carb troubles

[mikos6430]

I have a '78 Power Wagon with a 360 4speed.
My problem is the carb.I have a reburbed 850 Carter Thermoquad
and also a manual choke.I believe the carb is for a 440.
My motor (360) is from a '71 Polara.Truck doesn't want to start very well
just isn't getting enough gas and the manual choke does'nt seem to help
much.My friend who helps me with the truck is a huge Mopar dude.
He has tons of parts and so on.He seems to think we need to put in
some different metering bars inside the carb for more fuel to the carb.
However, any input would be greatly appreciated.
Mike

[Rayven]

first of all if it is a 850cc carb than it is way to big u shouldnt have anything bigger than a 650cc on it, as for it not getting enuff fuel well its getting way to much fuel

[Speed Dragon]

How does it run once it cranks up?

[bherder]

Yeah, I agree with Rayven... 850cfm is way to much for 360 (Unless of course it's been built to the hilt/bored and stroked/etc... )

Changing the metering rods could help but I don't think, even then, it would run as good as with the proper cfm carb on it....

[Parson4]

I have a carb problem as well on my 79 360......Whenever it sits all night, I have to squirt it with a little carb cleaner, then it fires right off and runs fine the rest of the day......probably needs to be rebuilt....huh ??

[mlauk]

How many times do you pump the gas before you start it?

[Speed Dragon]

I have a carb problem as well on my 79 360......Whenever it sits all night, I have to squirt it with a little carb cleaner, then it fires right off and runs fine the rest of the day......probably needs to be rebuilt....huh ??Accelerator pump.

[Parson4]

If I remember correctly, if I pump the gas then it will never start.....Accelerator pump ?? You think so? How hard is it to rebuid a carb, and what do I need to be careful of....Before you ask, I have no idea in the world what carb is on it.....I will try and find out today......

Now remember, you is talking to one DUMB "OLD" COW HAND, if it don't have horns and a tail I don't know nuttin much about it.....Just ask bherder , he will attest to that :)

rick

[bherder]

If I remember correctly, if I pump the gas then it will never start.....Accelerator pump ?? You think so? How hard is it to rebuid a carb, and what do I need to be careful of....Before you ask, I have no idea in the world what carb is on it.....I will try and find out today......

Now remember, you is talking to one DUMB "OLD" COW HAND, if it don't have horns and a tail I don't know nuttin much about it.....Just ask bherder , he will attest to that :)

rick

;)

You're not 'dumb' Rick, you just haven't had the 'hands-on doin' it' yet... We'll get ya there though.. :D :D

There is nothing 'rocket science' about our rigs (That's probably WHY we still hang onto them!)

Anyway, see the pic below... Does your's look like that? If so, it's a Holley 2245 model (Although stamped into it, it may say something like 'R8598A' or similar)
Being as your's is a 79' I'll bet you a doughnut it is....

Anyway, if all this jives so far.... Before you spend $40.00 on a rebuild kit or $150+ on a rebuilt... Check this out...

(Story first.. ;) )

I was having sorta' similar probs as you.. Hard starting in the morning. And you say you have to squirt some stuff in the carb to get it to start when it's been sitting overnight...

I have an electric fuel pump on mine, and besides hard-starting in the morning, I was wondering WHY I heard the fuel pump run for about 20 seconds before it stopped when I first turned the ignition on. I thought, 'The bowl should be full, or pretty damn close, so why is the fuel pump running so long?'

As it turns out....

I finally pulled the carb, and on the bottom, where the throttle plate 'plate' bolts onto the rest of the carb (There are 5, I think) the screws had become very loose. A couple of them were about ready to fall out....

So I cleaned them up, put some blue Loc-tite on them, reassembled nice and tight... Haven't had a prob since.

As near as I can figure out, the bowl was seeping overnite (Or a few days) and draining the bowl, slowly but surely, aside from not having everything cinched up tight and causing a poorly running/starting situation with a carb that had two halves coming apart...

So maybe... JUST maybe, pull the carb and make sure those screws are nice and tight first... Because my thinking may be that because if your running a mechanical fuel pump, and if the bowl is empty, or close, is the reason you have to give it a squirt in the morning to get it started. If the bowl is empty, there is nothing for the accelerator pump to 'pump' and the engine will have to turn over enough to get gas back in the bowl via mechanical pump...

Anyway, in the morning, before you start it, climb up in the hood, take the air cleaner off and look straight down the carb (A flashlight really helps) work the carb and see if your getting a good healthy squirt of gas into both barrels.

(If you are, never mind anything I just said.. ;) Carb probably needs a rebuild, or some other prob, like the choke being way out of whack...)

If not, do what you need to do to get it started and then after it's running, shut er' down and do the same thing. If your getting a good squirt, then you know the bowl has filled up again after being empty...

If you're STILL not getting a good squirt, then yeah the accelerator pump is more than likely shot (And from my own experience and others) the 2245 Holley has a not-very-long-lived accelerator pump system. It kinda' sucks actually....

[Parson4]

As usual you hit the snake, oppps I mean the nail on the head. It is a holly, and in the morning I will take it off and see just what the problem might be. Could well be those screws, however I haven't run it much since a guy had the carb off about 5 years ago.....but I will see. I also have an elec fuel pump in the line as well as going through the manual pump.

I was thinking about taking the elec out, because it draws from both tanks at the same time even though it is upstream from the tank switch valve.....to much suction I guess :(

Thanks for the pic and the sound advice.

rick

[mikos6430]

Thanks to everyone for your input.
I feel the carb is not getting enough fuel because I
have to pump the p**s out of it even when it's
warm out.
Interestingly the truck runs real good once it gets up
to engine temp.However in the upper RPM's(4000)
it
really loses it's power and almost trys to give up.
Also when attempting cold startup it never smells flooded.
I need some advice.
Thanks,
Mike

[bherder]

I also have an elec fuel pump in the line as well as going through the manual pump.

????
Why would you have both? 'Backup' maybe?
Me thinks you've had (And this is INDEED a prob with our beloved ol' rigs) a nitwit 'tweeking' around with something they knew nothing about .. ??

Generally, one or the other there Rick... (I prefer an electric pump MUCH more over a mechanical pump for what it's worth..)

I was thinking about taking the elec out, because it draws from both tanks at the same time even though it is upstream from the tank switch valve.....to much suction I guess :(

Naw, something just isn't 'plumbed' right.... I'd KEEP the electric....

[Parson4]

Wellllllllllll what can I say, it don't have horns or a tail :huh:

Once I get all the other stuff done (should be done by next March if things are going like they have been) :) I will get to that part of the problem......First I gotta get this steering colum back together and the dash done, and then the off road lights installed, and then the OLD stock clearance lights repfurbished, and then the new seat cover on, and then the carpet replaced, and then, and then, and then, etc etc, etc,............. :help:

:thatfunny :thatfunny :thatfunny

[mikos6430]

:rck: :rck: :crazy: You are correct.
My buddy put in the carb.
He is a Mopar fanatic.
However he really isn't a nitwit but he is
one of those Mr. knowitalls.
I tried to tell him he has it messed up
but he insists he knows exactly what he is doing.
He has several old Dodges,too numerous to mention.
Thanks for opening my eyes to this problem.
Maybe i'll have someone else help me.
I'll try not to hurt his feelings.
Mike