Ok I know we have had posts about this topic before and I just skipped over them and maybe read one or two comments . Not thinking I would be in the same boat. Well, I am and I am stuck.

I have 55 bird stock 292 automatic, mummert intake, 415 Holley,Petronix ignition,MSD box and coil. Taylor wires,new plugs gapped properly. Ford Powertrain Headers. I took the bird out for a performance check ride today and all was well. Cruises like a new car and everything was in limits and working as it should . Until I got home. After about 30 minute drive I pulled into driveway and slowed while the garage door opened and car started to stumble while at idle . It eventually stalled. Tried to start car ,nothing. It usually restarts easily if started right away. Not this time. Tried 2 times . Held foot to floor and after about 10 seconds it fired up and acted up stumbled and stalled . Re-start was as bad as the first. Finally got it inside and began to inspect .  I removed float bowl check port for fuel level. Could not tell how much was in there but the float was bouncing up and down as I pushed it. Operated throttle by hand and fuel came out in a good stream on both sides . A few minor leaks from loose screws and nothing more. I didnt notice till today that my vacuum line is connected to a vacuum port on the passenger side of the carb. I am not so sure thats the correct place. When the car does run it runs great on the road and as it gets warm/er it starts to stumble. Idle speed is set at 700-800 RPM. Couldnt find anything outstanding so i drove it again and this time I help the accelerator down a bit to help it keep running. As I pulled into garage it stalled again. Engine temp was  around 170. So, I ask do I need my phillips or common screwdriver to start with? As always your assistance is appreciated . Earl Dagenhart   

                                                                                                                                  

55Birdman  Hickory NC

I experienced that sort of thing a couple times. I had the idle mixture too rich.


Lawrenceville, GA

 Earl, have you thought of removing your garage door so you dont have to stop and no problem? Ha, Ha.  Holleys often have flooding problems due to sticking needle/seats, perhaps reset float levels.

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

I thought about parking it outside. But,my insurance company wont allow that. Hey, how about even trade for yours? Anybody have float settings? I have a new 4.5 power valve. Should I install that one? I also have a spacer but its aluminum. Any thoughts?

55Birdman  Hickory NC

If the car originally ran OK then it's not the spacer or the vacuum line location. Engine stumbling at idle, doesn't sound like it's the power valve. I'd check for a sticking float first of all. I had a pinhole in one once, made the carb behave like you are describing.

Don't shoot me, but the only way I solved that problem on my 57 T-bird was to replace the Holley carb with an Edlebrock.  I didn't give in easily as I like keeping the car original, but after having the carb rebuilt professionally, then adjusting and readjusting the floats, installing a pressure  regulator in line, and replacing the power valve the problems continued. I still wasn't ready to give  up on Holley so I bought a new (not rebuilt) one for big bucks.  Same thing....spent several years adjusting and replacing parts and living with the stalling and hard starting when hot.  Finally, I bought an Edlebrock, put it on the car, made absolutely no adjustments, and have  been driving it with no problems for 4 years.  I've still never adjusted anything on it and the engine starts and runs better than ever before.

JoeBird,

Those are my thoughts. It seems that every thread here about this issue everyone has parts to replace,adjustments to make etc. All the time I have had Holley carbs on it I have had hard starting issues. This carb was rebuilt by a company in Galveston Texas with a 2 yr warranty. Unfortunately the warranty is gone but still hard starts and stumbling . I hate to spend money for a new carb but spending money on parts for the one I have may be the wrong road. I have the carb sitting on an aluminum spacer . Should that be addressed first?  BTW I would never shoot a Bird owner.  

55Birdman  Hickory NC

Have you tried making any adjustments on the carb? I think those carb places can get the carb pretty close but it cannot be fine tuned until it is installed on the running engine. The idle adjustment is real easy to do. Swapping to a steel needle is only slightly more difficult. Do what you can to get the carb tuned. I'd hate to see you buy another carb only to have the same, or similar problems. Unlike Joebird, I made the switch to Holley from Edelbrock because of a problem I was having but I put good effort into getting the Edelbrock to run right. Simply swapping the carb might not be the answer.


Lawrenceville, GA

Assuming both float levels are fine, then try cleaning the eight air bleeds located at the front of the primary venturies and at the rear of the secondary venturies.  Use carb cleaner with a nozzle to force feed the cleaning solution into each air bleed hole.  Upon recranking the engine, reset the idle mixture screws for best idle or best manifold vacuum.  Baseline for this should be 1½ turns out for each adjustment screw and then adjust both in and out from there.  When you're said and done, both screws should be adjusted approximately the same.

 

Another possibility is a ruptured power valve.  Letting the engine sit for a few hours and then checking the fuel level in the primary fuel bowl to insure that the level are staying up is a good indicator that the power valve itself is okay.

 

What’s the list number on the carb you’re using?

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

List number is 1483. Just checked fuel level. Car has been sitting all night . Its 9AM here. Fuel bowl is completely dry.

55Birdman  Hickory NC