i have a 1986 dodge b150 van with a 318 v8. When i start the van it runs great until the fast idle kicks off, then it dies, unless i keep my foot on the gas a little. I took the air cleaner off and it will idle if i hold the choke closed mostly. I suppose its a vaccum leak, but where should i start ? can i take all the vaccum lines off the carb and plug them to see if the carb or egr is leaking ? could it be something else other than a vaccum leak ?

 

Yes, dirt in the carb will plug or restrict fuel passages and cause the symptoms you described.

 

I have carb cleaner in the gas, any suggestions short of taking the carb apart ?

 

If vacuum leak you should hear some whistling type sounds in the engine compartment. If nothing noticeable then I would look into rebuilding the carburetor and checking/replacing the fuel filter. You could very well have some rust in the bottom of the carburetor plugging it up, and only way to remove it would be to do a complete overhaul of the carb.