racing carb ( not as cool as it sounds)

[RockyMountainTercel]

Well, I'm still trying to get my POS 84 Tercel running, and if I don't figure it out soon I'm actually going to have to take it to a mechanic. Here is what I have:
1984 Tercel 4WD wagon, automatic, 4AC engine, carbed

Here is what I have done

Head gasket, intake/exhaust gasket, timing, new vacuum lines, put a gasket underneath the carb because I had a bad vacuum leak down there, new carburator ( sort of, I bought a different carb and used parts from that one and the original to put together one that supposedly works).

I might have missed one or two smaller things, but that is the total.

Here is why I want to roll this stupid car off a cliff and laugh maniacally as it falls into the sea to be eaten by rare metal-eating sharks:

It won't start without pumping the gas pedal four times. I don't know if this is normal or not, but my last carbed vehicle was an 87 Wrangler and didn't require this

When it does start it won't idle. I've tried cranking the idle speed adjusting screw to the max, but it still won't idle. I'm sure this is tied in somehow with the next (and most significant) problem.

When I get it running the engine surges over a WIDE RPM band. While I don't have a dwell meter to measure RPM, I'm guestimating that it goes anywhere from as low as 400 RPM ( lug lug lug) to as high as 1600 ( WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHH). It will rev up and down like that for a while and then eventually lug and backfire through the carb throat and die. The only part I can see moving on the carb is a vacuum diaphram that connects to the electric choke somehow, but I don't see how that could move the throttle plate. I've tried disconneting the diaphragm, but it doesn't have any effect on the racing so I'm pretty sure thats another symptom and not the cause.

I have checked pretty thoroughly for vacuum leaks and "tuneup" issues such as timing, sparkplugs, wires, cap, rotor etc. I've had this vehicle for two weeks and haven't been able to drive it yet. I've got class starting again on wednesday, which is my official "make this car run or sell it for scrap metal even though it means I'll have to ride my bike 20 miles to class" deadline. I'd like to avoid taking it to a mechanic becuase, frankly, I dont' have the cash. Any advice is appreciated.

[Typrus]

Camshaft timing? Sparkplug wires hooked up right? Backfiring through the carb would suggest bad timing, on the cam and/or ignition.
Is it the 4AC or 3AC?

If you can get an audio clip, it might tell a novel of info....

I have to pump once in the warm times, 2-5 times in the cold. Idles nice though... I had to do a carb rebuild before it'd idle and start right...

[takza]

Try removing the vac line (and plugging it) to your EGR on the pass side of the carb...actss like mine did when I cleaned the EGR and then tried to drive it.

In my case I think it was the vac modulator malfunctoning.

I have the same issue with having to get gas to the carb after the car sits for 2-3 days...no problem if recently driven though.

Pumping the gas pedal 4Xs isn't a biggie....I probably avg 20Xs.

You are supposed to pump it a few times and then hold it down a little...then let it up. This puts some gas in the carb and sets the choke. Need to pull the air cleaner cover off and check that the choke is fully open when the engine is hot.

Idle problems like that are likely caused by vac leaks in the spagetti lines or maybe carb internals?

[Typrus]

Even slightly tapping the throttle should set the choke. At least it does on mine.
Its nice to have a community.. I look at the carb backfiring, you look at vac leaks... heh

[RockyMountainTercel]

its a 4AC engine, and it was most likely rebuilt at some time in its life ( I'm simply guessing on this becuase when I took the head off the pistons had different casting patterns, which makes me assume at least one of them had been replaced) I'll try to take a video of the car tomorrow and post it with sound, but I don't really know how to do that. I'll also try disconnecting the EGR and see what happens. I replaced the EGR with oen out of an '82. It does have an extra line coming off the EGR that was plugged when I got it, but that might be part of it as well. Thanks for all the advice.

[xirdneh]

Head gasket, intake/exhaust gasket, timing, new vacuum lines, put a gasket underneath the carb because I had a bad vacuum leak down there, new carburator ( sort of, I bought a different carb and used parts from that one and the original to put together one that supposedly works).

check the fuel soleniods
make sure they are not reversed
the two wire goes on driver side
single wire on rear side
also a bad solenoid will cause similiar problems
remove and test on battery
should click

[Typrus]

JDM=Japanese Domestic Market.
Non-applicable to the European Domestic Market. The the United States Domestic Market. Or the Chinese.