I own a 1983 Ford F150 pickup. I have had nothing but problems with the carburator since purchase. There have been four carburators put in by four different mechanics and they have all failed. I'm about to give up except for my allegiance to this truck. I have now told another mechanic I will give him $1000.00 dollars to fix this truck so it runs and stays running. I do not understand why it is so difficult to simply make this truck run properly. Last time around with a new carb it ran fine for two weeks and then the carb was again dtermined faulty and no good. That was after a $850.00 expense. I don't want to ditch this truck as I have about $5000.00 in to it. The truck was manufactured in Canada and apparantly had some kind of an experimental carb. Can anybody offer me advice. Nobody can seem to fix this red vehicle and I don't want to throw it away.

 

Exactly what problems are you having that you are blaming on the carb? I am from Canada and drive an '83 F100. Had driveablility problems for quite a while... running rough, flooding when starting, wouldn't idle and poor choke operation. Replaced the carb with a factory re-built unit... straight replacement of the 2150 Motorcraft carb and worked like a charm.

I have never heard of an experimental carb on a Canadian truck. What type of engine and carb is on it now?

 

The engine is 8 cylinder. Not being a mechanic that's all I can answer. The original carburator was an experimental that had somekind of a sliding mechanism. The intake looked like trap doors of somekind. That carb was replaced with a ford carburator and it failed. Same thing again (replaced) and that failed after two weeks. It ran great for 2-3 weeks and then just went defective. I'm told by mechanics that carbs are like heart replacements and don't always take. That I truly do not understand, it's mechanical. A new mechanic has suggested replacing the carb and manifold, or better yet put a new engine in it. All over the carburator. I just don't understand. Thanks for your reply.

 

Tell us exactly what the motor is doing. What kind of drivability problems are occuring? No one here can help you if they don`t have a clue what problems you are having. Sounds like you need some new mechanics too.

 

yeah no kidding new mechanics my truck carb was acting up ran rich at idle and i rebuilt it and it was fine runs great i dont under stand how a brand new carb if it is not the experiment one that you are talking about is on there how it could still be acting up i wonder if the carbs you have had put on use power valves mine did and thats what cause the entire problem blowen power valve

 

sounds like you had a variable venturi carb and yes they are peices of junk do you have the feed back system on this vehicle i.e the cumputer controled spark and feedback carb also who selling you this line of hooya find a competent honest mechanic not a witch doctor but first get a manual figure out what you have put a little light in a dark room

 

Thanks for the reply. The engine skips and sputers, has no guts and shifhts hard. stalls a great deal, particularly in drive and reverse or at a light. The vehicle becomes less and less drivable and eventually will not start. A gas problem for sure. One mechanic mentioned a "power pack". The fact is that two of the mechanics that worked on this have great reputations but apparantly little knowledge of older vehicles. Hope that helps answer, but remember I have no mechanical background and am basically telling you what I have been told. By the way, the truck went through 3/4 of a tank of petrol in 35 miles. Thanks

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Thanks for the reply. You're correct it was a variable venturi carb. That was removed and ford carb put in. But, it failed twice and now were going for a third. One mechanic mentioned a power valve failure that vitually destroyed the whole carb. Twice apparantly. Don't know about the feed back system and did not understand your last sentence. Thanks for your help.

 

Not at all your power valve im not exactly sure on what part of the throttle postion on where it controls gas flow but thats what it dose mine affectect it at idel mostly it idled rough ans sputtered and blew up black smoke the engie in my truck is new and the turck itself is very clean but the carb had never been touched and was the other one off the old block and i guess the older style power valves would blow out if you got a bark fire through the carb the new one i got came with a master rebuild kit from napa for 70 dollars which has a new design power vlave thats suposed to be industructable and not blow out on you along with all new gaskets choke pieces and seats adn needles for the flaots i rebuild it myself but i do have some mechanical back round as ive been messing with small engines and motorcycles and all there compents since i was 13 im now 19 and just started messing with cars and trucks about 2 years ago so im still elaring but im catching on fast i usally do when it comes to anything that has to do with a engine anyway i noticed most at idle but it was affecting it everywhere i think after i replaced it got way better throttle response more overall power and better gas milage a power valve is under the front float bowl of the carb if what you have is a holley its very easy to chage you dont have tot ake the carb off to even and the power valve itself alone is 20 to 25 dollars that could very wel be the problem you may have got a carb back fire and it keeps blowing out your power valve i wish i was more fimiliar with your type carb but im not but if it is a holly and uses a power vlave it could be that

 

I had a VV, (Variable Venturi) carb on my 83','' I also found I had a California emissions on it,''
with the help of a friend my truck is now computer-free, and has an old style duraspark2 ignition, and an old style distributor that has vac. and mech. advance...

and she's never run better........''


at the same time we installed an edelbrock 1406, and a performer manifold....

 

Thanks for the info. That is kind of what is happening now to the old gal. I have a more than qualified mechanic woeking on it now but I will pass your note on to him. Thanks again.

 

Problem with the 83 F150 carburator solved. New manifold, new carb with electronic choke, new emission control unit etc. etc. etc. Now runs like a top, has plenty of power, better gas mileage and a happy owner. Cost of whole project $1251.89. This truck is now
ready for more and more restoration. Thanks for everyone's help, it is appreciated.