C2 Holley 2818 Carb Rebuilder Recommendation

[James W.]

I had the Holley 2818 carb on my L79 equipped '65 coupe rebuilt and restored about 2 years ago by a well know rebuilder that advertise in the Drive Line. Ever since it came back it has had leakage on both sides of the carb out onto the intake manifold. I still can not find the source of the leaks and it's getting worse. Can someone give me the names and contact information for any/all Holley carb rebuilders? The carb is coming back off the car this winter and I want it fixed this time, You'd think after paying over $400 for a rebuild and restoration you'd get a product that doesn't leak.

It didn't leak before I sent it to him to be restored, it shouldn't be leaking now either.

Thanks,

James West

[Clem Z.]

Re: C2 Holley 2818 Carb Rebuilder Recommendation

if the fuel is dripping out the throttle shafts your float level could be too high. if this carb has external float adjustments loosen the lock screw and turn the adjustment nut 2 flats clockwise and see what happens. if it does not have external adjustments you will have to remove the float bowls to reset the float 1/16" to 1/8" lower

[Clem Z.]

Re: C2 Holley 2818 Carb Rebuilder Recommendation

if the fuel is dripping out the throttle shafts your float level could be too high. if this carb has external float adjustments loosen the lock screw and turn the adjustment nut 2 flats clockwise and see what happens. if it does not have external adjustments you will have to remove the float bowls to reset the float 1/16" to 1/8" lower

[Jack H.]

Re: C2 Holley 2818 Carb Rebuilder Recommendation

If the rebuilder you used is Bob Kuntz or Jerry Luck, they stand behind their work and should be ready/willing to take the carb back and make it right. As mentioned, it sounds to me like the throttle shaft wasn't properly re-bushed, but it 'could' be as simple as just 'snugging' up the screws holding the float bowl(s) and metering plates to the main body and verifying the float levels are adjusted properly....

[Jack H.]

Re: C2 Holley 2818 Carb Rebuilder Recommendation

If the rebuilder you used is Bob Kuntz or Jerry Luck, they stand behind their work and should be ready/willing to take the carb back and make it right. As mentioned, it sounds to me like the throttle shaft wasn't properly re-bushed, but it 'could' be as simple as just 'snugging' up the screws holding the float bowl(s) and metering plates to the main body and verifying the float levels are adjusted properly....

[James W.]

Re: C2 Holley 2818 Carb Rebuilder Recommendation

Clem and Jack,

Thank you both for your replys. After getting the carb back and recurved distributor back on/in the car last fall, I took it to a speed shop that I know and trust and had the car power tuned. I personally watched them set the floats to the correct position per the instructions found in the 1965 Corvette Shop Manual instructions for the Holley 2818. The car runs great but the carb begins to leak after the car is shut off. It doesn't leak while it's running, just after being shut off, maybe 30 to 45 minutes later and continues to be wet for several days. The rebuilder/restorer of the carb was one of them that Jack mentioned, now if I can just find my receipt for the work performed.

Regards,

James West

[James W.]

Re: C2 Holley 2818 Carb Rebuilder Recommendation

Clem and Jack,

Thank you both for your replys. After getting the carb back and recurved distributor back on/in the car last fall, I took it to a speed shop that I know and trust and had the car power tuned. I personally watched them set the floats to the correct position per the instructions found in the 1965 Corvette Shop Manual instructions for the Holley 2818. The car runs great but the carb begins to leak after the car is shut off. It doesn't leak while it's running, just after being shut off, maybe 30 to 45 minutes later and continues to be wet for several days. The rebuilder/restorer of the carb was one of them that Jack mentioned, now if I can just find my receipt for the work performed.

Regards,

James West

[Clem Z.]

Re: C2 Holley 2818 Carb Rebuilder Recommendation

because the the "new" gasoline you need to drop the floats 1/16"-1/8" below the GM specs. try that before sending it back. like i posted above if the fuel is leaking out the shafts the fuel is coming out the booster nozzles and dropping the floats should help this. there are no seals on the shafts so if fuel is coming out there it is not caused by the shaft seals.

[Clem Z.]

Re: C2 Holley 2818 Carb Rebuilder Recommendation

because the the "new" gasoline you need to drop the floats 1/16"-1/8" below the GM specs. try that before sending it back. like i posted above if the fuel is leaking out the shafts the fuel is coming out the booster nozzles and dropping the floats should help this. there are no seals on the shafts so if fuel is coming out there it is not caused by the shaft seals.

[James W.]

Re: C2 Holley 2818 Carb Rebuilder Recommendation

Clem,

The carb does have the externally adjustable floats. I'll try lowering the floats by turning the adjusting nuts the two wrench flats clockwise as you mentioned in your first post.

Thanks,

James West

[James W.]

Re: C2 Holley 2818 Carb Rebuilder Recommendation

Clem,

The carb does have the externally adjustable floats. I'll try lowering the floats by turning the adjusting nuts the two wrench flats clockwise as you mentioned in your first post.

Thanks,

James West

[Clem Z.]

since this engine has a aluminum intake

and heat soak from the intake manifold can cause this problem. you can install holley heat shield part# 108-70. this would not be NCRS "correct" but it could "correct" your problem. try the float adjustment first.

[Clem Z.]

since this engine has a aluminum intake

and heat soak from the intake manifold can cause this problem. you can install holley heat shield part# 108-70. this would not be NCRS "correct" but it could "correct" your problem. try the float adjustment first.

[James W.]

Re: since this engine has a aluminum intake

Clem,

I tried the float adjustment method. Everything was fine or so I thought after adjusting the float level as you described. I adjusted the floats, took the car out for a drive to the car wash and back home. I finished wiping the car down and cleaning the interior for a total of about 3 hours after the car had been shut off. Everything was dry when I checked it for the last time before going to bed. I checked it the next morning on my way out the door to work and it was wet again on both sides.

My next test is to see if locking gas cap with the rubber seal is not letting the gas tank vent pressure build up. My thoughts are that the heat from the mufflers are warming the gas enough to build up pressure in the tank and the end result is the expansion is pushing the gas into the carb causing the carb to leak out onto the manifold. Something I did find strange is that when I went to loosen the float adjustment set or locking screw on each of the carb bowls there was what I would consider quite a lot of gas under pressure released when I loosened the screw. The car had not been driven for over a week when I adjusted the floats. Do you think my theory about the gas cap holds water or in this case gas???

If the gas cap change doesn't solve the problem, then I guess it will be time to pull the carb back off and have it gone through again.

Thanks,

James West

[James W.]

Re: since this engine has a aluminum intake

Clem,

I tried the float adjustment method. Everything was fine or so I thought after adjusting the float level as you described. I adjusted the floats, took the car out for a drive to the car wash and back home. I finished wiping the car down and cleaning the interior for a total of about 3 hours after the car had been shut off. Everything was dry when I checked it for the last time before going to bed. I checked it the next morning on my way out the door to work and it was wet again on both sides.

My next test is to see if locking gas cap with the rubber seal is not letting the gas tank vent pressure build up. My thoughts are that the heat from the mufflers are warming the gas enough to build up pressure in the tank and the end result is the expansion is pushing the gas into the carb causing the carb to leak out onto the manifold. Something I did find strange is that when I went to loosen the float adjustment set or locking screw on each of the carb bowls there was what I would consider quite a lot of gas under pressure released when I loosened the screw. The car had not been driven for over a week when I adjusted the floats. Do you think my theory about the gas cap holds water or in this case gas???

If the gas cap change doesn't solve the problem, then I guess it will be time to pull the carb back off and have it gone through again.

Thanks,

James West