Leaky L79 Holley 4160

[Michael M.]

My 66 L79 conv has a fuel leak from the side of each bowl on the drivers side. The leak is from a round plug(?) right above the fuel inlet in the front left and at the same spot on the side of the bowl in the rear. Someone told me it's a lead plug, but didn't know how to fix it. Anyone have any experience with this problem and know of a fix?

[John D.]

Re: Leaky L79 Holley 4160

michael

When I got my 67 the plug was repaired with epoxy...it didn't leak but i just wasn't comfortable with that so I got a new front bowl...

[Jim T.]

Re: Leaky L79 Holley 4160

When my Holley 6210 spread bore double pumper (not original equipment) on my 68 L79 developed a leak at the front bowl top plug/seal I used JB Weld last year. It is still holding the fuel in the fuel bowl. Really a very easy fix, just gave the JB Weld plenty of time to set up.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Leaky L79 Holley 4160

My 66 L79 conv has a fuel leak from the side of each bowl on the drivers side. The leak is from a round plug(?) right above the fuel inlet in the front left and at the same spot on the side of the bowl in the rear. Someone told me it's a lead plug, but didn't know how to fix it. Anyone have any experience with this problem and know of a fix?

i checked with my contact at holley and he told me there are "O" rings under those plugs something he did not know till i asked him to check. soaking then in carb cleaner eats the "O" rings away. clear epoxy or even fuel proof model air plane dope will work to seal them.

[Gene M.]

Re: Leaky L79 Holley 4160

Mike I have had some luck with thread Loctite. The real thin permanent type. You need to wipe the evidence for the flight row. Hypo needle keeps it clean looking for applying the loctite.

What ever you use it has to be very gasoline resistant.

[Michael M.]

Re: Leaky L79 Holley 4160

Thanks everybody! Now I just have to figure out which way I want to go. I would love to fix it with a new plug and o-ring, but I don't want to get it completely rebuilt. I don't think it's ever been messed with and it runs really sweet. I don't want to fix a carb thats not broken. A new bowl wouldn't look right with the rest of it. So I'll probably look into some kind of leak stop for now.

[Ronald L.]

Re: Leaky L79 Holley 4160

The rebuilders referenced here on the DB seal these areas with epoxy as they were very prone to leaks, even though you lose a point or two, at least you don't have the fire hazard.

[Peter C.]

Re: Leaky L79 Holley 4160

I had the same problem and tried epoxy. The front bowl continued to leak and the rear bowl was okay. Ended up replacing the front bowl and all is good.

Good luck!

Peter