When you step on the throttle, the engine seems to bog down and in some cases die.
a bad distributor advance can cause hesitation.
Stepping on the throttle is where the accelerator pump circuit comes into play. When the pump moves up (let up on throttle), the accelerator pump well is filled with fuel. Some get the fuel by filling over the top of the well. There will be a slot in the side of the well for this, others use a intake at the bottom of the well which is shut off with a check ball.
In most 4 jets the small aluminum check ball goes in the pump well.
With the engine off pump the throttle while looking down the carburetor throat. You should see 2 strong squirts coming out of the venturi. If not, then you have a blockage somewhere. 2 & 4 barrels will have 2 squirts, 1 barrel will have 1 squirt.
The small holes in the venturi can be blocked with ethanol residue. run thin wire down the holes. Don't enlarge the holes.
Check the gasket under the venturi, they don't always fit well and have to be trimmed. If they are too big then the venturi won't site flat.
With the top off put fluid in the pump well and press the accelerator pump down. Fluid should come out of the main discharge.
The main discharge should have a check ball, spring, then a T to hold it all in.
Look into the bottom of the accelerator pump well. If there are two holes, then there should be a small aluminum check ball on the bottom.
Blow air through the passage way at the bottom of the accelerator pump well. Air should come out of the main discharge.
Is your accelerator pump cup getting stuck in the well? Most wells are tapered so that the pump gets tighter as it goes down. If ethanol has damaged the pump cup then the cup may be swollen.
Does your accelerator pump have a delayer spring (spring over the stem) and a return spring under the pump?
This article only refers to the type of 4 jet that uses a check ball in the bottom of the pump well. Not all carburetors do.
When rebuilding your 4 jet you may want to test the accelerator pump circuit before closing up the carburetor. Here are the steps you need to take.
Place the smaller and aluminum (when provided), check ball into the bottom of the accelerator pump well. Not all 4 jets will have this check ball. Fill the float bowl and the pump well with mineral spirits.
Put the pump in the well and push it down toward the bottom of the well. The check ball will seal the hole, keeping the fluid from going back into the float bowl and the fluid will be forced through the 2nd hole through the main discharge. You should see fluid come out of the main discharge.
The main discharge should have the bigger stainless steel check ball, then the gold colored spring (don't worry if it is bent), then the T. Stake the T so that it doesn't pop out.
Now test to see if the check ball seals by holding your finger over the main discharge hole and pressing down on the pump again. You should feel a slight pressure on the accelerator pump and there should not be any bubbles or some other sign that would indicate the check ball is leaking and fluid is being forced backwards.