How do I repair a 1982 Chevy 350 motor with a 4 bbrl. Rochester carb that stalls below 1900 RPM's?

Question

My 1982 Chevy Caprice with a 350 (4 bbrl.) gas motor was in storage for 4 years. The car ran the day I put it into storage but now immediately stalls unless I keep the engine above 1900 rpm. Even when I rev the motor above 1900 rpm, the engine will periodically lose rpms and I have to gas it to keep the car running.

When I took it out of storage, I changed all of the fluids, drained and replaced the gas, and checked the plugs (a little black). I checked the hoses and they all seem fine (no cracks). At 3000 rpm, the engine runs fine with occasional clouds of white smoke coming out of the tailpipe. Can anyone help? Thanks!

Answer 1

The carb is probably gunked up. It needs to be torn down and cleaned and a rebuild kit put in it. If the car sat for 4 years I wouldn't rev it up too high.  You should drive it pretty easy till every thing loosens back up.

Answer 2

    Vacuum leak? listen for hissing , from hoses going to manifold, below carb. 4 years is long enough to gunk up carb, alright, but I'd try some fuel system cleaning additive , before taking it apart. Make sure the choke isn't sticking shut, or open. Here's a trick, which will sometimes dislodge debris from carb orfices. get a towel, balled up. remove air cleaner. rev engine up, use the towel to MOMENTARILY fully block the carb inlet. This will cause high vacuum in the higher parts of carb, and may suck out what is blocking jets.

Answer 3

could be a number of things. check timing, fuel filter, on rochester carbs you can buy a rebuild kit.