Holley 1904 Leaking Problem
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Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 31
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From: Phoenix, AZ
Holley 1904 Leaking Problem
So I have a 223 I6 on my 1960 F-100, and the Holley 1904 single barrel has had a slight oozing problem at the bottom of the float bowl. After a couple of weeks of it ever so slightly dripping onto the intake manifold, I decided to replace the float bowl gasket to see if that was the problem. So I bought a brand new cork gasket from Mike's Carburetor Parts for the 1904. (Link here: Holley 1904 1920 Float Bowl Gasket Cork)
I took off the float bowl cover, cleaned it, and put on the new gasket. It bowed out a little bit at the bottom like it was too wide to fit perfectly flush, but when I put on the bowl and tightened down all the screws, it seemed to fit fine, and everything looked snug. So after a while, I fired it up after a bit of cranking, and it started up. So, I get out and look at the carb, and holy $%#@, it's dumping gas all over the place!! I knew I shouldn't have trusted it! Not Happy with Mike's Carburetor Parts...
Can anyone point me in the right direction of a known correct gasket? I'm 99% sure this one's too big to seat correctly.
And sorry for rambling so much. 
I took off the float bowl cover, cleaned it, and put on the new gasket. It bowed out a little bit at the bottom like it was too wide to fit perfectly flush, but when I put on the bowl and tightened down all the screws, it seemed to fit fine, and everything looked snug. So after a while, I fired it up after a bit of cranking, and it started up. So, I get out and look at the carb, and holy $%#@, it's dumping gas all over the place!! I knew I shouldn't have trusted it! Not Happy with Mike's Carburetor Parts...
Can anyone point me in the right direction of a known correct gasket? I'm 99% sure this one's too big to seat correctly.
And sorry for rambling so much.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,235
Likes: 3
From: Manteca, CA
If I remember correctly, I made mine out of a sheet of gasket material. Pretty inexpensive and didn't take too long. A good gasket comes with rebuild kits as well.
You sure it isn't running out of overflow on top of carb?
You sure it isn't running out of overflow on top of carb?
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
Likes: 97
From: Waterloo, Iowa
mike's good stuff, sells good parts. He's pretty good about answering emails, and produces YT videos on disassembly and rebuilding and servicing carbs. They also have one of the largest inventory of parts and kits too.
With all that said I think you could try http://www.carburetion.com or https://daytonaparts.com but I bet the parts are the same.
When it comes to carburetors I like to start from the beginning. Since the manuals and everything is available for free download in .pdf form, why not? They are interesting to read and will make you a LOT better mechanic.
Use new gaskets, inlet valve and seat, float, proper size jets, inlet filter etc. Float height setting and the ultimate fuel height especially in the bowl is especially important to prevent flooding.
With all that said I think you could try http://www.carburetion.com or https://daytonaparts.com but I bet the parts are the same.
When it comes to carburetors I like to start from the beginning. Since the manuals and everything is available for free download in .pdf form, why not? They are interesting to read and will make you a LOT better mechanic.
Use new gaskets, inlet valve and seat, float, proper size jets, inlet filter etc. Float height setting and the ultimate fuel height especially in the bowl is especially important to prevent flooding.
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ
mike's good stuff, sells good parts. He's pretty good about answering emails, and produces YT videos on disassembly and rebuilding and servicing carbs. They also have one of the largest inventory of parts and kits too.
With all that said I think you could try CARBS UNLIMITED INC. carburetors including Weber Edlebrock Holley Quadrajet or https://daytonaparts.com but I bet the parts are the same.
When it comes to carburetors I like to start from the beginning. Since the manuals and everything is available for free download in .pdf form, why not? They are interesting to read and will make you a LOT better mechanic.
Use new gaskets, inlet valve and seat, float, proper size jets, inlet filter etc. Float height setting and the ultimate fuel height especially in the bowl is especially important to prevent flooding.
With all that said I think you could try CARBS UNLIMITED INC. carburetors including Weber Edlebrock Holley Quadrajet or https://daytonaparts.com but I bet the parts are the same.
When it comes to carburetors I like to start from the beginning. Since the manuals and everything is available for free download in .pdf form, why not? They are interesting to read and will make you a LOT better mechanic.
Use new gaskets, inlet valve and seat, float, proper size jets, inlet filter etc. Float height setting and the ultimate fuel height especially in the bowl is especially important to prevent flooding.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
Likes: 97
From: Waterloo, Iowa
I dunno. Have to check. The float height setting just gets things in the ballpark for testing. Might be close. "Should" be close. Maybe perfect or, sometimes, way low/high. I think it probably depends on the variance in fuel pump volume, and pressure. So there's a range of acceptable output, the needle float and seat therefore is to regulate this output into the reservoir of fuel in the bowl that isn't too much (possible flooding, running too rich) or too little (hesitation or sputtering, low power at highway speeds) at all times, under all conditions.
Or maybe a bad gasket. ha
Or maybe a bad gasket. ha
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Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2015
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From: Phoenix, AZ
Okay, so today I opened up the bowl again, because I knew it had to be a problem with the gasket. So, I open it up and lo and behold; the gasket hadn't flattened out at all, it actually just folded up into the bowl... 
So then I was trying to decide what to do about getting a new gasket and/or returning the defective one, but I just said screw it and I made my own out of some cork gasket material I had. Traced up the old one, cut it out, and after a few test fits, it was in like the last peice of a puzzle! I ran the engine for a minute or two, revved it a bit, and tada! No Niagara Falls! 
Thanks for the help guys, it just took some common sense and craftiness on my part. Still a little ticked off that a simple little gasket being sold for this specific carb didn't work out and caused such a stink.
So then I was trying to decide what to do about getting a new gasket and/or returning the defective one, but I just said screw it and I made my own out of some cork gasket material I had. Traced up the old one, cut it out, and after a few test fits, it was in like the last peice of a puzzle! I ran the engine for a minute or two, revved it a bit, and tada! No Niagara Falls! Thanks for the help guys, it just took some common sense and craftiness on my part. Still a little ticked off that a simple little gasket being sold for this specific carb didn't work out and caused such a stink.
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Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 31
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From: Phoenix, AZ
Yes, It would appear that this is the wrong size for my carb. But it's listed as a 1904 gasket, and all the reviews say it works great... Idk if they just gave me the wrong one or what.
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 31
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From: Phoenix, AZ
Which one? The top pic is of the brand new Mike's one after it leaked on me, and the bottom one is my homemade one from new cork gasket material.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 52
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From: Lakeport, California
Warped
I have never actually seen the carb leak but can see where gas has leaked onto the intake My carb is a little warped out the fuel bowl. Is there anything I can do? Homemade thicker gasket ???