1952-59 Ford Carb Question

Ok, So now I'm trying to get the engine to run smooth and I figure I must need the carb adjusted because its backfiring through the exhaust and running real rough. I have the timing real close I'm sure so i dont think thats the problem. The plugs are getting black real quick so this is what leads me to this conclusion. I have a Holley 650 on it and after reading up on how to adjust it and trying what they say (Internet) it still runs real rough. It says to pull the two plugs out on the p*** side of the carb and make sure that gas is at the lower part of the hole and if not to adjust the two bolts on top of the carb to make it do so but no matter what Position i set them in the gas doesnt get to the level its supposed to be at...its either too high (pooring out) or too low (cant see any gas in the hole) does anyone know what i might be doing wrong? also theres a screw on each side of the carb that is supposed to be adjusted (Air/gas mixture screws i believe) it says on the internet that once you get the gas bowl height correct then you adjust the screw on the driver side until the engine idles up as high as it will go and then you back the screw back 3/4 of a turn and then do the same on the p*** side screw. The problem is it doesnt make any difference when i adjust the screws at all....it doesnt idle the engine up any or down. any help would be appreciated

 

The adjustments you're making with the top screws and the sight plugs are for float level. On a new carb they don't usually have to be set. The side screws are for idle mixture.
I think the best thing for you to do is rtemove both float bowls from the carb and adjust the float level by the book on the bench. Once you have those adjusted correctly, reinstall and set the idle mixture screws two turns out from all the way screwed in. Screw them in gently. You should also clean all the spark plugs as well.
B'firing through the exhaust sounds like either a timing or valve adjustment issue. Check those two items.
Lastly, what size, type and level of build are you working with? 650 Holley is a lot of carb for most stock/mild applications.

 

Reread what the above says in the last line. If you are playing with a 292 or a 312, that carb may not be right ever.

 

umm, you got a 302 right. an older 302 takes a diffrent firing order than a later 5.0 h.o. 302. it takes a 351 windsor firing order . make sure you have the right firing order. you can put a 351 windsor cam in a older 302

 

Thanks Guys, Its a 289 and I finally figured out what it was. It had burned a hole through the Dist cap! I pulled the dist cap to look at it and the little br*** stud that send spark down to the rotor cap was completely gone like it had melted out and the hole that it mounted in was charred. I dont know what could have caused that because i had it hooked up just like the company that sold the Dist and Coil to me told me it should be Red wire to positive on coil and Black wire to the negative on the coil. Anyways I went ahead and put the one wire GM type dist in and it is running alot better now. It is still running rich but i think i can get that fixed adjusting the Air mixture screws. I will do like you say and take the bowls off and set the floats that way first that makes more sense than trying to do it the way i was. Anyone know why the Dist would burn that little br*** ****on slap off? thanks guys

 

When I worked at a Ford Truck dealership back in the '70s I did alot of Holly carb overhauls. To set the float level after an overhaul, I would re-install the float, insert the needle and seat with the adjustment screw and nut. Invert the bowl and adjust the needle and seat in until the top of the float (now inverted) is level with the top inside edge of the bowl. This always set the float level perfectly.

 

If I recall you bought a small cap HEI Pro-Comp PC7002 and external coil PC2041E here is diagram from the website http://www.store.procompelectronics.com/images/PC7000INST.jpg if you call during the day they have live help available,you are running the vacuum advance to the correct port?

 

Not sure which port the vacuum advance should go to on the carb Jeff

 

Port vacuum is usually the higher port from the carb base, Manifold vacuum port, if there, would be lower.

 

Go to the Holley website you can pull up the tuning guide,there should be an illustration showing what goes where.