GAAA! This is driving me up the wall!

Topic: GAAA! This is driving me up the wall! (Read 635 times) previous topic - next topic

GAAA! This is driving me up the wall!

October 15, 2006, 04:34:36 PM

I've been messing with this for weeks now, the car just does NOT want to start cold. Hook up the block heater and it comes to life just fine. But the best it does otherwise is to start and run for a few seconds then it sputters and dies. The fast idle works, I've experimented with the choke in various positions, I tuned the mixture screws for the highest vacuum and rpm. The only anomaly that won't fall into line is the float level. I've raised and raised and raised that thing til it seemed like it wouldn't raise anymore and still the gas would barely get close to the bottom edge of the sight plug. I know gas is getting to the carburetor because I could smell it after my latest attempt to start it (I didn't go nuts with it, I just cranked it like 3 times for 2 seconds).

Actually here's a question...if the sight plug is open too long will gas vaporize and escape from it? I'm asking because the last time I adjusted the float it seemed like the level was higher when I first took the plug off.

GAAA! This is driving me up the wall!

Reply #1 – October 16, 2006, 08:54:23 AM

http://www.holley.com/TechService/FAQ.asp?category=Carburetor

[COLOR="Red"]QUESTION How do I adjust the fuel level on my carburetor?

ANSWER To adjust the fuel level you will need to take out the sight plug in the side of the fuel bowl and with it running Loosen the lock screw on top of the fuel bowl and turn the nut clockwise to lower the level or counter clockwise to bring up the level you want it to be at the bottom of the sight hole. If you turned it too far down it might have bent the tang on the float. to get back to a starting place, you will need to take out the lock screw and turn the nut so the needle & seat is 1/2 way through the thickness of the nut then put the screw back in, then take the fuel bowl off and hold it upside down & level then bend the tang on the float so the float is level in the center of the fuel bowl. This will get you back to a starting place. [/COLOR]

GAAA! This is driving me up the wall!

Reply #2 – October 16, 2006, 10:14:37 AM

Excellent thought. That may be the problem I'm having with the float. As for cold starting I'm coming to believe it's the choke and fast idle afterall. I didn't take into account the stepped cam...every time I adjust the choke a little it knocks the fast idle out of wack again. I'll go at it again tonight.