It's alive! Um was, I need help with carb

[mdrburchette]

I would first get the thing at TDC with the belt on. The engine will rotate by putting a big socket (1.5"?) on the crank pulley nut and turning the engine that way, or you can try turning it by moving the alt belt or turning your camshafts. I bump the starter until I'm close, then rock the car in gear until my camshaft mark line up to the pointers. Once you get those lined up, you can see if everything else is lining up. You can then loosen the tensioner, align the pulleys and reinstall the belt if it's a new belt. If you don't know the age of the belt, go ahead and replace it. A $35 belt will save you major agony and expense since your 1608 engine is an interference engine. It is easy to get the camshaft pullies off their mark by a tooth, so be careful. Remember your camshafts will rotate once for every two times your crankshaft does. Once you get all that done, you'll be able to check your distributor timing. The rotor should be pointing toward the #4 plug wire contact inside the distributor cap. The Fiat is like a Toyota. It is timed off the #4 cylinder, not the #1.

[spence]

Great detailed info. Much appreciated. Hopefully have good news by the end of the weekend. Any chance to pick the belt up locally? Hate to wait on delivery, need to get this resolved.

[mdrburchette]

You may be able to, but I order my timing belts from our vendors. They carry Pirelli brand, which is a quality belt.

[spence]

Great news! We got her running decent, doesn't die, will get down the road, but running rich as all get out.
Cam timing was fine so the guy says, belt was new already, looks like it was just replaced. We had to adjust ignition timing and points, both were way off. But, the car still hesitates, I can floor it, get very little punch. Does drive much better. Never driven a Fiat before, but I have VW's and MG's, Triumphs, remember more punch. The guy that helped said it sounded like it has a vacuum leak, which I capped all ports, butI do have the EMPI short filter, so that may be where he's hearing that.

On the mixture screw, which way do I turn, how much etc to lean it up a bit?
Thinking about taking the car to the Fiat guy just for good measure, set everything nice and tight.

Also, I've got mushy brakes, I just replaced the two grommets, there wasn't any brake fluid, sure they need to be bled.

[mdrburchette]

What did you set your dist timing to? 10 btdc is a good spot for a 1608. I'm not familiar with the carb you're using, but with any carb I've had, I turn the mixture screw clockwise until it seats, then turn it 1 1/2 turns out for a start. Then you can fine tune it from there. Maybe someone more familiar with this carb will chime in.

[spence]

We set it to 10, or extremely close. I may take it to the shop for fine tuning, schedule is getting hectic.

Not sure which screw is which. Top is short, bottom has spring?
EDIT: found this link: http://www.redlineweber.com/html/Tech/c ... _best_.htm

I found this link:http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=232158
which mentions in some cases, a fuel pressure regulator may be needed, not sure if that applies to my car, also mentions setting the floats, again, not sure that applies here. I know Mark picked these carbs as a good match for our cars.

EDIT: crap, car is a dog again, was running fine this morning when I backed out of drive way, just got in to go to work, puttering like it did when I started this journey. To add insult to injury, we're having a yard sale, guy stops, says he's had 5 Fiats, always had carb issues, then says they're POS. I don't know what could have changed in 2 hours.

[majicwrench]

Hey I bought my Fiat at a yard sale!!

[spence]

This one is about to get sold at a yard sale. Getting ill with this car. I adjusted the bottom, which I assume is the idle, because that changed, then there's one right behind the choke, again, change, had to leave for work. I put it back on Craigslist, new job coming up, I don't have time for this. So frustrating, mad at myself for being so impulsive.

[spence]

Ok, attempted to set the carb, did not get very far, idle is high, still runs slow, better, just a tad. There 3 screws to adjust, not sure which is which. Attached are 3 photos.
Bottom screw w/spring
screw under choke-
screw on throttle linkage-

[So Cal Mark]

first pic is the idle mixture screw, second is the fast idle speed, third is the idle speed

[spence]

Thanks Mark. Should I set everything back to base and start over?

[spence]

I got the carburetor set, fires right up, idles pretty smooth at 1000.
Took it for a test run, car has very little pickup, drives like an old VW Bus.
I still cannot get over 60. Takes it a bit to climb, I definitely wouldn't pull out in traffic.
The condenser sent was incorrect, maybe that's a part of the issue, the rotor was incorrect as well as the cap.
Contemplating taking it to the mechanic for one last shot, if not, I'll sell it for what I can.