1984 Power Ram carb help PLEASE

acrystalball · 01-24-2007, 01:36 PM

Hi Folks I'm really hoping someone can help me. We have put two rebuilt Carter BBD 2 barrel carbs into our 1984 Dodge Power Ram 4x4 1/2 ton 318 pick up truck. The first didn't work at all, and the second seems to be working intermittently.

The truck idles fine and but runs a little rough when cold. Once the engine is warm, the truck dies when braking around a turn or coming to a stop, and sometimes will not make it over 45 mph with the gas pedal fully depressed. If we wait a minute or two we can easily restart the truck and continue down the road (slowly) until we have to come to a stop again -- it stalls.

We've checked the fuel pump (its working fine), and checked for vacuum leaks (none that we can tell) Could we just have ANOTHER bad rebuilt carb? It seems like there isn't enough gas to the throttle circuit.

Could there be anything else that we're not considering, besides the carburetor?

Thanks in advance for any help you could offer.
Crystal

75K30 · 01-24-2007, 02:22 PM

That thing is crying intake leak. But you stated that you looked. Did you look at the brake booster? Most of us only look at the base of the carb(s), and at the manifold. What type of linkage set up are you using? How are you routing the fuel from the pump to the carbs? Any regulator (s) that might be stuck, or bad?

bradrhale · 01-25-2007, 11:02 AM

get rid of the carter and go back with the holleys that they put on there. that 318 is going to run a little rough when they are cold. it is in their nature. i had a similar problem before in an 87. my lining in the gas tank was weaking and had water and trash also. drained it and started working like a dream.

acrystalball · 01-26-2007, 07:07 PM

We did only check for vacuum leaks around the carb and manifold/gasket. This weekend we will check all the hoses for cracks, etc. Not sure what the brake booster is? The fuel line is straight from the pump to the carb save the in-line filter. Doesn't seem to be any regulator on board.

The original carb on the truck was a Carter BBD. That's why we replaced it with the same. Our year (1984) was a year they put all sorts of funky emissions stuff on the truck, so I think we are suffering from complications of that.

I appreciate you taking the time to respond!

Crystal

Chevy808 · 01-27-2007, 04:29 PM

Brake booster located on the driver's side corner. For a 1984, they look like a flat plate (when compared with today's type) or wheel.....I have'nt seen these for a long time. Old bus company I used to work for had one of these trucks. Boy, they were fun to drive. The brake master is attached to it.

twodarts · 02-01-2007, 10:37 PM

Aside from a vacuum leak, the float level sounds low.

As far as the BBD's use one off an earlier model 318 vehicle to ditch some of the smog junk. If I remember right, theres only a few extra vacuum ports (one is on top of the bowl) that are different from the not so smog carbs. As for the Holley's they used on them engines, they are junk (my opinion). I'll take the BBD Over one anyday. Now a Holley 4bbl is a whole different story.

Larry O'Daniel · 02-11-2007, 07:41 PM

Check the float level as Twodarts said. You did not say anything about your ignition system. Do you have the "Lean Burn" system on this truck? It was Mopars first attempt at fuel control, and as all "first attempts" it didn't work well, and not at all in some cases. The lean burn system on some years tried to control the fuel level in the carb so this maybe something you need to check also.

01-24-2007, 01:36 PM	#1
acrystalball Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 2	1984 Power Ram carb help PLEASE Hi Folks I'm really hoping someone can help me. We have put two rebuilt Carter BBD 2 barrel carbs into our 1984 Dodge Power Ram 4x4 1/2 ton 318 pick up truck. The first didn't work at all, and the second seems to be working intermittently. The truck idles fine and but runs a little rough when cold. Once the engine is warm, the truck dies when braking around a turn or coming to a stop, and sometimes will not make it over 45 mph with the gas pedal fully depressed. If we wait a minute or two we can easily restart the truck and continue down the road (slowly) until we have to come to a stop again -- it stalls. We've checked the fuel pump (its working fine), and checked for vacuum leaks (none that we can tell) Could we just have ANOTHER bad rebuilt carb? It seems like there isn't enough gas to the throttle circuit. Could there be anything else that we're not considering, besides the carburetor? Thanks in advance for any help you could offer. Crystal

01-26-2007, 07:07 PM	#4
acrystalball Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 2	Thanks for the advice and help We did only check for vacuum leaks around the carb and manifold/gasket. This weekend we will check all the hoses for cracks, etc. Not sure what the brake booster is? The fuel line is straight from the pump to the carb save the in-line filter. Doesn't seem to be any regulator on board. The original carb on the truck was a Carter BBD. That's why we replaced it with the same. Our year (1984) was a year they put all sorts of funky emissions stuff on the truck, so I think we are suffering from complications of that. I appreciate you taking the time to respond! Crystal

01-27-2007, 04:29 PM	#5
Chevy808 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Born & raised in Hawaii had to move to Salt Lake City...bummer Posts: 275	Brake booster located on the driver's side corner. For a 1984, they look like a flat plate (when compared with today's type) or wheel.....I have'nt seen these for a long time. Old bus company I used to work for had one of these trucks. Boy, they were fun to drive. The brake master is attached to it. __________________ '85 Oldsmobile 442 '93 Chevy 2WD C1500 350 Silverado Extended Cab Shortbed '95 Chevy 4WD K2500 454 Silverado Extended Cab Long Bed Last edited by Chevy808; 01-28-2007 at 12:21 AM.

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01-24-2007, 02:22 PM	#2
75K30 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,992	That thing is crying intake leak. But you stated that you looked. Did you look at the brake booster? Most of us only look at the base of the carb(s), and at the manifold. What type of linkage set up are you using? How are you routing the fuel from the pump to the carbs? Any regulator (s) that might be stuck, or bad?

01-25-2007, 11:02 AM	#3
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,014	get rid of the carter and go back with the holleys that they put on there. that 318 is going to run a little rough when they are cold. it is in their nature. i had a similar problem before in an 87. my lining in the gas tank was weaking and had water and trash also. drained it and started working like a dream.

02-01-2007, 10:37 PM	#6
twodarts Full Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NC Posts: 10	Aside from a vacuum leak, the float level sounds low. As far as the BBD's use one off an earlier model 318 vehicle to ditch some of the smog junk. If I remember right, theres only a few extra vacuum ports (one is on top of the bowl) that are different from the not so smog carbs. As for the Holley's they used on them engines, they are junk (my opinion). I'll take the BBD Over one anyday. Now a Holley 4bbl is a whole different story.

02-11-2007, 07:41 PM	#7
Larry O'Daniel Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Tulsa, stationed at Ft. Sill, OK Posts: 90	Check the float level as Twodarts said. You did not say anything about your ignition system. Do you have the "Lean Burn" system on this truck? It was Mopars first attempt at fuel control, and as all "first attempts" it didn't work well, and not at all in some cases. The lean burn system on some years tried to control the fuel level in the carb so this maybe something you need to check also.