Got stuck again!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,050
Likes: 2
From: Orange Ct
Got stuck again!
Tonight was the second time I got stuck. Last week out for about an hour and the car died at a major intersection, had to endure numerous rude comments and obscenities till I was able to bump it around the corner with the starter and a few gasps from the motor. Flat bed home and the next day it ran fine. Redid all the ignition connections, checked fuel pump flow and pressure and set up the MSD box so I could jump it out. Tonight the same thing happened again on the hiway. Jumped out the MSD and no joy. Voltages were ok and it produced a healthy spark when the points were activated. It would start and run as long as kept pumping the gas. There was no sign of stuck float flooding on the Holley. In a desperation move, I whacked the primary end of the carb with a screwdriver several times and it ran fine all the way home. Took the Holley apart and could not see any problem. Could a Holley float stick closed? Am I missing something?
Bob
Bob
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,104
Likes: 1
From: Frederick Md
Don't you just love a Holley!
The MSD is the kind of thing that works or it doesn't. I would bet the ranch it's a fuel problem, more than likely the motor killer you have bolted on the manifold, you might be able to tell I don't like a Holley!
If you have good spark and enough fuel that kind of puts it in the carb.
I've had Holleys with internal leaks, half of the fuel metering circuits go bad and on and on.
Put a Qjet on it
I would see if I could get another carb and bolt it on.
If you have good spark and enough fuel that kind of puts it in the carb.
I've had Holleys with internal leaks, half of the fuel metering circuits go bad and on and on.
Put a Qjet on it
I would see if I could get another carb and bolt it on.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 5,828
Likes: 370
From: Mobile AL
Bob -
I've never heard of a carb float sticking closed.
If a fuel starvation problem only occurs at engine speeds near idle, then the root cause is probably in your carburetor idle circuit. Almost all fuel is supplied through the metering block idle passages at engine speeds below 1,000 rpm. The idle circuit stills supplies most fuel up to about 2,000 rpm.
I'm guessing you periodically have something stuck in one of these passages. When it washes down far enough to get jammed around one of the idle mixture screws, your engine dies at idle. However, the engine will run if you supply gas through the accelerator pump system or rev the engine fast enough to use the primary jets.
As far as the rude comments and obscene gestures instead of offers of help, you may have to move to eliminate that problem.
I've never heard of a carb float sticking closed.
If a fuel starvation problem only occurs at engine speeds near idle, then the root cause is probably in your carburetor idle circuit. Almost all fuel is supplied through the metering block idle passages at engine speeds below 1,000 rpm. The idle circuit stills supplies most fuel up to about 2,000 rpm.
I'm guessing you periodically have something stuck in one of these passages. When it washes down far enough to get jammed around one of the idle mixture screws, your engine dies at idle. However, the engine will run if you supply gas through the accelerator pump system or rev the engine fast enough to use the primary jets.
As far as the rude comments and obscene gestures instead of offers of help, you may have to move to eliminate that problem.
Last edited by jerrybramlett; Jul 18, 2004 at 08:25 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,015
Likes: 331
From: Southeast Missouri
Originally Posted by jerrybramlett
Bob -
I've never heard of a carb float sticking closed.
If a fuel starvation problem only occurs at engine speeds near idle, then the root cause is probably in your carburetor idle circuit. Almost all fuel is supplied through the metering block idle passages at engine speeds below 1,000 rpm. The idle circuit stills supplies most fuel up to about 2,000 rpm.
I'm guessing you periodically have something stuck in one of these passages. When it washes down far enough to get jammed around one of the idle mixture screws, your engine dies at idle. However, the engine will run if you supply gas through the accelerator pump system or rev the engine fast enough to use the primary jets.
As far as the rude comments and obscene gestures instead of offers of help, you may have to move to eliminate that problem.
I've never heard of a carb float sticking closed.
If a fuel starvation problem only occurs at engine speeds near idle, then the root cause is probably in your carburetor idle circuit. Almost all fuel is supplied through the metering block idle passages at engine speeds below 1,000 rpm. The idle circuit stills supplies most fuel up to about 2,000 rpm.
I'm guessing you periodically have something stuck in one of these passages. When it washes down far enough to get jammed around one of the idle mixture screws, your engine dies at idle. However, the engine will run if you supply gas through the accelerator pump system or rev the engine fast enough to use the primary jets.
As far as the rude comments and obscene gestures instead of offers of help, you may have to move to eliminate that problem.
Almost certaihnly a carb problem in the idle circuit. It should be pretty easily fixable without carb replacement, assuming the carb is in good general overall condition. 
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,050
Likes: 2
From: Orange Ct
Thanks for the advice guys. The thing acted like the bowl
was empty. Pumping the accelerator would keep it running
for a awile and them die totally. By the time I got out of the car
to look the pump would be squirting again. One more test I
did today was pump some gas into a clean container. Found
dirt that was getting though the crap glass filter. The junk
would have to get past the bronze filter on the carb inlet
also. I'll put on a better filter and clean out the tank. It will
be awile before I trust this thing again. Kinda takes the fun out of it.
was empty. Pumping the accelerator would keep it running
for a awile and them die totally. By the time I got out of the car
to look the pump would be squirting again. One more test I
did today was pump some gas into a clean container. Found
dirt that was getting though the crap glass filter. The junk
would have to get past the bronze filter on the carb inlet
also. I'll put on a better filter and clean out the tank. It will
be awile before I trust this thing again. Kinda takes the fun out of it.
