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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => 73-87 Chevy & GMC Trucks => Topic started by: Brocksdad1 on November 12, 2014, 10:19:19 am

Title: 83 smokes, bad idle, hard to start warm
Post by: Brocksdad1 on November 12, 2014, 10:19:19 am
Hey fellas

I just got this 83 from a fellow 150 miles away. It had the Quadra with all the necessary wires missing and running rich.
I installed a 600 edlebrock on top of the existing performer intake.
It idles up and down now. Won't idle in gear.
Smoked before, now it's worse.
And now the valves are rattling, off and on.
Any insight?

Bryce. (http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/11/12/7557c37e55342713881a32adcd14d244.jpg)

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Title: Re: 83 smokes, bad idle, hard to start warm
Post by: 78BIG-TEN on November 12, 2014, 01:37:51 pm
Check your oil and make sure its not diluted with fuel
Title: Re: 83 smokes, bad idle, hard to start warm
Post by: jetmech on November 12, 2014, 01:42:37 pm
New or used carb? Electric choke or manual. Is the choke hooked up? Excess fuel smoke or oil? Smoking from tailpipe I assume? Does that pic show the smoke or is that from being cold? Nice looking truck by the way.
Title: Re: 83 smokes, bad idle, hard to start warm
Post by: bd on November 12, 2014, 02:32:10 pm
Check your oil and make sure its not diluted with fuel

X2

Check for fuel in the oil by letting a drop of oil fall from the dipstick onto a clean fingertip.  If the oil is okay, the drop should hold its circular shape with well defined edges.  If it tracks along your fingerprint, the oil is saturated with fuel.

What color is the smoke (blue = oil, black = fuel, white = coolant or ATF)?
Title: Re: 83 smokes, bad idle, hard to start warm
Post by: Brocksdad1 on November 12, 2014, 02:36:06 pm
It's blue.  I'd say valve guide? And seals? 
It's a freshly rebuilt edlebrock with electric choke. Hooked up.

In the pic its not running.

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Title: Re: 83 smokes, bad idle, hard to start warm
Post by: Brocksdad1 on November 12, 2014, 02:37:02 pm
It had the Quadra all electric but nothing was hooked up.
It has a esc dizzy

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Title: Re: 83 smokes, bad idle, hard to start warm
Post by: Brocksdad1 on November 12, 2014, 02:45:33 pm
I'm a heavy equipment tech, but it's been years since I've messed with gas engine and carbs. I had two other 85,83 k10 when I was younger

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Title: Re: 83 smokes, bad idle, hard to start warm
Post by: timthescarrd on November 12, 2014, 03:53:01 pm
In my experience, it's heck trying to get the edelbrock to work with an ESC dizzy correctly.  What I did on my 83 was bought a new vacuum advance HEI dizzy on ebay for $40 and pulled off all the ESC junk off the truck.  That probably isn't your current issue though.

I agree to check for fuel in your oil.  Blue smoke should be burning oil, valve chatter can be from oil too low, or broken down/polluted
Title: Re: 83 smokes, bad idle, hard to start warm
Post by: Brocksdad1 on November 12, 2014, 07:36:53 pm
Ok.

In going to get some new heads. Now I'm wondering what way to go. VIe been reading about going to vortech heads!!??
But I already have a performer intake. 
So what heads to get??? I see no reason for aluminum. 
I wound like to pass a few gas station if possible and this is a daily driver truck. I also pull my bass boat with it on long trips.
I have if in the garage now And the existing heads are coming off tomorrow.  Pics to come. Ill also be checking cyl walls for damage and wear. To see if its a rearing or boar. I can have a hone for 80.00 and bore and hone for 150.00
Found engine kit for 200.00
Talked to machine shop and found that all kits are made by one of two companies and consist of all the same parts like felpro and so on just packaged and named different. 
Kit contains hyporutectic pistons and hvop. Double roller. All the goodies.
Vie found several reconditioned. Heads on ebay cheaper than I can have mine done but not sure what way to go. Old school 350 strain plug, vortech, and new intake? Just not sure.

In going to order a new dizzy for sure.
All this is starting to come back to me.
I was into early broncos most of my life. 14 in fact
  You all in on myself in another thread sometime. 

Thanks for all the input.

Bryce
Title: Re: 83 smokes, bad idle, hard to start warm
Post by: bd on November 12, 2014, 09:32:51 pm
So... fill in the blanks for us.  How did you arrive at an engine O/H from your initial post?  Was it "just because," or did you discover something new?  Are you confident it isn't a bolt-on causing the problem that will be transferred to the "new" motor (e.g., fuel pump leaking gasoline directly into the crankcase)?   ???
Title: Re: 83 smokes, bad idle, hard to start warm
Post by: Brocksdad1 on November 12, 2014, 09:35:38 pm
Well its blue smoke. Has a new fuel pump. Smokes on initial startup. Smokes while taking off from a stop sign.
Title: Re: 83 smokes, bad idle, hard to start warm
Post by: bd on November 12, 2014, 10:05:14 pm
I'm not contradicting you - just wondered if I missed something.

BTW, welcome to the site!
Title: Re: 83 smokes, bad idle, hard to start warm
Post by: Brocksdad1 on November 12, 2014, 10:54:31 pm
I understand.

I just went out to the shop.
After I had put on the edlebrock carb it had got worse. After some research on wiring I looked at the dizzy. Well it's a aftermarket dizzy with only the pink hooked. BUT!. The pink going to the ESC was still hooked. So I diskoed that and also found a loose ground on the back of the block.
So now it starts and idles again. But still a ton of smoke, and when it's put into gear it's almost dieseling. No power. Slight sound of lifter noise now. Not as bad. Had to been the timing screwed up.
I've advance and retarded the timing and nothing. No power at idle. Once I get it past idle though it will take off great, even spin the tires. I'm baffeled.
At idle in park there is no laboring of the engine.

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Title: Re: 83 smokes, bad idle, hard to start warm
Post by: timthescarrd on November 12, 2014, 11:39:22 pm
That kinda sounds like your idle speed is too low.  Do you have a tachometer? 

Also a little confused about the distributor,as far as I know, a non-esc will have a pink for power from the main wiring harness to the coil, a three-pin (usually red, black, and yellow) from the module inside the distributor to the coil (plugs in right behind the pink power), and a spot beside the pink power lead for a tach.  an ESC will have all that plus a 4-pin connector coming off the back of the distributor down below the cap that connects to a plug on the esc harness. 
Title: Re: 83 smokes, bad idle, hard to start warm
Post by: Brocksdad1 on November 13, 2014, 12:00:41 am
Its running around 950 rpm in park.
The truck had a esc.  The dizzy that is in it is aftermarket but the small pink was still hooked up to the large pink. The 4 pin connector for the esc is still there in the harness just not part of the dizzy. The small pink was supposed to be eliminated.  And run the dizzy off the large pink.
Title: Re: 83 smokes, bad idle, hard to start warm
Post by: Brocksdad1 on November 13, 2014, 12:01:35 am
Once its put into gear it drops off to nearly nothing on the rpm btw
Title: Re: 83 smokes, bad idle, hard to start warm
Post by: Irish_Alley on November 13, 2014, 12:52:27 am
are you loosing oil?
Title: Re: 83 smokes, bad idle, hard to start warm
Post by: Brocksdad1 on November 13, 2014, 06:20:33 am
Yea. It's lost over a quart in 250 miles.

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Title: Re: 83 smokes, bad idle, hard to start warm
Post by: 78BIG-TEN on November 13, 2014, 08:42:07 am
I,m assuming its a 305,they were bad about valve seals causing smoke at idle and start up,real mosquito killers.But if your changing heads the Vortecs are a good choise.GM offers them in dual bolt pattern so you can use early manifolds
Title: Re: 83 smokes, bad idle, hard to start warm
Post by: Brocksdad1 on November 13, 2014, 10:01:05 am
It's a 350. It's not the original engine

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Title: Re: 83 smokes, bad idle, hard to start warm
Post by: Brocksdad1 on November 13, 2014, 10:51:50 pm
Ok fellas
Ive  been screwed. This is a boat anchor 305. I actually had to dig out the front and rear head bolts from the sludge. Only good thing is the heads are 14014418 heads. From what I read they are somewhat desirable 305 heads.
Maybe I can make a nickel.
So I'm not going to be using anything.
The block has ring groves deep enough you could pick up the engine with them. Oh and the guy I got the truck from wont answer his phone. bTW. For those in KY he is near Elizabeth town. Allen Automotive. 
Anyway Ive found a few 4bolt blocks and a few sets of vortec heads. So I'm going with new/old school build. But a daily driver.

Pics of the old motor to come.
Thanks fellas.

Bryce
Title: Re: 83 smokes, bad idle, hard to start warm
Post by: Irish_Alley on November 13, 2014, 10:57:28 pm
how deep are your pockets? or do you just want a motor for under 1k?
Title: Re: 83 smokes, bad idle, hard to start warm
Post by: Brocksdad1 on November 13, 2014, 11:03:17 pm
Probably around 15-1600
Title: Re: 83 smokes, bad idle, hard to start warm
Post by: Irish_Alley on November 13, 2014, 11:10:39 pm
yeah, wasnt sure if you wanted to spend 3k on 400hp/tq but it doesnt look like youre after performance just a good old reliable engine
Title: Re: 83 smokes, bad idle, hard to start warm
Post by: Brocksdad1 on November 13, 2014, 11:13:37 pm
yeah, wasnt sure if you wanted to spend 3k on 400hp/tq but it doesnt look like youre after performance just a good old reliable engine
Yea daily driver. 

I pull a boat to and from a lake and drive 10 miles a day. This one is a daily. The next truck will get BBC. 502. But that is gonna be a 70's short box
Title: Re: 83 smokes, bad idle, hard to start warm
Post by: roundhouse on November 16, 2014, 07:28:25 am
A crate engine from your local GM dealer is something  you should consider