Got the Demon out for an actual race day this past weekend - qualified in C/Gas (9.60 index), but got my ticket punched when the other guy went 9.600 - oh well - good drag race.

But, the car is having a minor problem - it doesn't want to idle when I put it in gear (even in neutral) - it starts surging really bad.

Previously, I had an intake leak and I fixed that. I have verified twice that it isn't leaking anywhere and Al verified 2 or 3 times that it isn't leaking anywhere. So, I'm stumped there.

It does have a new ATI converter so I'm wondering if that is the problem (too tight?) - but geez - this is completely messing up my staging routine becuase I'm having to keep the RPMs way up and two foot it into the beams just to keep it running.

Given we've already checked for leaks and ruled that out - we are thinking of pulling the carbs apart to see if something got stuck in there - but, to me it seems like it would do it all the time - not just when the trans pump is turning. Just a note - it idles completely clean when in neutral.

One more bit of info - it was set to run fat to slow it down a little - but again - it seems like if that were the issue it would do it at idle and it isn't. Also, when the air came around in the evening - the problem did not go away. So, I don't think it is the jetting.

Any ideas?

Sounds like it may need more initial timing.

distributor locked out or still using mechanical advance??

Distributor is locked out. Timing is at 34* right now.

For poops and giggles see if any gas is dribbling from the squirters or anywhere in the venturas or the intermediate circut.Make sure all the air bleeds are clean.

The carb is worth disassembling and cleaning and blowing out passages. But it would be worth watching the timing while the engine is doing that (one guy in the car on the brake, the other with the timing light).

It could be as simple as the plugs loading up too. You might want to keep a set of hot plugs on hand for trouble shooting the engine in the pits/garage. Cold plugs don't like too much idle time, especially when the mixture is rich.

Try leaning just the idle with the idle feed screws.

Bob - I did have some leaking in the back carb. I pulled and cleaned the needle/seat and that seemed to correct the problem. But, now I'm wondering if it is intermittent.

It idles clean - but then when I put it in N or gear - the RPMs drop and it doesn't want to run. It almost feels dead and then it surges when I give it some pedal - almost like a really fat blower car.

I always shoot cleaner in my bleeds - but I think I'm going to pull everything apart and clean them out to make sure.

One other carb thing, especially on Dominators. Make sure the front and rear throttle blades are open exactly the same number of turns. I have seen uneven setups cause all sorts of idle in gear problems.