Question If valves were just a little to tight would it run good then after a short drive would it make the idle higher and run (softer) so to speak Also how often do u have to go thru the mess of re gapping the valve lash

Welcome on the board. The engine will run best with the valves set correctly. Here is a link to the valve adjustment procedure.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Generally no. If it's that close, you may hear a miss at idle. Running faster is normal when comparing a cold, but off choke idle to full temperature idle.
Softer? Do you mean decreased power, or sounds different?

Frequency of adjustement is going to depend on how you run the engine. For someone like me that stands on it all the time, pretty darn often. I might get a couple thousand miles between "Checks." About the longest I'll go is 5000.
For a daily driven grocery getter, annually or perhaps even longer. It's always good to check, IMO, every ten thousand if it's behaving itself, more often if you have issues. If it sits parked for long periods, I'd decrease the miles between lash checks.
I've seen slants in the 100k range that are getting checked for the first time. They still seem to run OK, but tend to have a sputter at idle from tight valve clearnances.

I set mine running, hot, but I have friends that set them cold static with excellent results. They have fewer bruises.

CJ

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Part of Tyrde-Browne Racing

By softer i mean after start up and at nornal temp my six feels stronger and the exhaust sounds beefey (Magnaflow) But driving 20 miles to portland and the idle smothes out less responsive and the exhaust sound is a mellow constant sound hard to hear the individual cylinders firing So in tech terms instead of blumblumblumblum its blaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa hehehee understand

It's probably misfiring cold.

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Joshua

doesn't sound like a misfire tho, i checked temperture , my radiator is clean,works good , 195 stat, im thinkin its a 82 truck engine, It may be getting winded after a sprint run, Maybe a taller jet would help, ive asked here before what is the stock jet is havent got a answer yet, And where can i get carter jets, i only find holly jets , are they the same

No, they are not the same. The BBD has a bigger diameter thread.

I am not sure, but it would be nice if the Edelbrock jets would work. You can get their kits pretty easy on line at Summit Racing or at better carb shops.

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Aggressive Ted

http://cid-32f1e50ddb40a03c.photos.live ... %20Swinger


74 Swinger, 9.5 comp 254/.435 lift cam, 904, ram air, electric fans, 2.5" HP2 & FM70 ex, 1920 Holley#56jet, 2.76 8 3/4 Sure-Grip, 26" tires, 25+MPG

Thanks for the info 120-388 so if i cant find jets what size drill bit should i use to go 2 steps richer? With my current carter i have to crank to metering rods at curb idle all the way rich on the slot for it to run good, If i move the ajuster leaner it studders a little, to get the highest idle at 750 RPM my mixture screws are 4 to 5 full turns out, Timings at 10, Tail pipe is light gray,I feel like i need more fuel at idle thru 1/4 throttle, High speed seems fine Any ideas, Ive rebuilt the carb twice thinkin i did something wrong , Flotes are at 1/4 Pump is at 1/2 ,Little ball at discharge, big at plunger well, Whats left

Hi jimmy the C, There is something very wrong if you have to do that, the float level may be the cause if you can't get enough fuel, but at the same time it runs good at higher revs, hmmm. You should of course check for vacum leaks and blocked channels, check the gaskets and if you changed the thick gasket under the carb, is the new one identical to the old one? Sounds as if you have a 'signal fault', somewhere you're blocking a feed channel so the carb is getting wrong signals about what to do.

If you need the measurments of different metering rods and sizes of jets fitted in different years, you'll find them here.

Some parts links: www.carburetor.ca and www.carbsonly.com

Olaf

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Aspenized

Ted is right,Holley gas jets are 1/4-32,carter jets are 1/4-28.

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V8?? We don't need no stink'n V8!!

Since i have extra jets i just took a drill bit that was just a little bigger than the stock hole drilled it now i can slide the rod ajuster screw to the half was point I now can get 130 miles on 10 gallons of gas ( full size 4/4), Im gonna go just a little bigger and try that, Ill let you know that works for me