carb problem

[nlreb54]

I have an eldebrock 1406 carb on my 74 350. All of a sudden the engine will not idle and I have fuel pouring out of the bottom carb shafts on both sides of the carb. What gives? A stuck float? Should I rebuild the carb or buy a new one?
Thanks for any help.

 

[rgtrough]

Hey nlreb54, the one thing I remember about the 1406 is that they hate high fuel pressure. Do you have a high output fuel pump with no regulator. No more than 6lbs. if I remember. peace Bud

 

[Chas]

should be at or just below 6 lbs of pressure.

I have an eldebrock 1406 carb on my 74 350. All of a sudden the engine will not idle and I have fuel pouring out of the bottom carb shafts on both sides of the carb. What gives? A stuck float? Should I rebuild the carb or buy a new one?
Thanks for any help.

 

[nlreb54]

I took the top off the carb and everything was extremely contaminated. I guess the person I bought the car from originally found a used carb or something to just get by. I purchased another 1406 and now everything is fine again. It is a stock fuel pump. I think what was happening was the floats were sticking big time due to the crude.

 

[Robin7TFour]

hmm...maybe i should be looking for a fuel regulator for my edelbrock. thanks for that thought,
robin

 

[Chas]

i was told that if i had a holley pump ... i took off a holley carb and put on an edelbrock performer to match the intake...the slaes guy told me it would trash it to run higher pressure thru it...look deeper...i have a holley regulator in the line...all aeroquip ....a gauge inline...i have it just under 6 lbs....this is just what i was told to do....if you find diffrent please let me know...

Chas

hmm...maybe i should be looking for a fuel regulator for my edelbrock. thanks for that thought,
robin

 

[nlreb54]

what is a good adjustable regulator to get the 6 psi?

 

[Robin7TFour]

Hello All, i checked the pump pressure today. at idle it bounced between 6-7 psi. then once i throttled up a lil' it went to 7 and stayed there. so, with 1 psi difference,should i still use a regulator?
the big question ,who sells an economical(cheap) pressure regulator. i've seen some at Pep Boys,but are they any good?

Robin

 

[Chas]

For both of you askin about regulator...

I got mine at a racing store here in my area... www.ramchargers.com or www.summitracing.com
I think it was $20 or so...its made by Holley..I will post a pic of how I have it mounted in mine for ya...its on an A/C bracket.. di that on a mill at work...the rest is easy to see...let me know how it goes fellas...
Chas

Hello All, i checked the pump pressure today. at idle it bounced between 6-7 psi. then once i throttled up a lil' it went to 7 and stayed there. so, with 1 psi difference,should i still use a regulator?
the big question ,who sells an economical(cheap) pressure regulator. i've seen some at Pep Boys,but are they any good?

Robin

 

[Chas]

you need it...

you should look for kinks in the line to make sure you have the most open flow in the line...i had a kink in mine till i did it all with Aeroquip lines and adapters...no hose clamps on it at all...nice and steady .
Chas

Hello All, i checked the pump pressure today. at idle it bounced between 6-7 psi. then once i throttled up a lil' it went to 7 and stayed there. so, with 1 psi difference,should i still use a regulator?
the big question ,who sells an economical(cheap) pressure regulator. i've seen some at Pep Boys,but are they any good?

Robin

 

[Robin7TFour]

Chas, please post a pic. i was wondering where i would put a regulator. you have given me a few ideas..

robin

 

[Chas]

here ya go...

let me know if you want more and i will e-mail them...follow the line down from the gauge

Chas

Chas, please post a pic. i was wondering where i would put a regulator. you have given me a few ideas..

robin

 

[Robin7TFour]

GReetings. i just want to tip my hat to Chas(Vettedude73) . if the CAC gave awards for outstanding membership he's got my vote.
not only was he helpful in the thread. he took the time to email me pictures of his set-up.PLUS, he went and dug out his receipt for his regulator and send me the info on that!
he is the spirit of the CAC.!

thank you

Robin

maybe we need a SPIRIT OF CORVETTE award.....

 

[GerryLP]

GReetings. i just want to tip my hat to Chas(Vettedude73) . if the CAC gave awards for outstanding membership he's got my vote.
not only was he helpful in the thread. he took the time to email me pictures of his set-up.PLUS, he went and dug out his receipt for his regulator and send me the info on that!
he is the spirit of the CAC.!

thank you

Robin

maybe we need a SPIRIT OF CORVETTE award.....

Way to go, Vettedude!!!! It's great when people try to share what they have or know.

 

[Chas]

Many thanks...

I have learned so much here at the CAC about my car.....I would do anything to help anyone here out....Robin helped me when i was ready to throw in and cover it up with fiberglass....but he tells me about a "trap door"...and now i have the issue looking factory fresh...so thanks to you as well....this really is the BEST place i have ever seen for our passion....So many here have helped me freely , so its all in the wash.....

Chas

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

Chas, please post a pic. i was wondering where i would put a regulator. you have given me a few ideas..

robin

Not to be a spoilsport here, but I think you'd be better off fixing the root problem by either getting the correct fuel pump that puts out the correct pressure, or by getting a carb than can deal with the 7 psi. Adding a regulator to avoid the root problem is a bit of a Bubba fix, at least to me.

7 psi is not much, probably within range of a stock pump. I'd be leery of any carb that couldn't deal with that low a pressure.

 

[Robin7TFour]

Mickey, i agree with what you say about a carb that won't handle a small difference. i do feel the edelbrock is a very good carb and warrants the addition of a regulator. one pound isn't much of a change, by adding the regulator i am getting the carb an accurate and predictable flow of fuel.
also, look at how many racers use a large fuel pump(s) , then adjust it down to a more manageable pressure.IMHO, i think the addition will lessen any chance of failure if the engineers designed it to run on 6 ,not7. why push my luck,we have the technology.

robin

 

[jswope]

Thanks for the post Chas. I also have a 350 74 with a 1406. After reading your post I went out and bought a regulator and installed it. setting it to the recomended 5.5 improved the idle but did not completly fix my problems. After sleeping on it, I tried 4.5 and as best I can tell probelm is solved. I had previously, replaced plugs and wires, installed then replaced filters, installed new carb, rebuilt new carb (because filter exploded trashing carb, see my exploding filter post) replaced fuel pump, drained and removed and cleaned tank, installed high performance filter and none of this "fixed" the problem until the regulator. My situation was almost identical to nlreb54. (see my other post for details)