I had a remanufactured engine installed in my 83 F150 4x4 manual 300 several years ago. I am not a great home mechanic. Had I known my original carb was so precious I would have taken it off before towing my truck in. They put on a new carb with the engine. The truck had also sat for a few years before I had the engine dropped in. Since then I have been through 4 carbs in four years (they tell me they will charge as much to rebuild as to put in a new one), but have not driven the truck much. Each carb seems to last a few months at best before something goes wrong. A sheared pin or an choke stuck open. All carb work after the remanufactured was put in has been done by the Ford dealer. It seems like the replacement carbs must be pieces of junk, but maybe soemthing else is going on. Holley does not list a carb for the 300 on their web site.

The latest problem is gas leaking out near the base of the carb. The truck starts fine. I warm it up for 10 minutes to make sure it is heated up. Gas comes out when driving. It does not come out at idle, so I can't see exactly where it is coming from. The choke plate seems to stick wide open. I tried to smooth off the edges with steel wool but it didn't help.

It is a bummer because I have a good engine, all new brake system, new transmission, new exhaust system and I have had the truck since 86 (memories). I could never sell it for what I have put into it and don't want to. It is a great truck for me but the carb has me pulling my hair out.

I have a neighbor that works on Fords, so he is looking for an original carb, but no luck so far. The junk yards tell me they are hard to come by. Any thoughts on what is going on? Where can I find an original carb? Thanks - Dan

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 10-Jul-02 AT 11:27 AM (EST)]Dan,
Before I did my swap I had troubles with my original carb too. I am lucky in that I have a really good mechanic when I need him. I took my truck to him and he said the carb was shot (16 years old and 100,000+ miles). He said he could rebuild the carb for half of what a new one would be so I let him. Cost me about $250. It took him 3 tries to get it right after it was rebuilt but he finally got it and never charged me past the initial $250. By that time I was so fed up with it that I swapped in a 351W. I said all that to say this. Those carbs can be rebuilt if you have a good mechanic doing it. But if I were you, knowing how good that motor is and that it just needs a little "help", I'd look into putting an aftermarket intake on that will allow you to add a Holley 390 cfm carb.
Check here for ideas:
www.cliffordperformance.com
Then you can add headers for that engine and make a fire-breathing torque montser if you like.

There are lots of guys on this forum that have your motor. Check out the inline six forum too.

Ron


And welcome to FTE!!!!!!!!