I have had some issues with my engine stalling since I had new headers put on. I had Tri-Ys installed and I have a Autolite 2100 with 1.14 venturies. I saw in an earlier post to adjust the idle to around 750 rpm and I will play with the adjusting screws a little bit. I had done some of the initial adjusting with the aircleaner on then removed it and the engine stalled. Should I set everything with the cleaner off or on? Or do I have some other issue also related to vacuum pressure, or lack of when the cleaner is off?
~Shane

 

The air cleaner shouldn't make a change in rpm if it does it should be replace or cleaned.

Gun

 

Your air cleaner is causing a too rich condition. The engine RPM shouldn't change much on to off. Replace the filer media.

 

you're running lean, common problem when people go headers and new exhaust. this is also evident when you pull the air cleaner, permitting too much air to enter the carb, thus stalling the engine. I've found the best tool for setting air/fuel mix is a vacuum gauge connected to a manifold vacuum port. take both air/fuel mixture screws and set them at 1.5to 1.75 turns out. set your RPM at roughly 800, and adj your air/fuel screwsyou achieve the best vacuum, around 20-21 PSI for stock motors. adj your RPM again if necessary. some back yard mechanics prefer totweak the screws a 1/8 to 1/4turnIN after they're all done so they run a little cleaner/leaner.

 

I am having difficulty locating the mixture screws. My chilton manual is garbage when it comes to the carb.
Are they both inside the carb?
Occasionally I get a gas smell and had it backfire through the carb (?) twice today when accelerating hard, I have probably jacked things up beyond my tinkering ability. Needless to say I am learning.

 

The mixture screws are in the front at the bottom.
The gas smell may only be the open vent on the carburetor. Look well for leaks, and see if the top is stained around the vent.
Backfiring through the carburetor means your timing is too advanced, the plug is firing before the intake valve is closed. Back the timing off a bit and see if the backfiring goes away.

 

had some time to tinker. Seems Midas applied a little too much of the Midas Touch when the installed the headers. closed the gap completely on two of the plugs. re gapped, cleaned the points, timing, and now she is good to go. thanks all.

 

Unfortunately that's a problem with some of those places. They can R&R parts but they don't know jack diddley.
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What do the plugs look like? If the electrodes are damaged you might wanna replace them. Also if they mashed them enough to close the gap, you might wanna make sure there's no cracks in the insulators on the plugs as well.