Holley carb help!

[Clem Z.]

Re: Holley carb help!

if they are side hung floats make sure the pin that the floats pivot on has not come loose or move outward allowing the float to hang up

[Robert G.]

Re: Holley carb help!

Thanks for all the tips guys, the carb is in his shop and he said he'd work late tonight to give it a going over. I don't recall the color of the needle tips, but they were dark.
I'll give this one last chance before trying something new. The R-3811 has no external adjustment for the float, so I have to pull the bowls to check the levels. In addition, Holley never includes the transfer tube 'o' rings in their rebuild kits, so I have to be very careful when I take things apart.
The guy noted one interesting thing in that the metering block belongs on a double pumper, but since I've been running with it for 20 years or more, I doubt that is the problem.

[Steven H.]

Re: Holley carb help!

Robert

I apologize for posting a reply that would be intended for a novice Holley person; but I had no way to know what you already knew. Usually when a person has someone else rebuild; they haven't dug into them yet them self, because if you can take them apart you can rebuild them.

I consider myself fairly handy with them but by no means an expert; I have never seen one that has meter blocks on both ends have a transfer tube, and I have sure never heard of one without the bowl peep holes.

Honestly to me; if you are not having a noticeable problem during operation, it's kind of hard to imagine its floats or needle seats. IMO you would surely see this during operation; as would you any type leak. Typically the vacuum is what will find any problem that creates a rich situation; any problem that will occur without vacuum is going to be even more relevant with vacuum.

Without me re reading the thread; did you mention a spark plug check? Also check your oil for premature aging and thinning; a severe rich problem will turn your oil black very fast and thin as well.

In my time hot rodding with Holleys; the number one point of trouble has been the power valves, now the first thing I do with a Holley and even new out of the box is install power valve blocks offs and re jet accordingly. I vaguely remember one I worked on one time with some sort of flooding issue; the guy had installed the wrong meter block gasket. If your carb had a screwed on primary plate originally and someone converted to a meter block; which I even more vaguely remember that you can do, this could easily require a custom gasket or special gasket and you have an unordinary carb to start with aside from modifications.

Hope this helps.

[Steven H.]

Re: Holley carb help!

I have never seen one that has meter blocks on both ends have a transfer tube

I retract this; I forgot about the Qjet type Holley, maybe like a 650 CFM.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Holley carb help!

I retract this; I forgot about the Qjet type Holley, maybe like a 650 CFM.

there are square bore holleys with a transfer tube with 2 metering bodies. till holley came out with the center pivot float bowls a lot of their carbs had 2 metering bodies with a external transfer tube and that is why there are 2 different length tubes one for the 4150,part# 26-114 and one for the 4160,part# 26-115

[Steven H.]

Re: Holley carb help!

Was this the birth of the Holley as we know it; and the first year or so was the pre center pivot you refer to?

Holley's popular DOMINATOR racing carburetor, which was launched in 1968, was now modified to produce a consumer line of DOMINATOR intake manifolds.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Holley carb help!

I once had a #4165 with the transfer tube (Qjet replacement). It was nothing but grief. A valley full of fuel is not to my liking and is why I soured on Holleys long ago. In general, I don't like carbs with fuel sealing gaskets below the gas level. I gave my perfectly good Holley #4165 away to a neighbor on our last move and never want to see any of them again.

Stu Fox

[Robert G.]

Re: Holley carb help!

Thanks again for all the post guys, and no need for anybody to apologize, the responses are fantastic. I'm learning much. Anyhow, yes, the spark plugs have been changed several times now and I burn the gas off them or air them out after each failure to start the car. The timing was right at about 4 degrees. The rotor weights are not stuck, I haven't changed the points, condenser, or coil. 1967 is when GM went cheap with the Holley carburetors and I wish I could adjust the floats externally-it could provide a lot of information and maybe clear up the problem.I think the carb guy may finish today and I'll post the results when they're in. Thanks everybody!

[Steven H.]

Re: Holley carb help!

Robert

Plan B if your latest work doesn't correct it: Take some bowls with peep holes and temporarily install them; adjust correctly with ease and either identify your bowls are bad or the problem is deeper.

I have a donor carb if you need one.

[Robert G.]

Re: Holley carb help!

Robert

Plan B if your latest work doesn't correct it: Take some bowls with peep holes and temporarily install them; adjust correctly with ease and either identify your bowls are bad or the problem is deeper.

I have a donor carb if you need one.

Thanks Steven, I hadn't thought of that. This guy has hundreds of carbs and parts in his shop, so I can ask him for loaners if it isn't fixed.