Stalling Issue

1986 Chev K30 Crew Cab
350 with Holley Carb

The truck sat for a number of years so I've been slowly working my way through it. I got it to run and idle but was running rough so I pulled the carb (Holley) and got it rebuilt. I also swapped in a new distributor. The truck starts and idles good now but my issue is that as soon as I put it in gear it wants to die.

It did the same thing before the carb rebuild and distributor swap as well. My question is can a bad hydroboost brake system cause this? My brake system is questionable to sat the least and certainly needs work. When I push the pedal (even at idle) I can feel it pulsate through the pedal like it's starving for boost. Does this problem cause the engine to stall as well do you think? Or is it something else?

If I pump the gas to keep it running it will drive down the road fine but if I push the brake to stop the motor wants to stall so I have to put it in neutral to keep it running, then pump the gas when I put it back in drive.

I am not qualified to answer your question… tho I am curious, could a fuel filter and/or fuel sending unit play into this -to some degree- in anyway?

Sounds like a fuel supply issue. When you press on the brake or use PS it adds drag on the motor. Check fuel pressure, volume and filter.

What condition is the fuel? Today's pump gas starts to degrade in 3 months.

It may have a HB problem due to pulsation but shouldn't cause stalling. Later on, when it runs right flush out the old PS fluid.

Don't replace any other parts until some diagnosis is performed.

viaminveniam1939 said:

I am not qualified to answer your question… tho I am curious, could a fuel filter and/or fuel sending unit play into this -to some degree- in anyway?

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The little filters in the Holley carb were replaced with the rebuild. I also have an inline WIX fuel filter between the mechanical fuel pump and the carb. It has fresh gas in it and the filter looks clean.

I used to have an 82 Chev C10 that had working AC.when I'd run the AC it seemed to act the same as this truck. It wanted to stall when in gear....like it was starving for power.

My plan is to change the plug wires and plugs ( they need changing anyhow). What is my next step?

Timing?
Fuel pressure?

Another thought.

Could it be a vacuum advance issue? The distributor I put into it is am Accel 59130

It had a vacuum advance stop plate in the packaging which I didn't install. Should I have??
I haven't dialed in the timing yet either. The vacuum advance is hooked to the vacuum port on the side of the carb so that is "ported vacuum"?

Correct me if I'm wrong tho but if timing and vacuum advance is off the engine will stall under load (such as putting it in gear)? Correct?

fast 99 said:

Sounds like a fuel supply issue. When you press on the brake or use PS it adds drag on the motor. Check fuel pressure, volume and filter.

What condition is the fuel? Today's pump gas starts to degrade in 3 months.

It may have a HB problem due to pulsation but shouldn't cause stalling. Later on, when it runs right flush out the old PS fluid.

Don't replace any other parts until some diagnosis is performed.

Click to expand...

HB?

viaminveniam1939 said:

HB?

Click to expand...

What is that?

SASKCHEYENNE75 said:

Another thought.

Could it be a vacuum advance issue? The distributor I put into it is am Accel 59130

It had a vacuum advance stop plate in the packaging which I didn't install. Should I have??
I haven't dialed in the timing yet either. The vacuum advance is hooked to the vacuum port on the side of the carb so that is "ported vacuum"?

Correct me if I'm wrong tho but if timing and vacuum advance is off the engine will stall under load (such as putting it in gear)? Correct?

Click to expand...

Put the old distributor back in it and time it correctly.Then dial in the carb. Then after timing and carb are set, if you want change the distributor change it then. The new distributor is going to need work on it to work correctly. As @fast99 said quit changing parts until you diagnose things. It makes things harder. I changed A B,C D E and F now it doesn't run right. What's wrong? IDK Could be ABCDE or F or none of those was the problem and we still need to find the real problem,after we eliminate ABCDE and F. The rule is ignition first,then carbureation ,and we cant dial in your new distributor until we have the carbureator right.

Ricko1966 said:

Put the old distributor back in it and time it correctly.Then dial in the carb. Then after timing and carb are set, if you want change the distributor change it then. The new distributor is going to need work on it to work correctly. As @fast98 said quit changing parts until you diagnose things. It makes things harder. I changed A B,C D E and F now it doesn't run right. What's wrong? IDK Could be ABCDE or F or none of those was the problem and we still need to find the real problem,after we eliminate ABCDE and F. The rule is ignition first,then carbureation we cant dial in your new distributor until we have the carbureator right.

Click to expand...

Good point I will try that

viaminveniam1939 said:

HB?

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I’m not sure what HB means…

Fast99 wrote “…It may have a HB problem due to pulsation but shouldn't cause stalling. Later on, when it runs right flush out the old PS fluid.”

viaminveniam1939 said:

I’m not sure what HB means…

Fast99 wrote “…It may have a HB problem due to pulsation but shouldn't cause stalling. Later on, when it runs right flush out the old PS fluid.”

Click to expand...

Hydro boost