318 Carb'd Motor Issues

[Shannen Durphey]

Frederic Breitwieser wrote:
> 
> >               I have an 87 dodge ram van 318ci V8 2bbl carb that is
> >giving me fits.  The main problem is that it is very hard to start but
> it
> >will evantually start. Once started it idles fast (That I can fix) but
> as
> >soon as I shift into gear and load the engine it dies.  So far I have
> 
> I would imagine your carb is set to run to lean - make it a little
> richer and I'd bet it would run better, as well as the engine temp go
> down a tad.  I had the same issue with my 75 in the same configuration -
> way, way too lean.  Then, I ended up making it too rich  and failed
> emissions.
> 
> Oh well :)
There's more than one Dodge 318 around with Rochester 2GC carb
installed.  Cures lots of headaches at once.

Sounds like the van has a vacuum leak.  If you know the change in
performance was sudden, and it ran right before, that's good
diagnostic info.

Shannen