After driving the new engine for about 2 weeks now, I have decided there is something wrong.The carb sucks air like crazy. The Vacuum advance is advancing the motor at idle. The only way that I can get it to stop is if I let the idle screw all the way out, but then the idle is to low. The timing is set a 10 degrees. runs well except for the stumbling when first starting to take off. which I think is because of the other problem. By the way it is a stock 360. thanks,
Chad

 

How are the "mixture" screws? Start with 1 1/2 turns out and then in til motor starts to die off. Then back out 1/4 turn(or so). If you have it too lean at idle, you have to have the idle turned up too far to get it to idle.

 

the mixture screws are at 1 3/4 turns on the right side and 2 on the left. I bought a tach today and the engine is idling at about 500-600 RPM's. Could the gap or dwell on the points cause it to idle low? What about the gap on the spark plugs?

 

Did you check your timing with the distributor vacuum disconnected and plugged off at the carb? Did anyone check the crankshaft vibration damper to see if the outer ring (has timing groove) points correctly to the timing pointer on chain cover when the engine is at TDC #1 piston? I have seen new dampers that where off at least 5 degrees.

 

Find the vacuum port on the carburater with no vacuum at engine idle. Then rev the engine to about 2000 rpm's, and verify that this vacuum port has vacuum. Key here is finding this vacuum port source. This should be the vacuum port to use for the the distributor vacuum advance, might need to run a new vacuum hose.

Recheck the following.
Spark plug gap at 0.035" ,
point gap at 0.017",
timing normally set at 8 degrees Before Topdead Center (BTC) with vacuum hose plugged at the distributor.

Keep us posted of what you found.