I just re-read your original post again. You wrote, “…….. (I found a Tablespoon amount of black non-metallic flakes…….”, in the carburetor. Years ago we had a Ford C600 that was running terrible; no power etc and we took it to a mechanic. He rebuilt the carburetor and later he told us after he was done he kept wondering about some brown flakes he found in the Carburetor. He got the truck back in the shop and took the fuel pump apart and found it was shedding the surface membrane off the diaphragm so he replaced the pump.

And back to timing... I understand it is rare but a worn timing chain can jump just one cog and will run that way. Performance would be bad as I was told that will retard the timing 11º It will also put the valve train behind 11º That too could account for backfire.

 

Ok, I have been able to work on this truck again some. I gave up and condemned it to the crusher, but then decided to try the carburator once more when I looked at replacement costs.

When I took the carb apart, I found a pile of black debris inside again. It looks like Activated Carbon like would be in a water system. It seems to be coming from the Carb vent line that goes to the vapor canister.

Can anyone tell me if the vapor canister has carbon in it? And why it may be sucking this carbon into the carburator Throttle Pump/Bowl area?
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Took the Vapor canister out, and there is carbon coming out of the connection that goes to the Carb Vent. Had a suggestion to put a filter in the line between the carb and Vapor canister, as a less expensive fix than replacing the canister. I will try this when I get the carb clean again.

Anyone know where I can get some info on what the different ports are for on the vapor canister?

 

A $4.00 fuel filter in the hose between the Vapor Canister and the Carburator Bowl Vent and it runs great!

It starts better than it ever has since I bought it. I dismembered the carburator again and removed all the activated carbon from it (again) and put it back on. I added the filter as noted above and I drove it around the block. Last time I tried that I did not make it around the block the whole way before it died. I just went out and tried it again and it started right up!

Now it is on to fix up a few other things on it. But with the engine running again it is worth putting some more into it.

Thanks for the help along the way!

 

I have same issue with my 1984 Dodge with 318 in it. replacing plugs, wires, cap and rotar in the morning. lets see if that works.
I'm going to try some carb cleaner since thats inexpensice too.
if not i'll post some questions too.

 

nevermind I misread the date