Dells a pissin and a poppin

Say it isn't so! I thought Dellortos came down from on high and were blessed as the Saints! Not like those crappy Webers LOL!

Seriously, sounds like you should use some Stabil in your gas. If they're all gummed up you'll probably need to take them off and clean them. Sorry for the bad news.

Thanks Danny! I do recall hearing angels when they showed up in the mail. Now it's my older brother calling me (in his Boston accent) "you pe-kuh-head!"

We need cleaning -that's what they're probably trying to tell me.

drain the gas, new gas, techron and give it an EYEtallion tuneup

I just keep seafoam in my tank 24/7--no issues for years. Knock on wood now!!!

@barncobob posted:

drain the gas, new gas, techron and give it an EYEtallion tuneup

If there is gel/goo in the float bowls, this particular technique is absolutely useless...

Thanks everyone for your help(as always).

Well, put some sea foam in the tank, took the air cleaners off, and had coughing with occasional flame. Very festive this close to the 4th but clearly not desirable.

Read earlier posts and it could be idle jets (which makes sense) but I'm going to check timing again and do the valves. As Danny and Barncobob suggested it's probably crap in the tank, line and bowls but the fire on the cough makes me wonder about timing.

Makes me think of Itzhak Perlman when, before every concert, he started early with really simple scales etc. and worked his way up -meaning, I'll start with the valves, move to the timing, etc. etc.

But always happy to hear what you all think.

Oh, my crappy Mr. Gasket fuel regulator says I'm at 2.5. May swap that too.

@Boothy posted:

Oh, my crappy Mr. Gasket fuel regulator says I'm at 2.5. May swap that too.

It doesn't matter what number it's set to, it only matters what the actual, measured pressure is. With an actual vacuum/fuel pressure gauge. They have them at Pep Boys, Autozone, etc...like $30.

@Boothy posted:

Well, put some sea foam in the tank, took the air cleaners off, and had coughing with occasional flame. Very festive this close to the 4th but clearly not desirable.

First off, 95% of carburetor problems are ignition problems. Stan almost burned his car down and melted a venturi because of an ignition problem that he was 100% positive was a carb problem.

Please do valve adjustment, spark plugs clean and gapped. Heck, do a compression check too. Check cap, rotor, points/condenser(or if electronic ignition: clean bottom of points replacement module and breaker plate, and tighten the darn screws that loosen up!) and wires, and timing/dwell.

Then move on to carbs if there is still an issue.

@DannyP posted:

Stan almost burned his car down and melted a venturi because of an ignition problem that he was 100% positive was a carb problem.

Not my finest moment, but all true.

Don't do like Stupid Stan did in 2018. Take the advice I've always given (and gave here for years before "the incident"):

95% of all carburation problems are ignition.

Troubleshooting in order:

1. Draw a deep breath. Take a minute and try to relax. Get a cup of coffee. Don't start on the problem until you have a clear head. Don't go into it with your mind made up.
2. Verify the mechanical - compression, valve-timing, etc. Broken valve-springs can and do happen.
3. Verify spark - strong spark? Steady advance? Is there a "miss"? You can't know anything at all without a timing light.
4. Check the carbs. Farting and sneezing and spitting almost always indicate a misfire, rather than a carburation issue.

I forgot myself on that fated day. I got tunnel-vision and jumped ahead of myself because we had trailered through a biblical rain-storm on the way down to NC. I was sure (SURE, I TELL YOU) that it was water in the carbs. I didn't have a timing light, and didn't have the 7 mm socket I needed to get to my (loose) ignition pick-up. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

My wife posted a meme on our family "Signal" account today. It said

"Every dead body on Mt. Everest was once a very determined individual".

Being determined is not what it takes to be successful. Being aware of all possibilities is.

Thank you Danny and Stan!!!!

Truer words were never spoken. Last night I read the Dell bible again. My wife said "sexy stuff!" Had to enlighten her that this is nerd ****. Woke this morning and read your posts (thank you). In the middle of talking to my wife, I said hold on (clearly, like most husbands, I was half listening), went out to the garage and gave the the dizzy a twist. Sure enough, loose. Not sure why, just loose. This is where I need Betty White going "WTF dude?"

For future generations, sage advice above. I'll get 'er up and go from the valves up. Thank you all, my path is clear.

@Boothy:

Bam.

Glad you got it figured out, @Boothy!  Sounds like she was being just a little sarcastic- your conversation reminded me of what someone on the Samba said a while ago.   After his wife read what he'd written- he and a couple of other guys were discussing the pros/cons of two different set ups to the N'th degree (as we are known to do here on occasion)- she said "you guys are Dorks."

"you guys are Dorks."

Yup.  With a Capital "D".

@Boothy posted:

Thank you Danny and Stan!!!!

Truer words were never spoken. Last night I read the Dell bible again. My wife said "sexy stuff!" Had to enlighten her that this is nerd ****. Woke this morning and read your posts (thank you). In the middle of talking to my wife, I said hold on (clearly, like most husbands, I was half listening), went out to the garage and gave the the dizzy a twist. Sure enough, loose. Not sure why, just loose. This is where I need Betty White going "WTF dude?"

For future generations, sage advice above. I'll get 'er up and go from the valves up. Thank you all, my path is clear.

You’re lucky. I chased a “carb problem” with my Dells for two months before I checked my timing.

And damn proud of it! <insert laugh from the Nerds movie>

I would have done that too save these guys.

I second Danny's suggestion on adding Sta-Bil to your tank when storing for an extended period. I did all the time for many years because I didn't have immediate access to my car like I do now. Also try to keep your fuel tank as full as possible to prevent corrosion inside the tank.