in February i lost my 99 super duty due to a tragic wreck and have since been trying to get my project 83 350(with the 351w) road worthy to make my trip to work much less painful. this weekend i finally got her drivable so i thought. after a quick test drive i noticed that the truck sputtered then stalled when in gear and gave it moderate to heavy throttle, after it stalls out when starting it i would have to floor it and pump the throttle untill it got over the "hump" if i wanted to start it. i could keep it alive once it stated sputtering if i played with the throttle by pumping and generally keeping it floored but it would miss like a sonofagun (and blows billowing clouds of black smoke) and continue to do so unless i quickly switched over to neutral and throttled it until it was over the "hump" afterwards i could put it in gear and it would be fine if i kept my foot out of it. it will let me rev it in park or neutral but not under load (seemed like the advance was off to me) so i checked the vacuum advance modual on the distributer and sure enough it was broke/clogged/whatever when i diconected the vaccume to it there was no change in rpm or timing so i replaced it and set the timing where it needed to be but the problem prosisted and it now will randomly stall out now even if its in park and now everytime i start it it seems like it has to be fought over the "hump". in the past you all here at FTE have been increadabily helpful so im hoping you can help me once again and if you could i'd be beyond greatful. so heres what ive changed out or adjusted and alist of problems i know are there: reset fuel float to factory level(was set high) replaced a few vaccume lines, spark plugs (each is gapped right) and wires, distributer rotor, airfilter, battery cables, battery, vaccume advance modual, fuelfilter, fuelcap, problems:when in park and the line to the vaccume advance is disconnected the rpms and timing jump alot (the guy looking at it with me says it shouldnt bee like that but he does chevys so i dont know if it applys to fords or if hes right) my curb idle is set high(havent got around to ajusting it yet as ive had to battle other problems) my throttle positioner solinoid is shot (i have to wait untill payday to replace that), my gas tank doesnt seem to vent (dont know if thats just the way these trucks were or not but i noticed it while filling up and thought id mention that), and theres a possitive lead coming from the battery side of the starter solinoid that ive peen powing the 12v constant on my radio(truck came like that) . sorry to be long winded and if some of the things i listed may be pointless but id rather give to much information than not enough.

thank you,
william

 

I would set the idle down where it's supposed to be. If it won't idle, then I would keep at it till it will. I think with the high idle you are covering up other problems. Such as a large vacuum leak. You might want to pull the carb and check the gasket underneath, as well as the EGR plate under the carb and it's gasket also(if you have a EGR plate).