Got the truck going today. Everything went pretty smooth as far as assembly goes. First it started out running okay except for when it got below 900rpm it would immediately die. Above 900rpm it ran normal. Then it would take for ever to start and chug rich for a while after it did. Finally I drove it down the interstate at a steady 65mph too see if it would clear up. NOPE. Died on the offramp and wouldn't start and finally quit turning over. Couldn't jump it and the battery is fully charged. Tried turning it over with a breakover bar at the crankshaft pulley and it wouldn't turn over. I wasn't burining water and there was no sounds of death (metal crunching) at any time. I have two theories. 1) Since it is loading up at idle maybe the big pop through the carb when the rocker shaft broke before knocked something in the carburetor loose. Now it is pouring fuel into the cylinders to the point where the starter cant turn it over. 2) The starter locked up the motor. It sounds crazy but it happened to my dad's truck. I pulled a couple plugs and they were covered in gas. Haven't been able to get into it yet. Already made me late for work. Need more opinions.

 

Sean, You aint having any luck with this project at all are you? It's sunday, maybe a trip to the church, and leave a big tip in the offering basket might help, can't hurt.
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In the cool still quiet of night, you can hear chevies rusting away.

 

You might have a good point John. God may be the only one who can help me. Maybe you could throw in a little prayer today for me too because I'm pretty sure has possesed my motor. I have figured out so far that the starter gear isn't disengaging from the flywheel so I don't think the lockup is too big of a deal. Still have carb problems though. I'm not sweating it though. doesn't realize that I won't give up. :P

 

Hang in there, rs. I'll say a prayer for you, too. Sounds like you're on top of things, though, so I'm confident you'll get it worked out.

 

It was the starter. I unbolted it and slid it back with a good amount of effort and now the motor turns over with a wrench. I think the prayers worked. Now I have to pull the headers to get the starter out. Great. Better than it being locked up in a different way.

 

I'll relate some experiences.

Holley's hate back fire - power valves leak etc.
I've seen carb gaskets dry out and shrink in a matter of days with the carb off the engine.

Excess fuild (water oil or fuel) in the cyclinder can cause BENT RODS.

I drove a car for 6 months with a rod that was bent due to Hydraulic lock. I didnt know about it until the skirt fell of the piston. Then all the signs made sense when the engine came apart.

When you get the plugs out and can turn it over check all the pistons come all the way up.

I going into this worst case story incase it may stop you from bending more things. The starter "kicking" and jamming is one of the tell tales (not a guarantee though) of a "hydraulic lock".


hope all goes well

 

What exactly do you mean by hydraulic lock? It runs great above 1500rpm. No knocking of vibration. I'll change out the carb base gasket. Good idea and its cheap.

 

>What exactly do you mean by hydraulic lock?

If you fill(even partially) the cylinder with a (non compresible) fluid (fuel or water) and then turn the engine over you are trying to put more in to a space than there is space for (ie try and stick your fist in a thimble or fill a glove with plaster let it set then ram your hand in). At this point something gives, in my case I put an s bend in a extra heavy duty con rod as you did your push rod.

It runs great
>above 1500rpm. No knocking of vibration.

yep I had no noises until the piston failed.

I'll change out
>the carb base gasket. Good idea and its cheap.

I think you may have a flooding problem (assumuing there is no oil or water leaks) so it could be:
needle and seat,
power valve,
carb gaskets,

 

Na, I never had any problem with the cylinder excessively filling with anything but I know what you mean. I was thinking that it may have been possible that the starter never disengaged from the motor and was causing it to stumble and die at idle. I dunno. When I get the new starter in I guess I'll see. Thanks.

 

A trip on the HiWay would blow the armature of an still engaged starter in minutes.

 

Typical "HOLLEY". THEY SHOULD GIVE YOU A BIG HAMMER AND FIRE EXTINGUISHER WHEN YOU BUY 1.THE ONLY GOOD THING THEY WORK FOR IS RACING.NO IDLE CIRCUIT.THEY LEAK MORE FUEL INTO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER THEN THEY BURN.
ONLY MY THOUGHTS ABOUT THEM.EVERYONE HAS THERE OWN OPINION.
DID YOU CHANGE THE INTAKE GASKET OR USE THE OLD 1? I NEVER HAD ANY LUCK IN REUSING GASKETS.ESPECIALLY CRITICAL AREAS.IF YOU REUSED THE INTAKE GASKETS I'D SAY I'D BE LOOKING THERE 1ST FOR THE RICH FUEL PROBLEM.

GENE

 

SORRY ABOUT THE CAPITAL LETTERING,MY KEYBOARD JUST PUKED.OFF TO STAPLES FOR A NEW 1.

 

No, I put a new intake gasket in. I'm not even thinking I have carb problems anymore. I'm hoping it was all starter. When I have time I will find out for sure.

 

It's a blown power valve. After I got the starter in the truck started but once again started flooding out. At one point it shot fuel out the top of the carb like a fountain. All the performance shops said it was a power valve and so did the holley tech so I gues its going back to holley and so much for the track this weekend. Next weekend it should be here hopefully. My buddy has blown flames out his cheaper holley and never had a problem. All I had was a pop. Kinda sucks but that's life.

 

Power valves are pretty easy to replace (?)
There was a mod (check ball)to the older holleys to help protect against this.