Ok folks, with all the help in the past on this forum, I hope I can (with the help of you) finally get this Chevy running right. I thank the lord it is not my daily driver.

I rebuilt this engine and have experienced a few problems which I might point out. The timing tab for beginners is not correct, so right out of the box, problem 1. The engine runs great at an idle. I have timed it by ear and sitting in the driveway, in park, it ramps up good. I can put it in gear in the driveway with the brakes applied and she will spin the tires if I let her. As soon as I put it in drive and take off, it will hesitate and backfire (mild). Everything is new, carb, intake, distributor HEI, plugs. The heads were worked at the machine shop as well as the block. The bore is standard, the valves are stock as well as the rockers. My Vacuum is a little low about 12 at idle with no fluctuation on the needle and it comes up to 18 while ramping it up to 1500 rpm and higher. It was an Edelbrock Cam, lifter, carb and intake package for a SBC #2401.

I took it out last week wanting to take my first 100 mile trip and it seemed to be running good for 15 miles or so. No hesitation, great acceleration etc. So I load the family up and about 15 miles into the trip, it starts to run rough taking off from stop lights/signs. If I go wide open it seems to run good. I have the choke bypassed/wide open. Both adjustment screws in the carb are 1.5turns out and I adjusted them to high idle with 1/2 turn back in. I may not have the right gasket under the carb, but it was what came with the kit. That could be my vacuum problem, but you tell me.

Today I jumped in and again tuned it by ear. It was running a little rough so I got it where tt was sounding and feeling good. I put in in drive, applied the brakes everything seemed good. As soon as I put it in gear to take off, it falls on it's butt.

It's like Christine, sometimes it does good, other times not.

Please ask me questions, I'm sure I left something out. And thank you very much for helping!