Carburator problem?

[milwmort]

I have a 78 spider built in October of 77. I was having horrible performance issues and crappy gas mileage so i decided to rebuild the carb. I ordered the rebuild kit for a 78 fiat and the part kit that came didn't fit. Turns out it wasnt a stock carb on my car. About 7 years ago a customer gave me a carb that he said Fiat shipped to him in the 70s to tear apart and write repair manual for. That was his business for years. He never did the job and had the carb on his shelf for years until i told him i had a 78 fiat and he gave me the carb. Well I go to install this carb and realize that a port for what i would learn to be the hot water choke was broken during all my moves over the last few years. I ordered the part from Ciaba and my fun began. Turns out I didn't have the right manifold with the port on it for the choke or the right tube for the water pump either. Then the needle valve for the air/fuel mix broke off and i needed another base plate for the carb. so now everything is installed on the car. The hot water choke is working great thanks to Mikes help from the local fiat club. Heres the problem. Mike and I took it for a test drive and I made it about 6 blocks when the car died. We killed the battery trying to get it restarted and finally got it towed back to my garage where we put a charge on it and went to lunch. came back and the car fired right up. I went out today and started the car right up. I watched the choke open up as the car warmed up and as soon as the choke was fully open it died again. The only way to get it restarted was to cover the choke. Now I am really happy its running again but I would like to get it to go further than 6 blocks and need a tow. I might as well own a Chevy if i want that kind of frustration. LOL OK in all seriousness any help or ideas would be appreciated. I have about a 6 week window to enjoy the topless car before the hell heat comes back. Thanks and i look ofrward to learning from all of you experts here.

[digitech]

If you have to cover the choke to get it started after it died, then it is running too lean after it's warmed up. Start by investigating for vacuum leaks at the intake, around the base of the carb and the carb mounting. Then, look at the mixture screw position - it should be no more than 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 turns out.

[So Cal Mark]

how did you rebuild the carb?

[milwmort]

The carb wasn't rebuilt. It was a nos 32adfa given to me by an old customer


How do I check if there's a vac leak around the carb base or intake manifold

[124JOE]

use a 3 ft hose
start the car,put it in you ear
poke around all parts that seal "intake"
you will hear a hiss if you find one