So we just picked up this 1949 olds 88 with a 303 rocket. It has a Rochester AA carb (i think thats what it is, it has a side throat that faces the firewall). When trying to start it the other day it spit out a large amount of fuel straight onto the distributer and the whole engine compartment burst into flames. Can someone please tell me why this might have happened and how can i get this thing started with out catching fire again? We have taken off the carb and cleaned it thuroghly but i dont know how to set the air/fuel mixture correctly. What pin is what and how do i adjust it properly so this thing will start?
Easy fix - '52-'53 4 bbl intake and a 7004300 Rochester ... then you can run that slick oil bath air cleaner everyone loves so much ! It's a bolt-on swap, with only the gen mount needing special attention. If you have the '49 air cleaner, it'll bring enough $$ from a restorer type to buy the 4 bbl setup.
Anyboby else got an idea on this? I'd rather not have to change things right now i just want it running.
it's probably a stuck float,or the needle & seat are bad or it has crud causing it to stick open. sometimes a good whack with a screwdriver handle is all you need,but in your case i'd recommend taking it apart again and checking a few things. 1.make sure the float doesn't have a hole in it.if it does the float will sink. 2.remove the needle & seat and blow out w/ compressed air.then reinstall them with the float.hold it upside down and blow into the fuel inlet with your mouth,it shouldn't allow any air through. 3.doublecheck your float level.if the float hits at the top it won't shut off the fuel flow when the bowl is filled.
If you think the carb. is right ,then check the points and timing, my 324 belched flames until the timing was right, now it fires right up, without any trouble.
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