wierd!

OK, here's the story. 1988 Dodge pickup, 318. Fuel injection was running rough, too much wasted on it already, so I put on an Offy manifold and AFB. It ran like it had a vacuum leak. Choke it and it smoothed out. Disconnected and plugged all vac lines, no change. Warped manifold? Changed to cast 2bbl. Same thing! Engine has good even compression, roller lifters don't rattle, new dist., cap, wires, plugs, kit in Carter BBD. Idles for 10-15 seconds, then stumbles and loses vacuum and dies. I tried three different AFB's and two 2bbls, one a Holley, and no difference.HELP!

Codes up the ying-yang! When it got to the point where I had to replace things I'd already replaced, I chucked the whole works. Changed everything from the tank to the gas pedal!
The Offy manifold leaked all along the head surfaces. Sprayed ether at the edge of the gasket and the engine revved up. Haven't tried that on the 2bbl. man. yet, ran out of ether!
Sorry, no pics. Just a 318 anyway.
The fuel pressure stays up good, new pump. The carbs and manifolds came off good running engines.New electronic non-computer dist. with cent. advance. No difference I can see in the intake gaskets from the injected manifold compared to the others.????

Well, I got a can of ether and sprayed it along the sides of the manifold. The gaskets are leaking a bit at all the ports. Guess I'll have to find thicker gaskets. It seems like the heads are too far apart! I even loosened the manifold and retightened it and no diff. Also painted the gasket line with goo. Still leaks.

i agree with the vac. leak but that ether will go through a good gasket. sounds like to me you may have some bad valve guides.

I had a a folded or bad gasket on an intake manifold once and it took a long time to find the vacuum problem. Look there for sure. All it 'll cost you is a couple gaskets to see.

Just a thought....
Had a buddy with a HiPo 327 who had the heads milled so much it caused the same problem. He also had problems with water getting in the oil. Your comment about the heads seeming too far apart rattled the ol' brain.

Looking for some thick gaskets. My favourite parts house went broke a year ago, so I have to shop around. All the local places just sell the tin ones.

yesh, sounds like the heads have been decked, prob'ly .060 or more.