<VV> Running Badly Again

[Frank DuVal]

If I use gaskets on both sides of the insulator I use the thinnest ones available. I install with just the insulators and see if there is a vacuum leak first. 

Look down the carb throat and make sure one of the gaskets is not backwards. 

Yes, why did the timing change?  Fan belt hit distributor?  

Frank DuVal

> On Aug 18, 2026, at 10:24 AM, Bryan Blackwell via VirtualVairs <virtualvairs at corvair.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi Bill,
> 
> Many moons ago I stopped using the paper gaskets.  Chevy only used the phenolic spacers, they are both spacer and gasket.  Never a problem since.
> 
> The fact that your timing was off is concerning, it really shouldn't change at all so long as the points are gapped the same.  Of course if you have electronic ignition it should really never change at all.
> 
> --Bryan
> 
>> On Aug 18, 2026, at 12:35 AM, William Hershkowitz via VirtualVairs <virtualvairs at corvair.org> wrote:
>> 
>>                                                                           B'H
>> Hi all...My 1966 Monza 4 door  with air conditioning and Powerglide was running fine except on a hot day with the A/C running, when after the engine warmed up, it would stall at every red light in slow city traffic.
>> Call me dumb, I asked ChatGPT what would cause that problem, and it said probably heat soak/vapor lock.  Of course I use an electric fuel pump mounted next to the gas tank, and when the A/C isn't on, the car runs fine.  Ir suggested using phenolic carb spacers sandwiched with  thick carb gaskets...
>> Well, the car doesn't run fine any more.  It ran so roughly that when the A/C compressor is engaged at idle in Drive, the fan belt flies off the pulleys!  This isn't a big deal to put back, since I have Ken Hand's spring-loaded tensioner.  
>> I checked the timing, at idle in Drive, vacuum advanced plugged, it was way over at around 32 degrees TDC.  I corrected this and got the idle running smoothly.  I adjusted the mixture and idle screws, as well as the idle solenoid, which got the idle running okay with the compressor engaged.
>> However, when driving now, there's a very noticeable miss of some sort.  She "bogs down" and misses when accelerating.
>> I checked all the vacuum connections and they look fine.  I didn't have a chance to check the carb holddown nuts, but the carbs are solidly bolted to the intake manifold.
>> I also noticed that the new carb base gaskets don't have those 2 notches.  Could that make a difference?  Perhaps I should put the old gaskets/spacers back?
>> Any advice would be appreciated, Thanks!  Bill Hershkowitz
> 
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