Holley 1904 Carb Problems

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Jul 27, 2010 | 09:14 PM

Steves55

Thread Starter

Tuned

Joined: Apr 2010

Posts: 366

Likes: 3

Holley 1904 Carb Problems

Just when you think you have one problem licked, something else rises to the occasion. After fixing my fuel pump problem (which was a split hose in the fuel tank), now that the Airtex mechanical pump is working without any leaks in the line, I am thinking the pressure may be too much for my 1904 glass bowl carb. After I fired up the truck, I watched the bowl hold it's normal 1/2 to 3/4 fuel level but within less than a minute or two, the bowl filled-up and the engine quit.

Do I need a fuel pressure regulator? What's frustrating is this behavior is inconsistant. From what I have read, this type of carb is very prone to flooding and likes no more than 2 pounds of pressure. One other question...is there a substitute carb other than the 1904 that will work for a 223 6 cyl? Thanks.

Jul 27, 2010 | 09:50 PM

55f100tx

Senior User

Joined: May 2010

Posts: 121

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there is a website that covers all the details on the 1904 google 1904 IH i think it will pop up. i think its ihonlynorth.com

Jul 27, 2010 | 10:20 PM

fifty-two_f1

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 1,342

Likes: 1

From: Jamestown, IN

Your float could be leaking or you could have had some crap out of the line you changed getting in the way of your needle valve.

Jul 27, 2010 | 10:26 PM

ALBUQ F-1

Fleet Owner

Joined: Jul 2004

Posts: 27,283

Likes: 1,046

From: NM

I forget, did you rebuild your carb as part of the process of fixing the other problems? I recently heard on another forum that many of the chinese float needle seats included in rebuild kits are poorly machined, with the hole off-center. The needle can't always seal against the seat. The advice was, the seat usually doesn't wear, so keep the old seat and use the new needle. You can detect this problem easily by just looking thru it towards the light.

Jul 27, 2010 | 11:54 PM

DumbLuck

Senior User

Joined: Feb 2010

Posts: 182

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From: southern MN

I started 2 threads about the 1904 and fuel pump not even a month ago. It was me that came up with the obscure reference to the seat problem. clean up your old seat, and use it with the new needle. cured my problems of overflowing without another drip. do a seach with "1904" or search what threads i've started, there's only a handful if that.

Jul 28, 2010 | 06:15 AM

Steves55

Thread Starter

Tuned

Joined: Apr 2010

Posts: 366

Likes: 3

Thanks for the replies. So I take it that a pressure regulator shouldn't be necessary for a stock set-up..honestly I didn't think it would be. Although I have a fuel filter in front of the fuel pump, since I'm still using the stock tank which I'm pretty sure has some particles floating around, it would be a good idea to install a filter before the fuel pump as well. I'm still curious if there are other carbs that could be used in place of the 1904.

Jul 28, 2010 | 11:52 AM

DumbLuck

Senior User

Joined: Feb 2010

Posts: 182

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From: southern MN

I'm asuming your 1904 is on a 6-popper. The problem is, the distributor is vacuum advance. Whatever carb you replace the 1904 with will have to be vacuum advance compatable unless you want to change out the distributor too. The easy way to tell is if there are 2 steel tubes, one the fuel line, the other, smaller diameter, running between the carb and the distributor.

and yes, a fuel filter between the tank and pump is a good thing. I put in a temporary fuel cell until I can afford a new tank. The nice fat clear filter i put in already has crud in it even tho the cell was brand new, custom made for me by a friend.

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Aug 12, 2010 | 12:59 PM

thx1138

Junior User

Joined: Nov 2000

Posts: 71

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From: Washington C.H., Ohio

There is a common problem with the 1904's.... that only ONE

guy fixes!!

The main well (the "L" shaped piece behind the float) has the power valve built into it. Looking in the bowl it is on the right hand side. There is a little metal rod that sticks up (supposed to anyway). These wear and fall out or gum up and stick in one position. It sounds like yours is gone, as soon as the fuel level passes the power valve opening, raw fuel would pour into the carb and flood it out.

There are no known sources of new, properly rebuilt or NOS parts. It's not uncommon for off-the-shelf "rebuilt" carbs to have a problem. If yours has this problem, the only guy (I have found) that fixes these in with INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER ONLY of Northern California. (as 55f100tx mentioned) He machines out the original and installs new custom made parts.

Unless you have the completely wrong pump you shouldn't need a regulator. IIRC the stock pump only puts out 5-7 PSI.

Jim