Need help with my new 72 long bed
 

I just got a 72 the other day. I ran it about a year and a half ago in my 2000 silverado 5.3 and was neck and neck. My problem is I picked it up cheap running bad. From what I can tell it has a 350, long tube headers, edelbrock performer intake and 750 carb, hei and 700r4. It idles smooth and revs smooth in park, but when in gear it struggles and misses. So far I have installed fresh plugs, wires ,cap, rotor,coil, and fuel filter. What I have found wrong is header collector leak, 12v wire from battery to alt. is melted and ignition switch if jiggled cuts out sometimes and not sure if carb is bad or was swapped out. any help or input will be great. Thanks.

Re: Need help with my new 72 long bed
 

welcome to the board ! post a pic when you can

Thats a tough predicament -- it can just feel like you're throwing money at it after awhile

Hopefully someone will chime in
but in the meantime ---- ttt

Re: Need help with my new 72 long bed
 

Have you checked the timing?

Re: Need help with my new 72 long bed
 

how's the choke?

Re: Need help with my new 72 long bed
 

It has a manual choke that is not connected and I will check the timming, but not sure of where it is sipposed to be at.

Re: Need help with my new 72 long bed
 

Ok, so I have changed plugs, wires, cap, rotor coil,fuel pump,and fuel filter.
I checked the timming and it was at 12btc@600 rpm. I set it at 4btc @ 600 rpm and It just started banging out worse. I also re-wired power leads from battery and fuse box to dist. soldered connections and changed ignition switch.:waah: All that is left is carb and dist. itself. Any input please? Thanks.

Re: Need help with my new 72 long bed
 

My camaro did that and it had a cracked head.

Re: Need help with my new 72 long bed
 

Do you think so? There is no smoke, overheating , waterleaks and the oil is clean. Thanks.

Re: Need help with my new 72 long bed
 

12*BTDS with hose off and plugged?

Re: Need help with my new 72 long bed
 

Do you think so? There is no smoke, overheating , waterleaks and the oil is clean, but it just misses in gear. Thanks.

Re: Need help with my new 72 long bed
 

Yes, it was 12*btds with the advance hose disconnected and plugged, but I set it to 4*btdc and started sputtering worse. It feels like an ignition problem, but everything has been changed except the module and dist and carb. Help.

Re: Need help with my new 72 long bed
 

did u say you changed your points?? or is it hei... my truck was up on the highway and i was runnin about 75 or 80 and then all of a sudden i lost power and couldnt go faster then 45 but when i rev in neutral i had all power there..and it missed on takeoff alot too..so i fixed my points and it was fine

Re: Need help with my new 72 long bed
 

I'm sorry, I have a HEI in the truck.

Re: Need help with my new 72 long bed
 

ok my mistake im sorry

Re: Need help with my new 72 long bed
 

i was having problems like that before to check yor sparkplugs set timing to 8 degrees and make sure that choke is open all the way if your not using it oh ya and make sure that none of the sparkplug wires are touching anything metal

Re: Need help with my new 72 long bed
 

5 & 7 crossed? Broke plug (outside)?

Re: Need help with my new 72 long bed
 

Well, I got the truck running today and I still have problems. I changed the dist. out and the number 7 plug was cracked. I set the timming at 8 deg.,idle at 600 and test drove it and It ran like a bat out of hell for about 15 minutes now It feels weak , but doesn't bangout any more. The header gasket at the number 4/6 exhaust ports blew out. Could that cause the problem? HELP PLEASE. Thanks.:fb:

Re: Need help with my new 72 long bed
 

No. Dist. moved? (loose)

Re: Need help with my new 72 long bed
 

I checked the timming and it is still@8deg. btc. Do you think all that heat dumping on the #6/4 plugs could cause it to run weak?

Re: Need help with my new 72 long bed
 

Decribe "weak".

Re: Need help with my new 72 long bed
 

The truck went from tire smoking instant throttle to running, but not strong as mentioned before in a span of 15/20 minutes.

Re: Need help with my new 72 long bed
 

Check gas filter-try it with gas cap off (vacuum in tank)

Re: Need help with my new 72 long bed
 

I'll give that a try .I'll also change the gasket at the header and give it another once over.Thanks,

Re: Need help with my new 72 long bed
 

Had a fouled plug #8. Rund ok ,but now kind of boggs from dead stop launch.
Maybe cap/ rotor fouled?

Re: Need help with my new 72 long bed
 

You need to take it to a buddy that knows carbs. Sounds like a carb adjustment problem. Cap and rotor don,t just "foul".