I'm having an issue with the engine stalling on my 71 Blazer. It's got a 350 in it. Most noticeably it happens when approaching a stop sign and braking harder then usual or turning into a parking lot. I will notice the tach drop from about 8 to 3 or 4 rather suddenly and about one in 10 times it stalls.

I know next to nothing about cars but I do know the timing was just adjusted. I'm also curious about what sort of gas I should be using. I'm currently using 87.

Additionally it has edelbrock headers, Weiand Intake, and a Holley four-barrell carb. Not sure any of this has any relevance.

 

You may need to check or adjust the floats in the carb.
Could also be that this initial timing is too low. Do you know what the timing is set at during idle?

 

I do not! Sounds like this is above my pay grade!

 

This will sound very complicated but Its actually very easy if you can borrow or rent an adjustable timing light. the light will just hook up to the battery and clip onto the #1 plug wire. Then with the engine running you point the light down at the harmonic balancer. the light will strobe/flash with the firing of the #1 plug. then you turn the dial on the timing light until the timing mark on the balancer lines up with the timing tab on the timing cover. Once they are lined up the number you have the dial set to is your idle timing.


look it up on youtube its very easy.

 

That does sound relatively simple. Thanks!

 

Dont you mean turn the distibutor?

 

No im talking about the dial on the timing light to see what the initial idle timing is.

 

so then you need to turn the distributor to correct it right?

 

Yssir. they will rotate the distributor to adjust one aspect of the timing. but i didnt want them to just adjust it yet because there is alot that goes into the timing depending if someone has modified the distributor weight or springs and busings.

For example my old S10 that i built i had about 12-14 degrees initial timing and i set it up to come into full advance of 34 degrees by 2800-3000 rpms. and i could advance it a bit more when running race fuel. But this was with a larger cam and 11.5 to 1 compression.