Question for the motorheads

[Speed55]

I have a slant six 225  engine in my duster.
I recently upgraded the intake and exhaust manifolds to allow for a 2 bbl holley 2300 (350 cfm).
The jets it came with are 61's.
I tried to start her yesterday, eventually richening instead of leaning the idle mixture by accident, and having flames shoot out the top of the carb. 
Even leaned out as much as possible, she cranks, runs for a second, then croaks, which i think is the engine flooding.

Anyway, i'm going to pick up up (2) 54 jets today and a new float bowl gasket.  Is swapping jets as easy as pulling off the float bowl, replacing the jets, and screwing it back together?

[straffo]

Lemmy Kilmister == teh god

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

Yes. Don't tear up the screwdriver slots, and don't tear the gaskets.

[rpm]

The slant-6 is a great engine, but you're never going to get any power out of it. Good luck with that.

[Speed55]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPQcVSOTTXI&feature=related  <--- well you can get power out of them, but...

I'm just looking to improve the stock setup, otherwise I would have dropped a 340 in it a couple years ago.

..and thanks cap, i'll be make sure i don't  mess up the gasket or screw head.

[VonMessa]

Yes. Don't tear up the screwdriver slots, and don't tear the gaskets.

What he said 

The slant-6 is a great engine, but you're never going to get any power out of it. Good luck with that.

If you plan on dumping money into it, go back to the 340 idea.

The 6 will last forever, though.  There is a reason they used 'em in taxi-cabs for so long.

My buddy sold a 74 Duster with a 225 in it.  it had  285,000 miles on it and still ran like a top 

He is correct, also.  (Without getting wild and crazy on budget)

Put the single barrel back on.  All you are gonna get out of a 2 bbl, is a hair more torque, and a skinnier wallet.  (It will sound a bit cooler, too)

[Grayeagle]

Flames out the carb fairly scream 'timing' .. got the firing sequence right, distributor advance right?

Too rich when you punch it and it will growl and spit black smoke out the back. (slow rev compared to when it's 'right')
Too lean when you punch it and it will pop (the famous 'bog') then take off.

If you are close with your settings, rich will still get black smoke out the back, and lean will make the engine run HOT.
(always run a little on the rich side, no fun to burn pistons an valves)
If you have access to a gauge that measures fuel-air ratio ..shoot for 12.5 to one)

Clifford Research useda be the go-to guys for all things 6-cylinder.
You'd be amazed how much they pick up with a decent carb and manifold.. they are strangled from the factory.
(yes.. you can run a 780 Holly 4-bbl on one ..and it will use it ..all of it)

Decent cam will help ..as will headers.
They need to breathe to run, and the stock setup just does them no good at all.

-GE

[VonMessa]

I was gonna mention the timing.

Back-Fire           Can't get a better example of what it truly means until you have your air cleaneroff and your head under the hood when it happens   

Also, if you know anyone who wants a 64' Valiant, let me know.  I changed to the 225 when it threw a rod.

I'll give it away (to someone who will at least use the parts to revive something else), I just don't want to call the junkyard, because all they will do is crush it 

I'm right outside of Philly.

[JAGED]

Lemmy Kilmister == teh god

[Speed55]

I'll try and get some pictures with what i'm dealing with.

I checked the timing and adjusted the valves before i took off the single bbl manifold and holley 1920 last week, it ran fine.

Sunday i put on the 2 bbl intake manifold and split exhaust manifolds.

Yesterday i put on the holley, connected the fuel line, and tried to start her, just to see what would happen. She won't even idle at this point.

[Grayeagle]

Ok ..then you have an air leak into the intake apparantly.
(only reason it would pop if timing, etc. is ok)

(too rich would be black smoke and slow rev)

-GE

[sluggish]

Stuck needle valve?

[VonMessa]

Stuck needle valve?

Fuel pump taking a dump on ya?

Bowl not full (float level)

Bad accelerator pump?

[uptown]

check for leaks around the intake....spray around where it meets the block and carb. it will idle up it you have a leak. put the breather on when you start it, so if it does backfire through the carb you won't have a fire on your hands.
changing the jet and gasket for pretty straight forward easy stuff, just make sure everything is good and clean when you reassemble.
double check all torque and tighten in squence. is intake aluminium? is it new or used? if it's used, make sure it's not warped.
Want better flow?......use a die grinder to smooth, match and polish the ports. works wonders on the heads (or head) 
i did that to a 70' 429 i have and gained 68 hp at the flywheel.
sounds like you got a nice project going there. let us know what you find out.