Bolted on an Edelbrock thats been on the shelf for about a year. When I put it on the shelf it worked fine.......only change to the motor since carb was last in use is a slightly bigger cam (.460 lift) and better exhaust.

Cruising - the carb is fine. But when I put my foot to the floor.......its hard to describe. Motor sounds HORRIBLE. If I keep my foot to the floor the rpms slowly drop and the car literally SLOWS down.

Im a Holley guy - so this edelbrock stuff is new to me. Obviously this is a secondary problem.
So the secondaries run on JUST jets correct? Im assuming that if Im not getting a lean condition (popping etc) this must be a rich condition......so.....drop the secondary jetting?

Any suggetions help.........

is the weighted air valve on the secondary side still there and working properly?

Funny. I've only ever dealt with edelbrock's, and I've no clue how everyone could love holleys, fancy airbleeds this and that. Compared to a holley (in my opinion anyways) the eddy's are so much simplier. Yes, the only thing that is working is the jets for secondaries. There are no needles or bleeds or anything. Of course the thottle blades below work as well with the throttle, but the only other ingrediant is the air valve on the top. If its a regular preformer carb, with goldish linkage, not black like the AVSnewer ones, it is preset and will open when a certain vacuum is reached, and only with the secondary throttle blades operating. Make sure they have not seized shut. You should be able to open them with a screwdriver poking down through, or your fingers. They open only on one axis, so poke front and back. If that works fine, then there must be a lack of fuel. The jets/curcuit has become pluged. To check that, simply remove the twelve or so star bolts on the top of the carb, unhook the linkage to the accel pump and remove the lid. The needles for the primaries will hang down from the cover, so don't set it on them or they could bend. They are removed from the two smaller star bolts near the center of the carb, under the little covers, and protrude down into the primary jets. Once off, look at the rear of the carb. There are 4 jets, 2 primary in front, and 2 in the rear. It may be filled with sedimate from sitting. If not, you may have to remove the carb and blow out the curcuit with carb cleaner or something. Assembly is reverse of removal. Once you take them apart once and see how they work, you'll be amazed at how simple they are, and so easy to tune. Hope this helps.

Yes the weighted valve is working - and Ive established that the secondaries do open.....

Thanks for the "check the jets" advice. I wanted a second opinion before I broke into the carb.
Ill get in there ASAP and see whats up.

THANKS!

^+2 check the jets, sounds like they are either obstructed or undersized (only if someone re jetted the carb). I had a 600 edelbrock do this on a 350 chevy (went slower on the secondaries than on the primaries alone) and it turns out after checking, that the previous owner had jetted the secondaries way down from stock, for some odd ball application they must have been using it on.

After sitting for a year, my first thought would be to replace all the gaskets and make sure that there is not any fuel residue in any of the internal passages. Pick up a rebuild kit and put everything back to stock specs before you try to adjust jetting etc. Good luck.

Looks like Im about to get first hand schooling on Edelbrock innards!

Thanks guys!

I would check the primary metering rods and the needles and seats, Had one stick on one side after sitting. A tech tip: If you are going to let a eddy or carter sit for some time drain all the gas out of it, Pull the top and then spray all the intermal parts inc. the bowls with WD 40, Put it back together and then you should be good to go next spring.

THEE #1 problem with Edelbrock (and Carter) carburators is float height and adjustment. Check them FIRST before changing jets or metering rods.

Ahhh - good one - could be a sticky float after sitting.......