Hello, new to the forum. I am housing my father in law's 65 Convertible. He encourages me to drive (oh no!) it. I have noticed a few things off the bat. I am mechanically inclined but new to mustangs. For one, it's idling WAY too high around 2200. When you put it in gear (auto trans) it jerks due to the high idle. Just from the smell when it's running it seems the carb needs some adjustments. I cannot find anywhere on the internet or forums of exact locations and procedures. From what I have gathered the choke needle is passenger side back of the carb towards the firewall. I also see a needle on the front of the carb on both passenger and drivers sides. No idea what is what. Additionally a large needle screw on the drivers side toward firewall seems to be near the throttle. Everything on this vehicle is 100% original and was bought in Arizona 20 years ago. Can someone direct me to the proper adjustments needed to bring the idle down? Which screw? What direction to turn them? Im assuming to the right is closed but you never know as I have run into odd things with mechanical devices over the years. Any help is much appreciated!

 

hi, you didnot say what engine you had .But i am assuming it is a 289 V8.You did not say if it is a stock 4 barrel,2 barrel ,1 barrel carb. or a aftermarket carb. I have attached pictures. But this is where you can adjust the idle. Give more info, can try to help.

 

Thanks for the reply. Appears to be a stock 2 barrel Autolite. Engine is 289V8 I cannot view the images saying I dont have permission.

 

Guess I dont have enough "posts". Has to be one of the more stupid things I have ever seen. I run forums for several web sites and to me that just turns people away in the beginning while encouraging others to post or spam post just to get their numbers up to unlock things. Just my opinion because here I am getting helped by someone and thats the point of forums, yet I can't view what I need.

 

OK, do a search on Bing for pictures of carb 1965 ford. should be able to see 2 barrel auto lite ford carb. pretty standard for the time. there is a top like part on the left side . you can adjust the carb there. also there should be a screw on that side to adjust the idle. it should be connected to the linkage on the side of your carb.normally turn the screw out will lower the idle.Hope that help you.

 

Thanks again. Pretty sure I have the idle screw picked out. It's bigger and easily accessible. There two more on the front of the carb. If you are facing the front one to the passenger side and one to the drivers side. What are they? Im thinking the left or passenger side one is mixture, then what is the one on the right? Thanks again for the help.

 

Well got the idle down to around 1300. If I bring it down anymore it will stall when I put it in gear. When I put it in gear right now its moderately stable and at about 700 RPM. Shouldn't the idle in neutral be even lower than 1300? What can I do to combat putting the vehicle in gear and it stalling while balancing proper idle rpm?

 

I think idle in neutral should be about 650RPM.......

 

The 2 screws are for the jet adjustment.You use them to adjust the amount of fuel/gas?air that gets dump into the carb.Have not played around with a carb in a while ,sorry rusty.The spinning top like piece, help control the idle speed.It is on the same side as the linkage.the throttle linkage is attached to it. You can adjust that by un-tighten the nut at the end, and screwing the Top/like into the bracket.That should bring the idle down.Sorry, it tuft doing this by email.Hope that helped. I attached the parts i am refering to agian.

 

Much appreciated, maybe some day I can actually view these images you have all kindly provided me.