I just bought a '72 F-250 with what I believe to be a factory 4 barrel Holley. Only thing is the vin shows the motor as a 360 but the intake is stamped Master Street 390 or something along those lines and I can't find the block stamp to figure out what it really is. Anyways, the carb started back firing on me so I decided I should rebuild it, but I've never done one before. I noticed while unhooking the carb I found two lines running off the passenger side that are supposed to hook into the exhaust mainfold are broken off at the ends and there is no way to reattach them that I can see. I think this may be the problem with the back firing and the sluggish performance. Can someone tell me what these lines are and if they can be plugged since they weren't hooked up anyways?? I don't believe they would be hooked up if I were to put headers on them anyways, as I see now way to attach them. Does someone know any really good online sites that walks you through a carb rebuild? I've never done one and the directions look so confusing. Currently the carb is soaking overnight in gasoline to clean some of the gunk and carbin build up out. I also removed the valve covers to replace the leaky shot gaskets and found all the bolts to be loose and metal shavings on my heads. What do I do about this, and how do I clean the intake and heads? What to use and how to do it??? Please help me restore this beauty!

 

It sounds like the lines are for the automatic choke.Soaking in gas wont do much,get carb cleaner or at least lacquor thinner. is it an auotolite carb or a holley? If the secondaries ore not closing propper or oppening to fast it could couse the backfire, but it is usually an accelerator pump issue if it is the carborator at all. If you have metal shavings undr the valve cover you have serious problems.

 

Backfiring would normally be an ignition or timing problem. Does the intake say "streetmaster 390"? Does it have HOLLEY stamped on it and is it an alumninum intake? Could probably be an aftermarket intake that someone put on there.

 

Ourlaw, All pickups of that era only came with 2 barrel carbs from the factory. Your setup has been added on.

As posted you need to soak the carb in carb cleaner and not gas.

Maybe if you posted what state and town that you live in, a neighbor reader might be willing to give you a hand.

John

 

So what do metal shavings in the heads mean??? I noticed them when i was wiping all the black carbine and gunk off the sides, there were a few shavings, what does that sound like? So how do I reattach the lines to the exhaust manifold if they are broken off?? Yes the intake says Streetmaster 390 and has Holley stamped on it. The carb is Holley and I thought it was a 2 barrel until I removed it and saw it was really a 4. I have no idea what motor size it is now, since the vin shows its a 360 but the intake says 390 and has a 4 barrel and yes it is aluminum. There is no visible tag on the block either, so I am so lost! Something is wrong with the choke because the butterfly is staying closed and won't open when i start it, i have to have someone hold it open in order for me to get it running. I think that's because those lines aren't connected at all. I know I need to adjust the timing, it's been sitting the past 10 years without being driven or anything and I'm doing everything I can to get it running smoothly again. But I only have basic knowledge and never owned a vehicle older than '85 so this is all very new to me.

 

Get the block casting numbers located on the side of the block so our resident FE engine experts can tell you what it is.

 

I wouldnt worry about those tubes to the manifold just convert to manual or electric choke

 

My 72 had an optional 4 bbl listed for its 360. I now have a 390 in it with the Holley 4bbl. I have smog restrictions in this state, but since 4bbl was an option it is legal to install. same with Edel intake and headers. With the carb rebuild, pick up a can (gallon) and throw the whole carb in, (dissasembled), and make sure you have all of the plastic pieces removed before you do. They will dissolve. Then rinse it with the hose, and blow it with an air nozzle. If you are careful and meticulous, you can follow the directions that come with carb kit. it pretty much goes back together in reverse order of how you took it apart. the Holley's are a piece of cake, compared to some of the others.

 

Streetmaster is an Edelbrock intake. The older ones were single plane and not a good choice for a stock engine, especially a low compression 360.

 

Well i bought an edelbrock 600cfm today with electric choke to replace that crappy Holley. I'll be putting it on Thursday when i get a day off.

 

Check your firing order. if it is a 390 it should be 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8..

 

I spent some time with my new Holley getting it fine tuned on the secondaries. I changed the spring 3 times to have them open at the right time. dont know if the Edel has this setup. Also installed a 1" spacer under carb to keep some heat from it.

 

Wow...

First off, because the manifold says 390, only means it will fit an FE engine... You will need to actually check/test the stroke of the crank to see what motor you have inside or see what the stamping number is on the crank. All the FE's are pretty much the same on the outside and casting numbers and firing order won't get you very far.

Check in with the FE engine forum a little further down, there is a wealth of knowledge in the FAQ right at the top.

--Mike