Soooo I have an 83 gls without rats nest and all that emissions junk, just put a brand new sterling nikki on it and after installing the carb. my car idles at 4000 rpms, so I've been looking for a vacuume leak somewhere but no luck.

I went out there today to put the blocking plates where the elbow goes down to my cat. and I saw this little plate on top of my engine soo i took it off to see what it was and its a big open hole that looks down into where my flywheel is.

So I'm guessing that its an inspections plate cause I've seen them on non-rotary vehicles. I cleaned the plate off and put it back on there and theres a big gap in between the plate and my engine. If it is an inspection plate the gap wouldn't matter but what I'm wondering is if it is an inspection plate or not? And if it isn't would that gap cause a vacuume leak?

Also I haven't had a chance to start my car today cause my battery is dead but would that elbow (if uncapped after emissions is removed) cause my car to idle at 4 grand?

 

nope - will not effect vacuum - your right its an inspection plate.
If you -presumably - got your carb from sterling, then either Dennis or Carl should be able to help with the idle...
Let us know how this is solved!! (since I have yet to install my Sterling)
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

the inspection plate has no effect with air inducted in to your motor..... as for your idle you prob have to tune it down, if it idles at 4 grand thats not because theres a vacuum leak, vacuum leaks are an unmixed amount of air with no gas which would bog it out, if it only idles at 4 grand and its impossible to tune it lower and it dies on you then its usually a vacuum leak due to the lean mixture but if it just starts no with no gas and jumps up to 4 grand then its probably your idle screw, look down the carb and check how far open the throttle valves are on the primaries.... but sterling would know best.. try following his guide to tuneing idle down at his website, www.sterlingmetalworks.com

 

how is there vacuum at your flywheel?

its more of a cover than an inspection plate, as the trans is round and the engine is flat on the side.

the cover on top by the oil filter is leftover from when the starter used to go there

 

So I figured it out I didn't know the idle speed screw was on the side of the carb and completely missed that so thats why it was idling so high (newby mistake).

other then that I have a really high pitched wistle comming from somewhere under my hood I can't tell where it is cause it changes depending on what side of the car I'm on. I'm thinking it's a vacuume leak but can it be identified because of the sound it makes?

 

bump

 

Not really; pretty much any vacuum leak, or fast airflow, can make for a whistling noise. Even a hole in the airbox can whistle. Doesn't necessarily indicate a problem.

You can localize the source easier using a length of hose like a stethoscope; hold one end to your ear, and point the other end at various parts of the motor. It focuses what you're hearing to a smaller area, making it easier to find the source.

Keep the hose clear of the fan, though.

 

thanks for the advice that worked pretty well and its comming from my alternator sooo.... I'm guessing it's a bearing?

 

could be electrical, but i have had a bad alternator bearing....

 

Few realize that removing the inspection plate is one way to set initial timing. If you suspect a bad bearing in the alt, remove the alt belt, start the engine and see if the noise goes away.

 

Glad you got the idle issue solved, but you should be spanked for not reading the information at Sterling's site. lol. That's like, not reading the instructions, dude. But really, go through all the steps to tune the idle, it makes a big difference if you take the time to do it right.

Just out of curiosity, what fuel pump are you running?


.

 

well I removed the belt and it's still whistling so im guessing its not my alternator.

And I'm using some generic fuel pump i think its 2-5 psi not exactly sure but somewhere in there.

 

If you're not sure about the pump, then find out for sure. Fuel pressure is important.

 

what's the psi supposed to be? I have another fuel pump that is 7 psi that i could put on.

 

2.5 - 3.25 psi. You don't need to upgrade your pump. It's just a stock Nikki.