Originally Posted by
Jeff Aronson
Jim,
It may not need a rebuild yet. Here are some questions:
1. Are you running dry gas? Water in the gas will hinder idling.
1. What carb is it? Zenith? Weber?
2. The carboned up plugs tell you it's running pretty rich [unless they're really oily and wet, and then of course, it's oil]. So first try new plugs and see if the car will idle - unlikely but possible
3. I'd suggest gapping the points, but you don't have them. Can't help you with your distributor.
4. Have you checked for a vacuum leaK? With the motor running spray WD-40 around the intake manifold, carb body where it meets the manifold, top of the carb. If you have a Weber, spray around the throttle shaft at the butterfly, too. If the rpm rise, then that's where you have a vacuum leak. The mixture will be screwed up and the car will run either too lean or rich. Given your plugs, I'd suggest it's running rich.
5. If you have a Weber, it's not uncommon for the idle jet to become clogged. They are more sensitive to clogging than the Solex or the Zenith. Remove the choke cable at the connector and open up the top cover [4 screws] and pull it off to one side. The float will come up with it. Look at the carb bowl. Do you see bits of red or brown stuff in the gas? If so, then mop up the gas with a towel. Then take a thin flathead screwdriver and unscrew the two tiny jets, right and left side. One is straight up, the other is angled. They're small brass items - be careful, don't drop them. Then take some carb cleaner and spray through the jet. Reassemble. Then remove the spring loaded mixture screw at the back of the car, and the main jet that is located on the valve cover side of the carb, on the side of the carb body. Spray them and the orifices, too. You have now cleared out the crud that can block the idle jet.
6. If you have a Zenith, then the problem is usually associated with a vacuum leak at the carb body top and carb body. Air is being sucked in and screwing up the mixture. So you fiddle with the mixture, enrichen it, and then it won't idle or run very well. You can sand down the top of the carb [gently!] with a piece of sandpaper and sheet of glass to assure evenness. Reassemble and it should work fine.
Good luck!
Jeff