After ordering and installing the new intake gaskets and silicone boots, I still have a leak, and the carb is acting the same. It will start every time but will not idle.
While installing the intake, I was able to torque all of the intake nuts to 13 lbs on each of the new ones and the old ones, except for one. One of the old ones started feeling like it was pulling the stud out, and the aluminum gasket looked crumbled.
So I loosened up the driver’s side boots and removed the driver’s side intake to find that the one stud that wouldn’t tighten partially was coming out. I also discovered hardly any threads are holding it in, AND it was a stepped stud, meaning someone before me had done some work on it. Some mechanic did a lousy job on this engine.
I took the step stud out, cleaned the threads with a die and ran a tap in the hole to clean any leftover metal.
Then I cleaned all the parts with alcohol to remove any grease and applied some Loctite Red Threadlocker stick, reinserted the stud and tightened it down as much as possible without stripping. There was little thread in the top of the hole, but hopefully enough in the bottom to hold. I would drill it out and retap, but it has already been drilled out to accept the 10 mm stud. So I would have to go up another size. We’re going to let it sit overnight, and then we’ll try and reinstall the manifold to see if we can get a good seal.
Then, I’ll have to address the carb issue. I may try to pick up a spare Weber from someone for troubleshooting. I hate to spend too much on it, as I have the original duals but have yet to have the time to rebuild the second one.