Close but no cigar

Last weekend I ordered a new fuel filter, distributor cap and a full engine's worth of new gaskets. I was worried after last week that part of the problem with having to run with the choke closed was due to a lack of gas getting to the carburetor. I replaced the old filter with a new paper filter unit and the difference was immediately noticeable. Gas was SHOOTING into the filter.

After using full choke to start the cold engine, I noticed that it started running rough and was threatening to die. I was confused at first, until I realized I might have been right :-) I pushed in the choke valve, and the engine smoothed out and roared to life. After adjusting the the idle valve and the throttle set screw the truck idled well with no choke at all. Mystery solved.

* Note: It is at this point that I should point out that Carter warned me that he thought the carb was not getting enough gas weeks ago. He thought it might have been the fuel pump, but I have to give him credit. It looks like it was the old degraded gasket on the fuel filter limiting fuel flow into the carb. *

Then I got realy excited to finish the timing. I pulled the Subaru's battery again, and clipped on the timing light. The first thing I saw was the Triangle that I had cleaned and painted last weekend. Yay! I figured I was golden.

But when I tried to adjust the distributor to line up the pointer on the flywheel housing with the ball in the flywheel I ran out of adjustment before I could get there. Argh! I could see the "C" and part of the "U" of the "IUC" mark, but could not get to the ball.

I'm not sure if the problem is with the distributor or something else, but I will have to do some research this week to see if I can figure out what the problem is, and try to solve it next weekend.