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Popping Exhaust

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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 01:40 AM
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Default Popping Exhaust

Had a 290 crate motor installed around 16 months ago (6000mls), had to have the heads re worked as the incorrect seals had been installed and subsequently damaged. The popping sound through the exhaust I had from day one continues. Just had a dual exhaust system installed and the popping is clearer and predominantly drivers side bank of exhaust.
I had a similar noise from the previous motor which eventually burnt out valve seals.
I have been told it could be the Holley and should look for a Rochester quadrajet!
Could be a lot of things.
Is this a common sound and/or most likely the sign of a fundamental issue, again!
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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 09:02 AM
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Originally Posted by patto
Had a 290 crate motor installed around 16 months ago (6000mls), had to have the heads re worked as the incorrect seals had been installed and subsequently damaged. The popping sound through the exhaust I had from day one continues. Just had a dual exhaust system installed and the popping is clearer and predominantly drivers side bank of exhaust.
I had a similar noise from the previous motor which eventually burnt out valve seals.
I have been told it could be the Holley and should look for a Rochester quadrajet!
Could be a lot of things.
Is this a common sound and/or most likely the sign of a fundamental issue, again!
I've always been told that popping in the exhaust indicates raw gasoline getting all the way into the exhaust system and burning there instead of in the combustion chamber.

I would try to find out which cylinders on the left bank are not burning completely and why. Start by pulling your spark plugs and look for wetness from fuel on the tips and also read the plugs for rich mixture as indicated by black sooty residue. Pull them one at a time and mark which cylinder they came from.

cc
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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 02:30 PM
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Thanks, noticed when the Holley was off the motor that fuel leaked from the carby continually.
I would expect that when closed a carby would seal?
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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 06:17 PM
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Originally Posted by patto
Thanks, noticed when the Holley was off the motor that fuel leaked from the carby continually.
I would expect that when closed a carby would seal?
Your float may be set too high. It should not leak at all.

May be time for a rebuild. Holleys are not too tough.

cc
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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 07:21 PM
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I come from the motorcycle world but the fundamentals are the same.

Popping on decelleration (as in several in a row) is caused by a lean condition - it will be very pronounced when you back out of the throttle after hard accelleration and can be compounded by muffler selection.

A single loud pop (more like bang) can be caused by a rich condition - as described above - but it is usually one loud bang as the excess unburned fuel ignites in the exhaust system all at once.

What type of mufflers are you running and how long since the carb has been tuned?
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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 07:57 PM
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After I installed vortec heads I had a popping problem for several years. I thought it was my carb. I finally took the time to diagnose the issue and found that one of my exhaust gaskets was not sealed properly. I replaced it and the popping went away.

Jim
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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 09:19 PM
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patto, ED69ray makes an excellent point. When does the popping occur during acceleration or deceleration?

cc
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Old Jan 30, 2009 | 04:16 AM
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Thanks all,
The popping is really only audible on idle particularly on start up and early stage accelleration, I have not heard it on decelleration or while cruising.
The Holley has been tuned to leaner side but hasn't been properly tuned for a year or so and not after head rebuild.
Week end start up often produces a cloud of blackish blue smoke and has produced the odd backfire.
Sounding more like a carb issue?.
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Old Jan 30, 2009 | 06:59 AM
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Couldn't this be a bad valve, Guys???
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Old Jan 30, 2009 | 08:15 AM
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Originally Posted by sly vette
Couldn't this be a bad valve, Guys???
Yep, and I'd also be suspicious of the head work since that was the last thing done to it.

cc
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