Well, I did get the beast running last night. I set the timing at 10 degrees BTDC. This morning when I tried to start it (it was pretty cold outside..in the 20's) I had to pump the snot out of it to start (choke was closed fine). Also, whenever I would hit the gas, it would want to stall out. Almost as though the accelerator pump was bad but it is reman carb and I can see it squirt gas when pushing the throttle). After it warmed up, whenever I hit the gas it would also hesitate and even backfire. I checked the timing and it was still on 10. Also, if I advanced the throttle and held it, it would go up in rpm for a moment then drop back and almost quit. So, the backfiring led me to think perhaps it wanted a different timing so I set it to about 6. That seemed to do better when warm. I will try in the morning when cold and see how that is too. I had adjusted the mixture and idle per the shop manual instructions (low idle to 750).

Is it an issue where I need to find the best timing for it by trial and error? Also, this car had all that pollution crap on it that the previous owner disconnected. It is still disconnected and the unused vacuum hoses plugged. For example, the carbon canister is only hooked up to the gas tank now, the EGR is not hooked up, the vacuum booster is not hooked up. Will putting this back together help it run better?

Also, thinking ahead, the vacuum booster on the brakes is not hooked up to the vacuum tree on the manifold. There are two nipples coming off the brake booster, where does the other one go? Thanks everyone.

Is the vacuum advance for the distributor hooked-up and working.
How about the mechanical advance, does the timing advance as you rev the engine?
DD

It does advance when I hit the throttle. HOWEVER, only when warm. I just tried to run it again. It wouldn't start without ether. Then, when it is cold, it idles perfectly but the minute you hit the gas, it tries to quit. It doesn't matter if you rapidly or slowly open the throttle, it dies. It will then restart by just turning the key (not pushing the gas). Once it warms up, it performs great when increasing the throttle. I sure would hate to spray ether in it every time I need to go and wait 15 minutes for it to warm up. I also noticed that the choke position seems to make no difference in how it performs when advancing the throttle when cold. This is the goofiest car I have ever seen.

It probably goes to the cruise control head, if so equipped.

_________________
'66 Cuda 225/4spd
'66 Dart GT convertible 225/auto
'64 Dart GT 340/4spd

That makes sense, it doesn't have cruise control but this car is so hybridized but that must be what the other nipple is for.

As for the cold start. I also remembered that when cold and advancing the throttle, it would backfire and some flames sometimes came out the carb. It could still be a tad out of time??? However, when warm, that seems to be about the best setting where it's at. My shop manual says to time it per the specs on the under hood sticker. My sticker says to time it at zero degrees...however, the car is 73 while the engine is 78 and the heads 82 and the car has a lot of pollution garbage not present on a 73. I suppose I could inch it closer to zero and try the cold start and maybe after a week have it where it likes it.

My other thought is could there be a vacuum leak at the manifold. I have brushed soapy water all over the area when running warm. However, the manifold and head are of two different metals I think and each has a different cooefficient of linear expansion. Perhaps when cold there is a vacuum leak that closes when warm??? I still am also concerned about all that pollution stuff not hooked up may be causing problems. The vacuum advance hose for the distributor route through an OASC valve. Bypassing it had no effect on its running when warm...don't know about cold.

Did you disconnect and plug the vac advance on the dist whe you set the timing?

-Aaron

Yes, I had the hose to the vacuum advance off and plugged. It is strange how it runs so nicely when warm but it won't start without major effort. I called Holley and they are sending me another reman carb to exchange. They said it is possible the accelerator pump is bad. I do see fuel squirting in the carb when pressing the throttle down (can smell it too). Maybe it just isn't pushing enough.