Could someone describe to me what it feels like when your carb runs out of fuel? Not the gas tank, the carburetor. I've been chasing a stumble/hiccup for awhile that I thought was ignition related but it's still there. It's a 350/700R4 and and Edelbrock Performer 600. I just want to know what it feels like to starve the carb of fuel. Thanks.
Exactly the same as running out of gas which is exactly what is happening either way. If you can make it happen in the garage, spray some gum cutter into the carb when it happens. if it picks up then it's probably a fuel supply problem. If it floods and stalls then look at the ignition.
This engine runs fine if I'm out of the throttle, it idles fine..well mostly it is kind of a lumpy cam, but it idles and revs up fine in Neutral. When I'm driving around it will cruise just fine but when I floor the accelerator it will stumble then CLICK, then I'll back off the throttle and it will resume cruising...if I give it too much throttle or too quickly it will do it again. Last night I got smart. I had my wife in the p***enger seat with her iPhone so she could video what was happening. Well, of course it didn't happen so I can't share that video...I'm hoping it fixed itself!
I was wondering the same if it does it when the engine is hot, this can be a common problem on Edelbrock carbs. Often is is heat soak, or carb boiling, the carb is getting too hot and will cause problems, it can make the engine lose power under acceleration. A good phenolic riser or insulator will usually fix this, unfortunately I don't have any for 4 barrel carbs that you can try. We make them for Holley 94, Rochester, Stromberg 97 and many others. It is a cheap thing to try, and will bring benefits regardless. Dashman's Hot Rod & Speed Parts www.dashman.net
I am using one of those 1/4" Edelbrock gaskets with the hard insert at the bolt holes. It is described as being an insulator gasket. It did this before (with just a plain old cardboard gasket) but that was worse...since then I've ripped the engine back out to replace all the freeze plugs so something else may have changed since then. I have access to one of those laser thermometers so I'll let it idle and see what temp the carb is. I have not attempted to drive it when cold, and if so the choke is on. I have verified that the choke does open fully. (Manual Choke). I think what I need to do is have someone that knows their stuff ride shotgun and see what they think it is.
Really sounds like an accelerator pump issue, if you can squeeze on the gas and it will accelerate without stumbbling, but when you stomp on the gas and it ****s out it's the accelerator pump. When you dump in that much air the carb needs to dump in more gas, if it is not adding the gas it will stumble. Try sqeezing on the gas to full throttle and see if it helps, that may be why it seems to happen sometimes and not others. Bob V.
I get it now. I did have a similar problem when accelerating it would **** the bowl dry. The float would slosh in the bowl and not let any more fuel in but only when I accelerated so it didn't do it at idle or rolling around, only on hard acceleration. I raised the float a little and it solved the problem.
Maybe that's all I need, but this thing was rebuilt from an actual company before I got it, so I can't imagine whoever set the floats did it wrong... I downloaded the Edelbrock Performer owner's manual and was looking at it...perhaps I could describe the problem better if I knew the difference between: Missing or Surging Stumbles or Loads Up Bogs They all share some "Possible Solutions" but some are very different. I would think bogs and stumbles would be the same description. I would also think Missing and Stumbling were the same. Any idea what makes them all different? I really think I need to capture it on video or have an expert ride along.
Edelbrock has a pretty good video for their carbs,If you run through it and cant solve the problem, I had the same thing happening and it was the advance/ retard on my distributor. You mention a heavy cam, you may have to set your advance a bit. you may also have to play with the jetting on the carb.
Missing is a momentary, complete loss of power, in one cylinder, or more, or all. It just cuts out for a moment, and then comes back. Stumbling is momentary, partial loss of power. It never truly cuts out, but gets sluggish and uneven for a moment, and then comes back. Bog is a reduction in power, but even, and smooth. It just wont take any more throttle. I'd check two things, both of which are good for any carb, but especially true for the Edelbrock ones: 1. Check your float level. I have only ever seen one that I have checked that was correct, and I check them all. They don't hold when the box is dropped upside down, from waist height, repeatedly, by the shipping gorillas. While you are in there, remove any and all observed crud. 2. Run a fuel pressure regulator. They are sensitive to over pressure. Set it to 4-1/2". Don't just trust the pump. Oh, and why is is called fuel starvation? Shouldn't it be fuel dehydration?
Float level was not correct, per what I've been reading. I reset the inverted float level to 7/16" (it was more than that). When the carb is upright it is now just shy of 1 1/4" (it was close to 1.75" before) but that can still be changed if it's still too much because now I need a new gasket for between the body and top. Every damn photo I looked at showed that gasket sticking to the top side...of course mine didn't so I needed to rip it out with the floats to get the top off. Where do you think I'll be able to find THAT in CT on a Friday? (That's rhetorical...probably nowhere, "but we can order it for you..."). So, anyway, the way it WAS before, with the 1.75" - >7/16" range, could this have been my problem? With it >7/16" that would suggest that the bowl didn't fill up enough, right? What does the 1.75" lower level mean? Anyway, I noticed that when I would flip it back over to right side up, the inlet didn't always drop with gravity. Maybe the fuel is supposed to push it down, too, or are these needle/seats in need of replacement? Maybe that wasn't even the problem... Thanks.
the float should drop with gravity, check the needle and seat too. I always run a fuel pressure regulator and gage, not only does it function but it looks cool too.
Pep Boys on the Berlin Turnpike. Ask for Edelbrock 1472, $13.99. Possibly Don's, also on the Turnpike.
Maybe I'll grab a kit with the needle and seats, too, while I'm at it. My fingers are crossed that this is the solution. Thanks.
X2 on accel. pump issue... With the engine off, open the throttle all the way and watch the pump squirters. You should have a strong, steady stream of gas all the way to WOT. Don't repeat this more than a couple of times, or you'll flood the hell out of the engine.... Also, if it isn't already, try moving the accel pump linkage to the inner hole on on the top arm. That will stroke the pump faster as you open the throttle.
Gimpy, I called them and it's a special order. I also visited two Advances (one whose website said it was in stock- but wasn't) one Autozone, called three speedshops and Mustangs Unlimited- the only catalog warehouse that's in CT that I know about...NONE. Holleys it is, after this.
That is a pain. Grab an extra, just in case. Did you check here: B&B Performance · 869 W. Main Street · Branford, CT 06405 · 203-481-0366. It is a bit of a haul from W'field, but if it is the only place.... Put a very thin film of grease on the bottom of the gasket when you put it in. That way, it wont stick, in case you have to go int there again.
My coworker told me about that place. I bet the place I know in Norwalk would have it, too. I should move to the shore! The local Advance can get it by 8am tomorrow if I pay for it tonight, so it's not a big deal, NOW. I thought for sure I'd have to get it from Summit or Jegs. It's so frustrating...I called two speed shops (one in Rocky Hill and the other National Speed) and just got their answering machine...lame. The guy at Don's who I spoke with on the phone said he would lean toward the fact that it's one of those Chinese distributors. If it isn't the carb, I'm going to have one of Don's guys take a ride in it.
I just now finally installed a fuel pressure gauge and it reads about 4.5 with no regulator installed. I'm guessing that a new pump will probably cure this immediately. Is there any other way to test the pump? I don't want to spend the money on a new pump to find out it's something in the tank plugging my pickup, or something.
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