Topic: Holley Carb Help - Please?
in Forum: General Automotive Discussion
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I'm trying to get my dad's old Ford F100 running. 292 Y-block V-8, been converted to a 4 barrel intake with a Holley quad. It's a run of the mill 600 cfm, vacuum secondary 4160 (I think). I actually put that carb on about 10 years ago - brand new then. The truck has been mostly sitting since then which I'm sure is the problem. When we first tried to start it it ran for a little than quit and wouldn't start. I pulled the carb and took it apart and found that the needle and seats were frozen in both ends so I replaced both. Replaced power valve and accelerator pump diaphragm at the same time. Now it starts, runs and idles fine, but it has a horrible bog when trying to accelerate and I noticed that it is getting zero pump shot when I hit the gas. I'm pretty sure when working with a Holley you should be able to look down the throat and even if the engine is off you should see some fuel squirt out of the little nozzles at the front, in between the two primary bores, when you blip the throttle. I see nothing coming out of there engine on or off. I know I have the pump lever/cam/diaphragm working correctly so I'm thinking the little needle or ball beneath the squirter nozzle is frozen? Please let me know if I'm on the right track. This thing has been giving me fits for a few days now and I'm supposed to get the rig to my house tomorrow so I can try to sell it. Thanks!
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daveo76 said: I'm thinking the little needle or ball beneath the squirter nozzle is frozen?
That would be ed zachary where I would look first. The screw that holds the squirter, or the holes in the squirter itself could also be clogged, but my money is on the check valve(ball/needle). One other problem could be with the check ball in the bowl, where the accelerator pump is....it could be stuck, also.
Take the screw that holds the squirter in out, and give the throttle a pump. No fuel means either the check valve is stuck, or a problem at the pump. If you get fuel, the problem is either the holes in the screw, or the holes in the squirter nozzles.
Caution when you take the squirter off, and pump....be sure to put a finger over the screw hole in the carb before pumping. If fuel does come out, you don't want the check valve blasting out, and falling down into the carb bore....and into the engine....that'll really ruin yer day....

Joel Adams
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Thanks Joel! It was indeed the needle valve beneath the squirter. It was stuck in there pretty good. Once I was able to jiggle it out I could see that was definitely the problem - fuel would squirt out of its bore when I got it out. Good advice on not dropping the needle down the carb. It takes me about 5 minutes to get the carb off of this truck so that's what I did to avoid this problem, but I'm sure it would have happened to me if I had not pulled the carb. I got it put back together and it seems to be running a lot better and I can see fuel squirt out when I blip the throttle. Oh, and I don't think there's a check ball down at the actual pump. The newer models seem to have this little red umbrella thing in place of the check ball down there. The rebuild kit had a new one so I put that in too when I replaced the other parts.

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Ah HA....little red umbreller, eh? Don't guess I've seen one of those on a Holley that I remember. No matter...glad you got it solved, anyway. 
First 292 Ferd I ever built was fun. Someone else had torn it down, and sent it all to the machine shop. When the guy got it back, he asked me to put it together for him, so I says "Sure....it's just a dang old Ferd". I was 17-18 at the time.
So...I gets it built all the way up, put the heads on, and couldn't find the lifers. Looked and looked, asked the guy about them, he ain't got a clue. THAT'S when I learned about the old 292 series lifters...they're solid chunks of steel.....AND they go into the block from underneath BEFORE the cam goes in....

Had to tear that thing all the way back down and start over....


First 292 Ferd I ever built was fun. Someone else had torn it down, and sent it all to the machine shop. When the guy got it back, he asked me to put it together for him, so I says "Sure....it's just a dang old Ferd". I was 17-18 at the time.
So...I gets it built all the way up, put the heads on, and couldn't find the lifers. Looked and looked, asked the guy about them, he ain't got a clue. THAT'S when I learned about the old 292 series lifters...they're solid chunks of steel.....AND they go into the block from underneath BEFORE the cam goes in....


Had to tear that thing all the way back down and start over....


Joel Adams
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Joel, here's a pic of the red umbrella thing that replaced the check ball in some of the newer models. Good story about the 292 rebuild I've never been deeper than the carb on this truck. Interesting, the engine in this truck may be a 312 - at least that's what the guy we bought it from told us. You can't tell the difference unless you take a look at the crank from what I've heard. I always just tell people it's a 292 since they were actually available in 64 trucks (last year before they went to the 352 FE motor). 312 was available in mid-late 50's Ford cars and T-birds, but not sure it ever came in trucks. It's probably a 292, but you never know. I don't think it's the original motor and I know it was an automatic at one time (now it's a 3 speed with Hurst floor shifter) because it had a kick down switch under the gas pedal when we bought it. My dad has had it since 1990 when I was sophomore in HS. Going to be sad to see it go when I sell it. Sounds like my nephew is really interested so there's a glimmer of hope that it will stay in the extended family!

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Ya...the 312 did have larger crank journals, and larger bore/stroke. No real way to tell externally what the heck it is...even the block casting numbers were the same. Hafta pull the heads or pan to find out for sure. 
They did install the 312 in some trucks, usually fleet accounts or similar. Both good engines....the 292 was a torquer, the 312 was more of a cruiser.....lottsa Mercs out there with the 312.
Nice lookin truck....for a Ferd....
I hafta admit tho..I did have a '65 at one time.

They did install the 312 in some trucks, usually fleet accounts or similar. Both good engines....the 292 was a torquer, the 312 was more of a cruiser.....lottsa Mercs out there with the 312.

Nice lookin truck....for a Ferd....


Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
My Link
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
in Forum: General Automotive Discussion
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