Once again, more problems.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Keavy, KY
Once again, more problems.
So, I have problems yet again. Here's the new rundown:
I can start the truck and it will run fine... For about a minute. If I so much as attempt to give it any throttle, it dies. After a minute, it dies and will only start with extreme pumping of the throttle.
We are suspecting two problems, either the carb or fuel pump. But, where I'm certainly no expert with diagnosing problems, I figured I'd ask here.
Any help or tips are much appreciated.
I can start the truck and it will run fine... For about a minute. If I so much as attempt to give it any throttle, it dies. After a minute, it dies and will only start with extreme pumping of the throttle.
We are suspecting two problems, either the carb or fuel pump. But, where I'm certainly no expert with diagnosing problems, I figured I'd ask here.
Any help or tips are much appreciated.
Moderator
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 22,415
Likes: 92
From: Denver Metro Area, CO
With the engine not running, remove the air cleaner, look into the carb as you fully open the throttle with your hand. You should see two (depends on what carb, assuming 2V) healthy streams of gasoline being injected into the engine.
It would really help if you would describe in your post the specifics of what you're talking about - make, model, year, engine, all that kind of stuff.
When it dies, immediately check for fuel (how to check above) & spark. To check... remove a plug wire, insert a screwdriver, hold it near the engine block while somebody tries to start it. You should see a healthy, blue spark.
It would really help if you would describe in your post the specifics of what you're talking about - make, model, year, engine, all that kind of stuff.
When it dies, immediately check for fuel (how to check above) & spark. To check... remove a plug wire, insert a screwdriver, hold it near the engine block while somebody tries to start it. You should see a healthy, blue spark.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Keavy, KY
Sorry, I forgot to mention, 84 351HO 4V.
It's definitely getting spark. But fuel is iffy at best. I'm attributing the problem to the previous owner removing the fuel filters and, for reasons unknown, never putting them back in. They just ran a bit of extra line.
Also the carb (Holley 4160) has a bit of a hesitation to it, or did before any throttle caused it to stall out. Idle, throttle, sputter, rev. Or while driving, idle, throttle, sputter, go.
It's definitely getting spark. But fuel is iffy at best. I'm attributing the problem to the previous owner removing the fuel filters and, for reasons unknown, never putting them back in. They just ran a bit of extra line.
Also the carb (Holley 4160) has a bit of a hesitation to it, or did before any throttle caused it to stall out. Idle, throttle, sputter, rev. Or while driving, idle, throttle, sputter, go.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
Likes: 48
From: Northeast, OK
If it dies when you even think about giving it some throttle then it is running very lean. And, it is likely that the accelerator pump isn't working and, if so, you won't see the streams that Chris mentioned looking for. And, I'm guessing that the time it takes before stalling is the time it takes for the choke to come off - the choke which enrichens the mixture.
If the PO took the fuel filters off and ran it that way then it is likely that many passages internal to the carb are plugged. Some times that can be cured by running something like Sea Foam through the gas and, therefore, through the carb. But, in your case I doubt it'll work since it won't run long enough to clean out the carb.
So, I think you are going to have to rebuild the carb, and while doing that you'll have to blow out, or maybe even clean out, all the passages. And, in cleaning them out you may need to actually run something through the passages. MAKE SURE WHATEVER YOU DO RUN THROUGH THERE IS SOFTER THAN THE MATERIAL OF THE PASSAGE. I use a soft copper wire to do that, and actually get one strand of copper from a short piece of multi-strand wire.
Good luck.
If the PO took the fuel filters off and ran it that way then it is likely that many passages internal to the carb are plugged. Some times that can be cured by running something like Sea Foam through the gas and, therefore, through the carb. But, in your case I doubt it'll work since it won't run long enough to clean out the carb.
So, I think you are going to have to rebuild the carb, and while doing that you'll have to blow out, or maybe even clean out, all the passages. And, in cleaning them out you may need to actually run something through the passages. MAKE SURE WHATEVER YOU DO RUN THROUGH THERE IS SOFTER THAN THE MATERIAL OF THE PASSAGE. I use a soft copper wire to do that, and actually get one strand of copper from a short piece of multi-strand wire.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Keavy, KY
It's a manual choke carb.
I have the original 4180 that came off of it, would you suggest rebuilding that one, or the 4160?
My plan was to switch to either a 600cfm Edelbrock or a reman quadrajet, or possibly a more tunable Holley.
But if rebuilding one of the Holleys is the best solution, I'll just do that.
I have the original 4180 that came off of it, would you suggest rebuilding that one, or the 4160?
My plan was to switch to either a 600cfm Edelbrock or a reman quadrajet, or possibly a more tunable Holley.
But if rebuilding one of the Holleys is the best solution, I'll just do that.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
Likes: 48
From: Northeast, OK
It's a manual choke carb.
I have the original 4180 that came off of it, would you suggest rebuilding that one, or the 4160?
My plan was to switch to either a 600cfm Edelbrock or a reman quadrajet, or possibly a more tunable Holley.
But if rebuilding one of the Holleys is the best solution, I'll just do that.
I have the original 4180 that came off of it, would you suggest rebuilding that one, or the 4160?
My plan was to switch to either a 600cfm Edelbrock or a reman quadrajet, or possibly a more tunable Holley.
But if rebuilding one of the Holleys is the best solution, I'll just do that.
To be fair, I didn't re-jet the Holley. On the other hand, I didn't do any re-jetting on the E'brock either, although it is jetted just like it came from the factory and I don't know that to be the case for the Holley. But, I am an anything-but-Holley guy, as there are so many things that go wrong with them.
So, it really gets down to what you are comfortable doing. Are you comfortable with pulling a carb down to the smallest piece and checking out each and every passage? If you are and know what you are doing then tear into the Holley. If you aren't, buy an Edelbrock 1406 if you want economy, or the 1405 if you want all the power you can get.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Keavy, KY
I had a 1406 on a built 350 in a cutlass. And shockingly it did well on the MPG's if I didn't drive stupid.
I have heard tell that with the Quadrajet I can get even a few more bits of mileage. I'm currently getting 8.4 (consistently)
I have a few friends that can tune a quadrajet nicely. Also have a few Holley friends. But a Holley is a Holley, and they aren't known for their mileage.
I have heard tell that with the Quadrajet I can get even a few more bits of mileage. I'm currently getting 8.4 (consistently)
I have a few friends that can tune a quadrajet nicely. Also have a few Holley friends. But a Holley is a Holley, and they aren't known for their mileage.
Trending Topics
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
Likes: 48
From: Northeast, OK
I had a 1406 on a built 350 in a cutlass. And shockingly it did well on the MPG's if I didn't drive stupid.
I have heard tell that with the Quadrajet I can get even a few more bits of mileage. I'm currently getting 8.4 (consistently)
I have a few friends that can tune a quadrajet nicely. Also have a few Holley friends. But a Holley is a Holley, and they aren't known for their mileage.
I have heard tell that with the Quadrajet I can get even a few more bits of mileage. I'm currently getting 8.4 (consistently)
I have a few friends that can tune a quadrajet nicely. Also have a few Holley friends. But a Holley is a Holley, and they aren't known for their mileage.
Trust me, the 351W should get far better than 8.4, so there is something sadly wrong with your carb. But, IMHO, you won't get the mileage out of the Holley that you will with the 1406, so you have to make the choice: Sort out the Holley and then change, or ditch the Holley and bolt on an Edelbrock.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!
Michael S. Palmer
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Keavy, KY
Yeah. I at least expected around 12 or so. But then I figured that being a supercab with a C6 probably made 8 about right.
I'll probably just sell my Holleys and go for an Ebrock or see how involved the Qjet swap is.
The Qjet and Edelbrock are the same price, so I'll see what can be done.
I'll probably just sell my Holleys and go for an Ebrock or see how involved the Qjet swap is.
The Qjet and Edelbrock are the same price, so I'll see what can be done.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
Likes: 48
From: Northeast, OK
Yeah. I at least expected around 12 or so. But then I figured that being a supercab with a C6 probably made 8 about right.
I'll probably just sell my Holleys and go for an Ebrock or see how involved the Qjet swap is.
The Qjet and Edelbrock are the same price, so I'll see what can be done.
I'll probably just sell my Holleys and go for an Ebrock or see how involved the Qjet swap is.
The Qjet and Edelbrock are the same price, so I'll see what can be done.
- Dad's w/a stock 351M, Autolite 2150, C6, and 30 x 9.5's. It gets 10.5 on the highway running 62 MPH
- Rusty, which has a built 351M, Edelbrock intake and carb, RV cam, NP435 tranny, and 31 x 10.5's. It gets 14.24 on the same run at the same speed where Dad's gets 10.5. And, the performance is head and shoulders above that of Dad's truck.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
19BULLNOSE85
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
2
Nov 17, 2012 03:55 PM
kedwinh
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
2
Dec 30, 2010 04:56 PM
carpenter547
FE & FT Big Block V8 (332, 352, 360, 390, 406, 410, 427, 428)
23
Dec 12, 2009 06:32 PM
59INA40
1961 - 1966 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
12
May 12, 2009 09:34 PM
ghunt
General Automotive Discussion
4
Nov 18, 2007 12:42 AM