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kbash

kbash

Jedi Trainee
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I'm burning way to much gas on the zenith to rich.There black smoke out the exhaust and i have a oil leak on the timing cover.
 
Open the top of your stromburg carb and check the rubber diaphram, if it has a crack or tear this can cause your problem, also clean the water choke, the needle arm behind the heat mass may be not closing. As for your oil leak it sounds like its time for a new oil seal
 
Also, look to see if your needle's set properly...to do so, you might have to remove the carb from the car

...to put on a new timing cover gasket you have to remove radiator, water pump, harmonic balancer...while you're in there, you should check the timing chain & its tensioner
 
I dont have a water choke its manual.
 
But, did you disassemble the carb itself? & if you did - are you sure the needle's set properly?
 
How's the air-idle screw adjusted? It's the plastic one toward the back of the engine - on the carb. White/yellowed plastic with a little set-screw right in the middle. Look at tony's site - at what JDW has said - at the bottom of the page (under the last yellow line)...
https://www.theautoist.com/zs_water_chokes.htm

I adjusted mine, and it still runs rich, but not as bad at idle. I still think/know my diaphram is messed up, and the needle and needle seat is prolly worn out on mine.

But.... Have you checked which way you installed the manual choke kit? At full choke, the little lever should be all the way to the right (About 5 O'clock, as viewed from the front of the car), and at no-choke... The little lever should be at the full left (about 11 O'clock as viewed from the front of the car).
 
Well would it hurt to run it for a couple more weeks on friday or saturday I get my su's then Eric Marshall donated a exhaust manifold to me. Could I run it like this and just adjust it?
 
too rich won't hurt the engine (as far as I know), but one problem you might have is it "loading up" at a stoplight, and quitting on you. I say run it, but fix it soon!
 
Keenan - one more time:

But, did you disassemble the carb itself? & if you did - are you sure the needle's set properly?
 
Just a little put ryan put her back togher
 
Is the needle correct?
 
Okay - lift your pston & look up inside the hole...the needle is sticking up from the bottom & should be level with the carb body.
 
I thought he had the ZS carb? If so, the needle is part of the piston, and adjustments to it are made through the top of the dash pot.
 
Ah, you're right...I said needle but meant guide...now I've probably really confused Keenan

So, Keenan - disregard...I know you didn't mess with the guide
 
Prolly not the needle either as it takes a special tool anyway.
 
and adjusting the mixture with the needle is somewhat counter-intuitive. Tighten makes it richer, loosen makes it leaner.
 
I got the tool but i cant seem to get ti the right mixture is still burning to rich and black.
 
So... What are you doing Keenan? Fixing the ZS or putting on the SU's?
What is your timetable for getting the SU's on?

Paul
 
Have you checked the choke adjustment as mentioned above? Those SUs are way more than a little weekend project. If it were me, I'd focus on getting the ZS set up properly.
 
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