Rebuilt Engine Trouble

[ko-lek-tor]

You checked and the bolts for the engine mounts are installed, right?
And bolts are in the transmission mount and cross member, right?

Come on guys.   Remember, check the things that are easy and don't involve any cost first.  Doing this will take a few minutes and if things are OK, then move on.  Process of elimination.

I actually think there is more than one issue, but without seeing this "wobble" in a video or in person, it will be hard to diagnose.

Agree w/Bryon. When I learned OP used non AC plugs, that sent up a red flag to me. I used to think plug brand did not matter, I mean, a plug is a plug, right?  Well, I have had many instances where an engine just would not run or run right with certain brand(s) of plugs. Not even sure what it is that causes the problem, but I know it happens.
Couple of years ago, my cousin tuned up his '39 F20 Farmall (antique tractor). It would not fire,(hit a lick, if you are from Appalachia) so he calls me to bail him out. This is a hand crank magneto engine so patience goes away quick if there is no firing of the cylinders. I told him to put the old plugs back in and what you know, it starts. Autolites were the new plugs. I told him, they just will not work in that type engine. Made a believer out of him that day.

[Axlman]

Working on it tonight as last night date night with wife changed plans.
I suspect that the spark plugs were the issue and that the Autolite ones will correct with any luck.
But we shall see.
Much thanks go out to all on the advice and opinions.
I will post late this evening with results.

[crobjones2]

because I've done this before - assuming it is an automatic, do you have too much fluid in the transmission?

[BULLITT65]

now thats one I haven't done (yet?) .

What kind of response did you get with to much ? how much extra fluid did you have in there?

[crobjones2]

about two quarts - one heck of an out of balance at low end, smoothed out when accelerating. acted like I had lost a cylinder
everything I read said 9qts - but 7 puts it just under the full line - yes- completely empty with 1 qt in the converter

[Axlman]

Hello all.
Thanks again for all of the help and advice. I have to tell you it was not easy or completely clear what happened or the series of events at least.
While we have solved the problem we hope to have figured out the cause.
The issue, and it makes me a bit embarrassed not to have looked, was that the transmission and engine bolts were loose, two missing in fact. Now i am 100% sure that they were tightened.  Both of us know we tightened them. We did however miss putting in the one  bolt (small opening between firewall and has to go in before install).
Our theory is that the plugs were the wrong ones and were running cold and causing vibration.
This, coupled with the fact that I did not loosen the transmission when I tightened the flexplate led to the bolts backing off and increasing the vibration.
The second issue is that the Quadrajet carb was not tuned very well and the air mixture screws were worn  badly. This led to poor fuel consumption. Seems better with new screws and I still have some adjusting to do.
My failure to loosen transmission mount bolts led to  a gap between the engine and trans and when I tightened the flex plate it pulled the torque converter part way out of trans up against the flex plate.  Once i loosened the transmission mount the trans pulled up tight and everything fit well.
So it seems we have solved the dilemma. AT least for now.
All of you and your help are greatly appreciated.

[BULLITT65]

Awesome that you figured it out, and with (hopefully) very little damage.

A bunch of little items added up to a bunch of noise and a rough running car.

Enjoy your smooth ride!