it around so the side with the bigger opening goes to the front?

 

[pauly383]

Go to Autozone , and get the thick gasket , its like 2 bucks , and its thick , like a small spacer . Put that on top of your gasket .

 

[down4thakrown]

i hope this fixes it.

 

[pauly383]

I hope so too , otherwise your buying beer and I'm coming over

 

[down4thakrown]

lol, im just about to that point. i just went to checkers and all they had was the same one im using. i'll try autozone. is the side with the bigger opening suppose to go in the front?

 

[pauly383]

Skinny up front , wide out back . Like this pic of the mid 70's to 86 , available here : http://www.carburetion.com/Quads/r4base.asp
These come with most purchased Quadrajets , and should be available seperately if you find the right counterguy , I have bought them , and can probably pull my other carb box out of mothballs and get you one if you can't find it .

And check this out http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/quadidle.html

 

[down4thakrown]

thats the one i have. and been using.

 

[pauly383]

That thick ?

OK , go get a thin gasket and put it under that one , since your intake is unknown .

 

[down4thakrown]

well dunno how thick but it looks just like that one.

 

[down4thakrown]

That thick ?

OK , go get a thin gasket and put it under that one , since your intake is unknown .

but i think the vaccuum leak is coming from inbetween the gasket and carb.

 

[pauly383]

Try a new one and don't overtorque the gasket . The thick one has plastic bushings on the bolt holes , you snug it up real good and thats it , in a pattern like a 4 lug wheel .

 

[down4thakrown]

pic of carb with gasket and with out, notice green, and pic of the intake.

 

[pauly383]

Try inverting the gasket then , so that side is on the other .

Otherwise it looks correct to me , and the intake is a spreadbore .

 

[down4thakrown]

i dont think it will work the other way because it looks like the gasket will interfere with the four barrels. i dunno what to do now.

 

[pauly383]

I didn't mean front to back , I meant side to side .......... Just bolt it back on .

Have you found TDC and rechecked the firing order yet ?

 

[down4thakrown]

i rechecked the fireing order and thats right. im pretty sure its not the timing after seeing this. it would run fine when the timiing is set betweeen 4-8*. as long as i got my foot on the gas. and when i rev it up it sounds real crisp and good but it just wont idle and stay running in gear. im pretty sure this is the problem. i can actually hear the wheezing of the air goin through it over my headers.