u/Standard-Positive-48

Any suggestions on how to use the gap? I have already took a razor blade to the back side of the welting to make it more flush. But it seems like the actual flare doesn’t get close enough

Background Info:

1979 trans am. 400 engine. Was a 403 shaker (changed base to a 400 Pontiac base). Holley 670 Street Avenger. Half inch wood carb spacer. And a 1 inch air cleaner spacer. Edelbrok Pontiac performer intake. And PTFB drop base.

The problem I’m facing is 1. The shaker still just seems off? It looks still too low. And the gasket is very squished on the front but on the back near the windshield there is about a fingers width gap.

Second thing I’m facing is the air cleaner spacer just doesn’t seem to fit all that well and hits the choke plate arms and doesnt fit the PTFB air cleaner. And without that 1 inch spacer the shaker sits extreme low (more than an inch between the hood and gasket)

Has anyone else had this issue? And what might be somethings I can do to fix it? Possibly just buying more carb spacers and just stacking them instead? Would that mess with the ankles of the throttle and kick down cables?

For context recently got my first classic car. A 1979 Trans Am. And have been slowly fixing it over time. New motor mounts, brakes, fuel lines, wiring, etc etc.

Just did the exhaust and is now less restrictive. And the car was running pretty well but now it bogs, pops, backfires, and stumbles. Is that a lean condition? I readjusted the carb and gave the idle mixtures screws more fuel but it seemed to do nothing. Float bowls are adjusted right.

Do I need to up the jet sizes? Also getting good fuel pressure 6.5psi.

Obviously carburetors are like black voodoo magic and have a basic understanding.