please help!!!

hello everyone. I own a 71 chevelle with a 350 cid block. The car has a recently rebuilt motor with a brand new msd distubutor, wires, and plugs. I recently ordered a rebuilt edelbrock 650 carb with a manual choke. Ever since I added the new distributor and rebuilt carb, I have not been able to get the car to run. I can start it with difficulty, but once it starts It will not run without keeping my foot on the accelerator. Even after letting it warm up for several minutes, the engine dies as soon as i let off the gas. Could this be a bad carburator? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Have you adjusted the idle mixture and speed after installing the carb, all vacuum hoses on?

Have you adjusted the idle mixture and speed after installing the carb, all vacuum hoses on?

After checking your vacuum lines, verify the firing order (1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2). The cylinders are numbered 1-3-5-7, odd, on the driver side and 2-4-6-8, even, on the passenger side, with 1 and 2 at the front of the block. The rotor on this engine runs clockwise, so cylinder 8 should be on the tower to the LEFT of cylinder one, on the front of the cap, running the firing order clockwise on the cap. Also, verify that the ignition timing is set to a point where the engine will start (TDC on 1 while the rocker arms on 6 are rocking, rotor pointing to what will be the 1 tower on the cap). If the firing order has been verified, try rotating the distributor one way or the other while someone cranks the engine - but be CAREFUL - any moisture and it will be quite an electrifying experience!

Check for a huge vacuum leak at the base gasket between the carb and the intake manifold. On the choke side.

I know this answer is basic, but a clogged fuel filter has similar symptoms. If the above options do not help......make sure your vacuum advance hose is connected correctly. Check manual for correct vacuum line carb placement. This is very important.

I had somewhat of a similar experience with one of my 79 Lincolns. Checked everything and it was okay. Finally found out that the gas filter in the hose approaching the carb was not the only filter. The hose actually attached on the carb to another filter that was screwed into the carb. It was clogged. Cleaned it and the car has run fine since.

i had that problem when i put a new carb on my truck and then i realized there was a huge vaccuum port on the back of the carb that i had to put a 1/4 inch threaded plug into

A rebuilt Edelbrock 650?

What carburetor is that? Is that the Carter AFB style? Is it a square-bore carb on a spread-bore intake?

It is the same as Holley. I think a thin base gasket doesn't seal with that manifold but a 3/8" insulator block will seal.

It is the same as Holley. I think a thin base gasket doesn't seal with that manifold but a 3/8" insulator block will seal.

I used to run a Carter AFB 650 on an Edelbrock Performer EGR 3701 intake - this intake is a spread-bore and the Carter was a square-bore, but there's a plate that you can get in order to make that carb work on that intake. It's about 1/16" thick and looks like a square-bore gasket except it's steel. Use this plate with two gaskets (spread-bore for the bottom and square-bore for the top), and the carb will work on that intake - provided the plenum is open - at least so there's no physical interference between the throttle butterflies and the intake (which would also kill airflow).

All the above are great suggestions. Only thing I might suggest is, If you have the old carb and it is ok, you might want to put it back on and eliminate the new one as the problem or see if it IS the problem.