Expert: Brad Sears - 1/27/2011

Question
Hi Brad, thanks for your wonderful service! What a great resource. I just picked up a beautiful 1969 f-100 240 ci straight six. It had been sitting for 5 years so I did all of the right procedures before starting it up i.e. lubed the cylinders etc cranked by hand 100 times before starting etc. This thing really came to life and idles beautifully. But when I step on the gas it acts like it is flooding and dies quickly unless I let off of the gas. The owner before me did not drain the carb before storing. Could the old gas (that was sitting inside all of that time) be the problem? I did drain the fuel tank and add new gas but I did not know how to condition the carb. Furthermore I can only find 2 adjustment screws on this single barrel carb and they seem to be related to idle more than anything else. This truck also smells like it is burning a little rich. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Answer
Congratulations on getting a nice truck. At this point I would get the carburetor overhauled. It sounds like one or two of the check balls in the accelerator pump circuit have gummed up and causing the stumble. The Carter single barrel YF series carburetor is a durable unit. I overhauled one the other day for a fellow here in Fort Myers Florida that has an antique ice cream truck mounted on a small Ford parcel van chassis. I have these kits in stock as well and make my living overhauling these old carburetors. Most of my work is shipped in and I offer a three day turn around time.
sears.brad@gmail.com