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montiac59
03-09-2006, 11:59 PM
I recently got my hands on a 1959 Bel-Air. I've had it about a month, and am very new to classic automobiles. I've noticed that my idle is set pretty high, and I tried slowing it down a bit, but once i feel i've gotten it to the correct speed, i seem to stall out alot on slow corners or coming to stop lights. I've talked to a few people who have said the timing is off, and I'm going to fix that tomorrow. If that's not it, what else could be wrong? (or could it be more than a few things??)

The Bel-Air is an automatic & has a rebuilt 283 w/ new holley 4bbl carb and new intake manifolds.
Billy Clanton
03-10-2006, 07:10 AM
Howdy
Well, welcome to Oldie car collecting. You probably don't have much of a problem that a good tuning and setting won't cure. The Holley carb usually needs some fiddling with. I would think about maybe replacing the Holley with the Edelbrock carb. It is almost an exact replacement for the old Carter AFB carbs, and I think that was probably what would have been on it originally. I had a 64' Impala SS that had a 327 Ci, 300 HP and it had the AFB, and ran like a scalded dog. The Holleys came along in about 1966 or so. I also had a '66 Nova SS with the FX 327/350 hoss set-up. They only made that one for one year. It came factory with a Holley on an edelbrock hi-rise intake and Mickey Thompson headers. That was probably the fastest car I ever owned. Good luck with it and enjoy her 'cause its definately one of the classics. Just don't let Boyd Cottington get close to it!!
Billy
Oldcar_Mechanic
03-11-2006, 11:24 AM
In 1959 the choices for 4 bbl carburators were Carter - WCFB and AFB, or Rochester 4G and 4GC. Anything else is something that they added on later in the cars life. The Holley 4150 and 4160 were put on Chevrolet in 1964.

I agree with Billy. I would start from the beginning and do a complete tune-up with fresh parts. And while the plugs are out you may want to do a compression check. Leave nothing to speculation and guess.

One more thing that is a neccessary is a vacumn gauge. It can tell you a lot about the integrity of the engine.

I love the 59 Chevys. Great style. I had a 4 Dr. hardtop and a convertible when I was young. Sure wish I kept those cars.

Best of luck with yours and keep us posted as to your findings and what you do with the car. Maybe even some pictures for us to see.
Ron