Should I block leaking vacuum headlight switch for tuning carb?

[MoparMotel]

I sent my original 4401 carter off to Old Carb Doc to be restored and rebuilt, and will have it back probably today or monday. He said it should be pretty close out of the box since he test runs them before shipping them back but said it might need a little adjustment. My vacuum headlight switch is leaking, I can hear it hissing when the car is running. I bought a new switch but just have not had time to pull the dash cluster. Should I block this while tuning the carburetor because it is causing a vacuum leak?

Sorry if it's a dumb question but I'm new to working on this car myself, Tired of paying $85 an hour to the local shops around here who don't know shit about mopars anyways.


Thank you

[1BAD68]

Yes.
I dealt with a leak for quite awhile and finally traced it to the vacuum canister (rusty pinholes)
But you won't get a steady idle with a leak.

[MoparMotel]

Thanks,

Where should I block this off for now? I'm moving and don't have time to pull the dash cluster right now. The carb should be here sometime this week and I need to bolt it on and getting it running so I can put it in storage while we move.

[MoparMotel]

Anyone know the best place to disconnect it? Right off the intake manifold and cap it? I'm going to start on it in about an hour wish me luck hopefully I can get it running good

[MoparMotel]

well disconnected the vacuum headlights from the intake manifold and capped them off. Tried tuning the car the best I could but still couldn't get it to run right. It surges while driving, has an off idle stumble, and falls on its face after 4000rpm. Called carb doc and he thinks I might have a vacuum leak around the intake manifold or something wrong with fuel pump.

Any other ideas?

[MoparMotel]

Forgot to mention.. When I had the vacuum gauge on it the needle was bouncing around and the highest reading I got was 8 or 9

[resq302]

Forgot to mention.. When I had the vacuum gauge on it the needle was bouncing around and the highest reading I got was 8 or 9

Do you have a radical cam in there? Stock cams should have a vacuum idle around the 16-18" range for most cars and not have the needle bounce.  Typically, a bouncing needle is a sign of a vac. leak somewhere.

[MoparMotel]

Cam is a mild comp cam...270/470

'One thing I noticed is the carb guy said check the carb and see if it's squirting as soon as you hit the throttle...It is not. The two squirters when your looking into the carb look like they have air bubbles coming out then fuel. It doesn't start squirting until almost half throttle.