Just got the 318 running today, but got a small problem. At idle, it runs smooth with no miss, but if i move the throttle abrubtly, it stumbles or chokes briefly then catches up and revs up smoothly. if i move the throttle slowly it doesnt do this. what would cause that?

check for an immediate squirt of gas when you move the throttle & I'm assuming it's warmed up/choke off as inadequate choke closing can do it

take the top off and check the acclerator plunger neoprene cup for rips/tears & if good check the float level (good idea anyway as it's easy and you have the top off)

okie doke. gonna do that now

I gotta hit the hay. I'll get w you tomorrow.

ok, checked the accelerator pump diaphram and adjusted the float level, same problem, but i noticed that if i held the choke partially closed, the stumble went away...any ideas?

I'm no carburetor expert, but here's my thoughts. With no visible fuel squirt when you hit the accelerator, that means your accelerator pump is not working properly. Running with the choke partially closed will give you more fuel, so the accelerator pump issue will not be noticeable - you're covering up the lack of an accelerator pump squirt by introducing more fuel into the system with the choke. So, we need to determine why your accelerator pump is not squirting.

On my Holley, when you hit the accelerator, the accelerator pump cam pushes on a lever, which then pushes on the accelerator pump diaphram, which forces fuel through a passage and out of the squirter. A spring inside the accelerator pump bowl forces the diaphram back when the accelerator goes back to idle position. If the lever is sticking, the diaphram will not return, and the accelerator pump cam can move all it wants but it won't be moving the lever (since it's stuck), and you won't get a squirt. The same thing would probably happen if the spring behind the diaphram was broken - it wouldn't return the diaphram, and you would get no squirt. You may also have a plugged passage to the squirter, or a plugged squirter, or even a wiped lobe on the accelerator pump cam.

The way your carb creates the squirt may be different, but the principles should be the same - something pushes on the diaphram, causing fuel to flow through and out of the squirter. If the diaphram isn't being pushed, or it isn't returning, or the system is plugged, you won't get a squirt.

If it is an Edelbrock / Carter AFB/AVS type carb, check fuel bowl level as about to the level of the baffle inside the fuel bowl.

what kind of carb?

if it's an edelbrock/carter, you can change the position of the linkage to a hole closer to the body of the carb, that'll give a larger pump shot, if the accelerator pump is working correctly. you should see a solid squirt when snapping the throttle.

The carb is a holley 2bbl, it is an older type (no oxygen feedback or other junk on it)

when i depress the accelerator lever, it doesnt quite feel right. it feels lose. im thinking if i was moving the lever, i should feel it making a slight suction, but i dont, and i am definitely not seing a solid squirt of fuel.

might take off the squirter & see if the brass valve is loose and move the throttle and see if it squirts and if not then I think the carb needs to come off to get at the AP diaphram under the square cover. I'm assuming that the external linkage is intact/moving, that it's something inside

ok, i figured it out yall! thank you all for your help! it turned out that indeed the problem was in the accelerator pump, specifically, the check ball was stuck (probably from sitting too long). i bought a rebuild kit from autozone for 20 bucks, and overhauled the top half of the carb while it was on the motor. Easy as pie! the carb is a holley 2280 2bbl. chrysler used this carb for many applications for small blocks. the check ball was under the squirter nozzle assembly, and i found instructions in my chrysler dealer repair manual specific to this carb model for testing of the accelerator pump and float adjustments. maybe this will help someone else!! the engine accelerates crisp and smooth now!

What was in there a ball or the pointed needle. I'm not a holley guy and one I have has just the needle