E-Type experts, I've got a bit of a puzzle on my hands.

I have a '73 xke that I just recently finished getting back together after having both heads and all the carbs rebuilt. It was running like a top, but the radiator fan switch didn't seem to be working. I replaced it, refilled the cooling system, and was letting it run up to temperature to make sure the fans kicked on when the idle suddenly dropped to ~400rpm and the engine killed.

It started right back up and as I was fiddling with the idle I noticed that none of the adjustments on the passenger side carbs were doing anything.

With the center linkage disconnected, I can rev the engine with the drivers side carbs, but opening the passenger throttle plates does nothing, and when they are full closed, there is a lot of resistance against the throttle plates, almost like the intake manifold on that side is under pressure.

There aren't any other noises, and the engine runs very smoothly on one bank.

Thanks,
Ed

Submitted by edward.w.osbor… on Fri, 07/19/2013 - 15:22

Thanks for the reply, and sorry for the delay, I was only just able to get back on the car. When it's idling the dead carbs are pulling air. As I crack them open, the idle rises slightly and smoothes out a little, but if I keep opening them it doesn't rise any more and it starts to intermittently backfire through the dead carbs. But I was wrong in my initial assessment, there isn't pressure behind them, they pull vacuum through the whole range of throttle position.

Thanks again,
Ed

Submitted by edward.w.osbor… on Fri, 07/19/2013 - 15:18

Thanks for the reply, and sorry for the delay, I was only just able to get back on the car. When it's idling the dead carbs are pulling air. As I crack them open, the idle rises slightly and smoothes out a little, but if I keep opening them it doesn't rise any more and it starts to intermittently backfire through the dead carbs. But I was wrong in my initial assessment, there isn't pressure behind them, they pull vacuum through the whole range of throttle position.

Thanks again,
Ed

Submitted by MikeEck@optonl… on Wed, 07/10/2013 - 18:33

Facts, man, we need facts! Open the dead throttles, put your hand over the chokes and determine whether there is pressure there or not. If there is then that means one thing, if there isn't it means something completely different.