I am at a bit of a lose. I bought my 1983 D150 about a month ago when I bought it it would start but die if you didnt keep throttle PEG'D! I rebuilt the carb put in new fuel lines, pump, filter, plugs, and wires. The truck now runs pretty well but the timming mark jumps when a light is on it. I had to guess at the location of vacuum lines as I can find NOTHING about a 1983 d150 with the 225 and a 2 barrel (carter BBD) carb. Im not sure if the carb should be on the truck or if the last owner replaced the 1 barrel with the carter carb.? That would explain my spark plugs having rawl fuel on them.
ANY INFO ON VACUUM LINE POSITION OR THE RIGHT CARB FOR THE TRUCK WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED

 

I understand that the Carter BBD was only mounted on a 2 barrel manifold, which was the special "Super Six" setup in the cars. Don't discard it since those are highly desired by 60-70's car owners and the manifolds sell for $200 used. You might get more luck posting on www.slantsix.org and www.forabodiesonly.com in Slant Six forum. I am a car guy and happened here browsing for info. In 1983, you might also have the infamous "lean burn" ignition (module in air cleaner) which was notoriously finicky from heat. If allowed by emissions in your area, you might easily upgrade to the far superior GM 8-pin HEI setup for ~$15 in junkyard parts (85-95 V-8 trucks, "small cap" or "computer" distributor) or $100 if new parts. Search for posts in sites above.

 

Thank u for the insight. First I can use an HEI dist.? does it need an aftermarket ignition (like MSD)? Im very familiar with the distributor I am a GM guy Ive had 5 3rd gen F.bodies I probably have an HEI in my shed. As far as the Carb on my truck, The info in my "usless" HAYNES MANUAL shows the carter 2bbl on the slant six until like 78' but no info on a 2bbl slant six in 1983. Id be interested in updating to the super six intake manifold. However in the meantime Im wondering if I can lean out the carb enough to make the truck driveable.

 

You use the GM 8-pin HEI module and GM "external coil" with the Mopar electronic distributor. This assumes your distributor is the original inductive pickup type, not the Hall-effect type used on K-cars and such. You can find many posts with photos on www.forabodiesonly.com and TrailBeast there sells kits with new parts $99 (Classic HEI). A junkyard is much cheaper. A GM cable connects direct from module to coil. Snip the connector off the GM pickup. You are looking for a "small cap" distributor (85-95), not the original HEI type w/ coil in the cap.

Since you have a Carter BBD, you probably do have the SuperSix intake, unless somebody put a 2 bbl to 1 bbl adapter. I suspect all 1983's were SuperSix.
Too lean typically causes a rough idle, with the engine shaking and sputtering like "not enough gas". As you go too rich, the engine runs fine with no missing, until it starts pouring out black smoke and eventually slows down and dies quietly. Your BBD probably has plastic caps that limit how much you can adjust the idle mixture. You can remove them, but before doing so, look at everything else since it should tune correct within the range limits of those caps. You want to keep the 2 screws at the same #turns. With a carb, you are always flying blind without an O2 sensor. I have gotten several rich/lean indicator systems (Holley, MSD) off ebay for ~$25. Any muffler shop can weld in an O2 bung cheap.