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Author
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Topic: Holley Carb problem
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HHuggins
Gearhead Posts: 182
From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 04-01-2001 08:07 PM
   
So I thought I'd do something easy and change the filter element on my 'stang. It has one of those pillow-shaped Edelbrock air cleaners with the foam filter and a Holley 750. I take out the old one, put in the new one and go and wash up. When I come out a bit later to take a spin the car sputters and spits and sounds generally sick. I don't know a thing about carbs - any ideas? HH
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HHuggins
Gearhead Posts: 182
From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 04-01-2001 08:16 PM
A friend of mine just told me that this is a common problem with that Edelbrock air cleaner. Seems the filter element breaks down and gets into the carb, clogging the jets. Probably happened when I took out the old filter.Sound plausible? HH
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68fb
Journeyman Posts: 42
From: LakeStevens, Wa. USA
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 04-01-2001 09:45 PM
Make sure that the new filter element is not blocking or obstructing the bowl vent on your carb,(the tube which extends vertically up from the carb). If this is even partiaaly blocked you will stave the engine for fuel. Ideally you should have at least 3/4 inch clearance above the opening of the vent tube.
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HHuggins
Gearhead Posts: 182
From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 04-01-2001 10:05 PM
I just went out and took another look - nothing seems to be blocking the vent.HH
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68fb
Journeyman Posts: 42
From: LakeStevens, Wa. USA
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 04-01-2001 10:15 PM
Run it down the street or whatever without the air cleaner installed and see if the problem persists.
Process of elimination.
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HHuggins
Gearhead Posts: 182
From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 04-01-2001 10:19 PM
I wish it would go down the street. It won't go five feet - with or without the air cleaner.HH
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68fb
Journeyman Posts: 42
From: LakeStevens, Wa. USA
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 04-01-2001 10:32 PM
Hmmmmm... nothing down the throats of the carb when veiwed with bright flashlight, no vacuum lines or hoses disturbed during the replacement, Accelerator pump discharing fuel down venturi when carb linkage operated manually,
Visually check to ensure all spark plug leads are secure on the cap/coil, no obstructions down bowl vents when viewed with flashlight..
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HHuggins
Gearhead Posts: 182
From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 04-01-2001 10:39 PM
Thanks - I'll give those things a try tomorrow morning. Just a bit more info - the car will turn over but then just won't keep running, it really sounds like it isn't getting fuel. It also emits smoke from the exhaust - something it never did before. HH
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Dave_C
Gearhead Posts: 755
From: Gadsden, Al
Registered: Aug 99
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posted 04-02-2001 12:23 AM
What color is the smoke? Black, blue or white?If it's black you may be flooding. Check the float level first. Then maybe a blown power valve. Also look at the air bleed holes to make sure they aren't plugged. Later, David Cole
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racin jason
Gearhead Posts: 291
From: Sidney, OH
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 04-02-2001 10:58 AM
My cousin has one of those on his 68 camaro, he got gas or something on it and the foam fell apart.
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 33988
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 04-02-2001 01:29 PM
In the venturis, there are 4 air bleeds, 2 at each corner. You could have dropped some junk on them, but I doubt they make it run that bad. Could you have disconnected any vacuum lines or perhaps a spark plug wire or two? ------------------
'72 Mustang Sprint Coupe 351C 4V/FMX/4.30 Trac Loc
'94 F-150 XL 5.8L/E4OD/3.55 Limited Slip
'97 Probe GTS 2.5L Disposable Commuter
"Keep your driveway all Ford!"
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HHuggins
Gearhead Posts: 182
From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 04-02-2001 11:01 PM
Well, I checked it out with a flashlight and don't see anything blocked. I let it set all day and tried to start it up tonight. It turned over and sounded just fine. I was going to drive it around the block to make sure everthing was okay, but as soon as I put it in gear and started giving it gas it started acting up. It wasn't running as poorly as yesterday, but it wasn't great. I parked it and gave it few good revs and it seemed to clear up and sounded okay. When I got out of the car there were black marks on the pavement outside both exhaust pipes - a black, gritty residue.
 HH
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Robert K
Gearhead Posts: 514
From: Nashville, TN
Registered: Apr 2000
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posted 04-03-2001 08:44 AM
The exact same thing is happening to MY car!
I've got a Holley 4160 on a 302. Sunday I drove the car for about an hour and it ran like a top. Last night I thought I would change the oil so I start the car to warm it up and it ran terrible. It ran rough and very very rich. The fumes were burning my eyes and throat and there were black marks behind each exhaust pipe. The car was idling rough and then died. I couldn't get it started again. I removed the air-cleaner and gas was all over the intake. I tried to start it again and gas just bubbles up from the carb. I managed to get it started and it ran for maybe 30 secs. to 1 minute but sounded terrible. The carb makes a strange gurgling sound and kinda of spews gas from one of the holes on top of the air horn when trying to start it. I checked for loose vacuum lines, wires etc. I also checked for obstructions in the carb and found none. The car has never backfired to damage the carb. Something has happened to my carb but I'm not sure what. What can go "bad" inside to make it do this?? Are the Holley gods angry? It sounds like whatever is wrong with HH's carb is what's wrong with mine.
Where are the Holley Guru's?  ------------------
67convertible 289/auto
65fastback 302/4sp
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 33988
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 04-03-2001 09:03 AM
Robert, you have a stuck float. Probably a piece of dirt in your needle&seat.------------------
'72 Mustang Sprint Coupe 351C 4V/FMX/4.30 Trac Loc
'94 F-150 XL 5.8L/E4OD/3.55 Limited Slip
'97 Probe GTS 2.5L Disposable Commuter
"Keep your driveway all Ford!"
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 33988
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 04-03-2001 09:06 AM
HH, when was the last time your carb was rebuilt?------------------
'72 Mustang Sprint Coupe 351C 4V/FMX/4.30 Trac Loc
'94 F-150 XL 5.8L/E4OD/3.55 Limited Slip
'97 Probe GTS 2.5L Disposable Commuter
"Keep your driveway all Ford!"
IP: Logged |
68fb
Journeyman Posts: 42
From: LakeStevens, Wa. USA
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 04-03-2001 09:45 AM
I agree. The needle is not closing against the seat allowing the fuel pump to over-fill the float bowl. Is there a filter installed between the the fuel pump and the carb?
Perhaps the needle and seat have worn.
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Stang28965
Gearhead Posts: 411
From: Webster New York USA
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 04-03-2001 10:42 AM
This happen to my car last week when I took it out to warm it up.... It did not idle good and did not want to take off. All it was was a bad spark plug, How old are your plugs? If ones bad then that cylinder is dead and will make the car smoke, I'd check into that I had changed all my plugs in my car but forgot 2 because I was distracted and did not get to them, Well, I put the 2 new ones in and it ran perfect.. The old plugs where a year old, I changed them because I went to a leaner jet size.-Jeff
-Jeff
1965 Mustang Coupe
289 Bored .030over
302 Heads
420 lift Cam
H-Pipe with dynomax mufflers
8 inch rear with 3.55's
4speed trans
http://members.cardomain.com/stang65
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georgeb
Gearhead Posts: 927
From: Solomons, MD, USA
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 04-03-2001 11:35 AM
Also check the power valve - if they go bad/leak you get instant over-rich condition.
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Robert K
Gearhead Posts: 514
From: Nashville, TN
Registered: Apr 2000
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posted 04-03-2001 11:39 AM
Could I have a blown power valve?
How do I unstick the float if that's the problem? Do I need to remove the carb from the engine or does the top come off like the Autolite 4100. Obviously, I've never worked on a Holley before.
Thanks for everyone's help!
------------------
67convertible 289/auto
65fastback 302/4sp
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 33988
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 04-03-2001 03:21 PM
Robert, if the floats are externally adjustable, you can loosen the lock screw and back them out of the float bowls. If not, you have to remove the float bowls and get at them from the inside. Sometimes you can get lucky and tap the carb with a screwdriver handle and knock the dirt loose, but you are better off disassembling it and cleaning it. If your power valve was bad, you wouldn't have fuel flowing out of the vent tube, yours is an obvious float or needle&seat problem. ------------------
'72 Mustang Sprint Coupe 351C 4V/FMX/4.30 Trac Loc
'94 F-150 XL 5.8L/E4OD/3.55 Limited Slip
'97 Probe GTS 2.5L Disposable Commuter
"Keep your driveway all Ford!"
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Robert K
Gearhead Posts: 514
From: Nashville, TN
Registered: Apr 2000
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posted 04-03-2001 05:59 PM
Then basically what you are telling me is this is an "gentle" indicator that my carb should be re-built. I'm lucky I was just stranded in the drive-way instead of the highway. Thanks again for your help!------------------
67convertible 289/auto
65fastback 302/4sp
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Moneymaker
Administrator Posts: 19751
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 04-03-2001 08:28 PM
THE FIRST THING THAT I WOULD DO IS CHANGE THE FUEL FILTER. ------------------
Alex Denysenko Co-Administrator and Moderator NHRA/IHRA/SRA member
Fleet of FoMoCo products
Moneymaker Bio
US Class Nationals link
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Robert K
Gearhead Posts: 514
From: Nashville, TN
Registered: Apr 2000
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posted 04-04-2001 08:16 AM
I don't think it's the fuel filter Alex,
It's getting PLENTY of fuel. Fuel was squirting up thru the air horn when I tried to start it.I tried to start it again last night and it started right up and ran ok for about 15 seconds, then started running rough and acting like it was going to die. I could already smell the raw gas and shut it off.
So I decided to remove it and take the carb apart last night (it's a 600CFM 4160 by the way) and the secondary fuel bowl doesn't look like it had fuel in it. The float was tight and you could barely move it with your finger. Also the vaccuum diaphragm that actuates the secondaries was torn which probably explains why there was no evidence of fuel in the bowl.
I don't think the floats were set right in the first place. I'm going to get a rebuild kit today and hopefully get it back together tonight. I should have done this a long time ago. ------------------
67convertible 289/auto
65fastback 302/4sp
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