My daughter has a '61 Chevy wagon that has a crate motor that was installed some 15 yrs ago but never started until recently. The motor starts but revs very high RPM that I immediately shut it down. My thought is that two or more lifters are frozen (?). She and SIL lives two hours away from me, has no tools to speak of so makes it difficult for me to check it out. What would cause the high RPM?
Greetings Seon!...lifters would have no bearing on revving like that. Stuck throttle would be my first thought, vacuum leak is a possibility....check throttle linkage, make sure the carburetor shafts aren't rusty/gummy....take close up pictures ( or have her do so ) and post them...
Does the carb match the intake? We dont know what's on it, because you didn't take any pictures....but it's pretty common to put an Edelbrock intake and carb on the crate motors, and forget to add the plate you need to make sure it doesn't have a big vacuum leak. But there are a bunch of other possibilities, too. Pictures, really really help internet diagnostics.
The last crate motor I installed in my '56 Nomad was over twenty years ago and forgot about that carb plate...Duh. She and SIL lives two hours away but will ask her to take pics but don't think it's necessary because there is NO PLATE...dummy me. Sound like an easy fix. Thanks to all that pointed to a vacuum leak. I'll report back.
It's just a square bore steel plate, it covers the edges of the spreadbore hole in the Performer intake.
I have used several Edelbrock intakes and carbs ,have two now, and was never aware of this plate. Have not experienced any problems. Can you provide a link to this plate so I can be educated.
https://www.edelbrock.com/square-bo...e-100-thick-for-edelbrock-manifolds-2732.html The intake has a larger hole than the Edelbrock carb base will cover, so the plate just makes sure it seals. If you are using a different intake with a "real" square hole in it, you don't need the plate.
I'm about to call Summit to ask which plate I'll need but think the #2696 is the one. Oops just read your reply that the 2732 is the correct one.
Ok, both current ones I have are Ford so all are square bore, I guess my Chevy intakes in the past were square bore. I see they make a spread bore for Chevy's. Educated.
I think it's a 2104 or 2101. Car is at my daughters house and she's at work so can't verify which one. Update: It's a 2101. The 2104 was installed on a '90 350.
I bought that Edelbrock plate, drove to my daughter's house and installed it. Motor ran fine. That certainly did the fix. Thanks to all.
It was definitely a vacuum leak. A 10 minute job turned out to be 8 hrs . My SIL had a valve cover off and instead of me placing it back on decided to place it back on after I installed the plate...what a rookie move. I removed the first bolt off the carb but slipped off my 75 yr old fingers and BAM...down thru the head hole. Tried a magnet with no success so off comes the intake. Now daughter and I drive to town to buy an intake manifold gasket. Took three parts house to finally find one. Replaced the manifold, new plate on and mounted the carb. Battery's dead. Back to the parts house for a charger. Battery charged, cranking the starter but wouldn't start. Found that the fuel pump was faulty...back to the parts house. Pump replaced, starter cranked the engine over and she's purring. Big grin on my Daughter and SIL's faces. Two hour drive home.
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