4Bbl Quadrajet problem. Need a bit of help.

[nick fitz]

Hello, I am planning on ordering Cliffs book soon but was hoping untill I can get my hands on it I might be able to get some help from the forums.

Car: 1984 Oldsmobile 98 Regency Brougham
Carb: 4Bbl Quadrajet Number 17086008
Problem: Car dies when I start up a hill.
Parts Replaced: Fuel Pump OEM CARQUEST, New fuel filter with the one way spring loaded valve, All new vacuum lines, just bought a new needle valve and seat and am installing today in original carb 17084254.

I originally had carb 17084254 on the car and i got another carb 17086008 and rebuilt it. I put the 17086008 on the car and it had been running fine but seemed to run a bit rich but used it for the last year or two. I don't think I had it dialed in correctly. A week ago the car died on me while on my way to work. I had to give it a shot of fuel down the air horn to get it going again and then it would die. I replaced all vacuum lines on the car with new lines. It was drivable on flat ground but after about 100 ft of going uphill the car would die as if it ran out of fuel put a bit down the bowl vent and it would start up again. So i replaced the fuel pump with an OEM replacement from CARQUEST. I also checked the vacuum with a gauge and had around 12 to 14 on the vac gauge.
Still I had the problem. When I pull the fuel line off the carb it would be empty. When I cranked the car fuel would come out at a decent rate. I am getting ready to pull off the 17086008 carb and rebuild the original 17084254 carb and put it back on.
Other than any advice about what could be causing this issue I have two other questions:
Which carb is better, or which should I be using?
Also when I pulled off the purge line from the vapor canister there was a white powdery residue on the inside of the line near the can. Is this normal? Any ideas?
Also other than Cliffs book does anyone have a guide to rebuilding and setting up my carb correctly? I plan on getting the book but I need to get my car running right and can't wait for the book.

[nick fitz]

Is there a way to buy Cliffs book as an E-Book online so I can get it right away?

[von]

This could be the same problem I had years ago. The fuel pickup filter "sock" (mesh screen sock looking filter on the fuel pickup tube) in the tank got clogged with rust or sediment. It ran fine when on level ground but going up the slightest hill or upon any more than easy acceleration it would starve for fuel and die. After sitting about 15-20 minutes the sediment would fall off the sock  it would start and run fine til the next hill or acceleration. The fix was dropping the tank, removing the sock, and installing an in-line fuel filter before the pump. No more starvation after that.

[nick fitz]

Thanks. I have the carb all pulled apart right now. That was the next thing I was going to do. I believe i saw a post where you referenced that problem. When I pulled apart the carb I had on the car I could see that one of the well plugs were leaking. Guess that's why it was so hard to dial in.