After multiple attempts to adjust the carburetor, I ultimately lost motivation. I adjusted the high idle screw on at least four different occasions with mixed results on the idle RPM. Strangely, once it would start, it would often just slowly have the idle increase rather than decrease. If you were to press the pedal to take it off high idle, it would just stay at the RPM you reached when briefly pressing the pedal.
Besides the high idle, I had another instance in which the accelerator pump didn't want to work with the new carburetor. I can't explain it as the pump cam is unadjusted and seems fine. The fuel bowls had fuel in them. I took the pump nozzle off and then it didn't happen again but I can't imagine it was blocked. It was another oddity that causes you to lose confidence in the plan.
Besides the high idle, I had another instance in which the accelerator pump didn't want to work with the new carburetor. I can't explain it as the pump cam is unadjusted and seems fine. The fuel bowls had fuel in them. I took the pump nozzle off and then it didn't happen again but I can't imagine it was blocked. It was another oddity that causes you to lose confidence in the plan.
I've decided this winter that I'm going to work on upgrading the Mustang with a EFI system rather than continue to work through these carburetor troubles. The money spent on the carburetor is somewhat wasted with this plan but I don't honestly care. I'd like to work on the car again and want something that will reliably operate.
There are a few additional benefits beyond reliability. The car has a hard start problem when hot despite fuel line insulation, carb spacers, and more. The idle doesn't reliability adjust when the AC turns on. The high idle has never worked causing the Mustang to often want to die for the first five minutes of driving. Lastly, I'd rather not worry about adjusting the AFR to be right for the car and instead have a system that adjusts it automatically.
It is hard to continue to invest in the Mustang with the condition of the body and the paint. However, I've about decided I'm going to get someone to restore the body and paint it. I do want the car running reliability before I do that. I'll then decide if I take it all apart to have it painted or how I handle the step in the process.
For today, I started by cleaning up the garage a bit to have a nice work area, removed the carburetor, and checked the wiring a little to pre-plan how the new Holley Sniper Stealth (550-870) will wire into the vehicle. With those few things done, I placed the order for just the sniper unit as I don't expect to reliably place an order for everything I need and will just work through it bit by bit ordering parts as I need them to go get the job done.
I don't plan to rush and actually expect this to increase in scope and might include some rewiring. I'll be happy if I the job is done around mid-February or early March when it is a good time to start driving around again.
