Need an old school mechanic in Charlotte area

LizardKing

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I need an old school mechanic in the Charlotte area who can troubleshoot a SBC 350 and tune a Holley carb, without plugging in a computer.

I've asked most every shop around my area and most have flat out told me that if they can't plug up a diagnostic, they can't work on it.

I'm not looking for a favor, or a buddy deal. I would just like somebody to spend some time with it an give me an honest diagnosis and fix it right the first time.

The known issues and gremlins I've been chasing.... ( in my best shade tree terminology)

Inconsistent starting problem ( sometimes it starts on the first lick, sometimes 4 pumps, sometimes it drains the battery and need a boost...)

Cold start/Idle problem

Carb Bog/hesitation (fairly certain it needs a new accelerator pump nozzle)

Exhaust pop during idle and deceleration

Inconsistent mis in one cylinder


Thanks in advance!
 
Tekauto on gribble road in stallings. Personally take all my work i dont do myself to them. Good friends of mine.

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Tekauto on gribble road in stallings. Personally take all my work i dont do myself to them. Good friends of mine.

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Thanks! I'll give them a call tomorrow.
 
First off it's a Holley carb that will give you fits if it isn't perfect. change it to an old school CARTER if you can find one. If not an edlebrock
Hot dang! It's worse than 9 vs. 45! I had a Quadrajunk that I had rebuilt but couldn't get it tuned/dialed in. Everybody said to get rid of it and put on a Holley, cause they're easier to tune!
 
What a shame!

Get a timing light, a vacuum gage and pick up a performance SBC book and you can do most everything you need in a morning. Holleys are easy, the internet is full of tools!

Hot rodding is more fun when YOU do it!

Would you put this back together for me?

Dottie1.jpg
 
What a shame!

Get a timing light, a vacuum gage and pick up a performance SBC book and you can do most everything you need in a morning. Holleys are easy, the internet is full of tools!

Hot rodding is more fun when YOU do it!

Would you put this back together for me?

View attachment 187591
I hear ya, 100 percent, but as Harry Callahan put it, "a man's gotta know his limitations".
 
giphy.gif
 
Anyway ,,,,,,off the Holley rant. That sounds like it could be an ignition module crapping out or a sloppy distributor.
Like I said, I'm just barely a shade tree mechanic but i did put on a new HEI distributor and coil. And in all honesty the only new problem after the carb swap is the hesitation on acceleration.
 
Let me look I HAD a new old stock carter carb when I moved. IF I can find it. You could come by one day and we will put it on and see what happens It was tuned for a 450hp daily driver
 
Questions...
  1. Did you just put the carb on
  2. Someone else put it on
  3. Did you see it running at one time
  4. Told it ran at one time

Asking for a reason...
Carb was NIB and I put it on
 
Carb is a 600 CFM Street Warrior
Edelbrock dual plane intake manifold
Hooker long tube headers
2.5 inch dual exhaust with crossover pipe
Dual Flowmaster 40 series mufflers

I'll check the Holley box to see if I can find any more info.
 
All of what you mention sounds like it's too lean.

Good luck in finding an Old Skool tuner.
 
All of what you mention sounds like it's too lean

Yes, I had that issue with a '77 F150 351M. Intake and exhaust mods, OEM cam. Had to get a tuner kit with a variety of idle and main jets else stepping up a set at a time would put me in the poor house.

I'll check the Holley box to see if I can find any more info.

This would give you a starting point without ripping into the carb. The 600 CFM is on the large size for that engine. It will work, might be a bit picky on the jet size.
Street Carb CFM : 344.33
Racing Carb CFM : 445.6
 
Thanks for the responses, guys. It's been a fun project but this motor gremlin has been frustrating to say the least.
 
Thanks for the responses, guys. It's been a fun project but this motor gremlin has been frustrating to say the least.

Get the idle tuned first. Most of the time engines are there or just off idle. It is the base for everything.

Have you adjusted the idle mix and stop yet?

Keep us posted on what you do and the result.
 
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Patience, a good check list, the time to do it and..........THE DESIRE to do it!

Starting with basics such as a compression test and move up through all the ole time tuning rituals to do with vacuum, timing, jetting, air/fuel mixture screws, etc. And some trial and error too.
Not sure that can be bought.

Advice from successful racers use to help me back in the day, they know the checklists by heart.
 
Get the idle tuned first. Most of the time engines are there or just off idle. It is the base for everything.

^^^THIS^^^

From what you're describing it sounds like it's running too lean, my money is on the accelerator pump nozzle.

The popping, is it out of the exhaust or the carb itself?
 
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All of what you mention sounds like it's too lean.

Good luck in finding an Old Skool tuner.
Think this will make it run lean?
20200208_101156.jpg


20200208_101131.jpg
Fuel line coming off the hard line from the tank going to the fuel pump.

Planned on taking it to the shop Sat morning and had trouble getting it to start, so after almost giving in and calling a tow I found this. Really doesn't make sense? I was right beside it a few months back when I ran the fuel line for the carb and didn't notice it. I don't see where anything could have rubbed it. Will varmints chew hoses? What do you guys think?
 
Think this will make it run lean?
View attachment 188750


View attachment 188752
Fuel line coming off the hard line from the tank going to the fuel pump.

Planned on taking it to the shop Sat morning and had trouble getting it to start, so after almost giving in and calling a tow I found this. Really doesn't make sense? I was right beside it a few months back when I ran the fuel line for the carb and didn't notice it. I don't see where anything could have rubbed it. Will varmints chew hoses? What do you guys think?

Sometimes they do, but I’ve never known them to be too fond of the smell of fuel...

I’d also look at the cable above it in your second picture. Looks like it’s splitting.


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Holley carbs are not as bad as people think. Problem with them is you have to know them and how to tune them. They are not a bolt and go item. They must be adjusted/tuned when the fuel blend changes from summer to winter blend. Not to mention one good backfire through the intake and your power valve is gone. Has the distributor mechanical advance been tuned? Is the vacuum advance hooked up to ported or non ported vacuum source? Do you have pressed in or bolt in rocker studs? I’ve seen the pressed in ones pull out a little at a time and effect valve lash in that cylinder. Check vacuum and compression. Should be pulling 15-17 inhg at idle depending on cam. Get idle fixed first.
 
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Sometimes they do, but I’ve never known them to be too fond of the smell of fuel...

I’d also look at the cable above it in your second picture. Looks like it’s splitting.


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Must be an illusion. That is the battery cable going to the starter and is about 3 months old. I ran 2 new cables tyring to troubleshoot the starting problem.
 
Holley carbs are not as bad as people think. Problem with them is you have to know them and how to tune them. They are not a bolt and go item. They must be adjusted/tuned when the fuel blend changes from summer to winter blend. Has the distributor mechanical advance been tuned? Do you have pressed in or bolt in rocker studs? I’ve seen the pressed in ones pull out a little at a time and effect valve lash in that cylinder. Check vacuum and compression. Should be pulling 15-17 inhg at idle depending on cam. Get idle fixed first.
Yeah, I think the carb debate is funny, but it is the inner nets...
Good to know about the fuel blend changes, honestly wasn't aware of that. Not sure what you mean about tuning distributor mechanical advance. It's been set using a timing light. Not sure about rocker studs, it probably has whatever was factree in 77. Vacuum was in spec when we tried tuning the carb. Haven't checked compression. The truck is at the shop now. I'll update as I find out more. Thanks for the advice!
 
Yeah, I think the carb debate is funny, but it is the inner nets...
Good to know about the fuel blend changes, honestly wasn't aware of that. Not sure what you mean about tuning distributor mechanical advance. It's been set using a timing light. Not sure about rocker studs, it probably has whatever was factree in 77. Vacuum was in spec when we tried tuning the carb. Haven't checked compression. The truck is at the shop now. I'll update as I find out more. Thanks for the advice!
Mechanical advance can be tuned to come in earlier or later by using different springs and weights. Keep us posted.
 
Think this will make it run lean?
View attachment 188750


View attachment 188752
Fuel line coming off the hard line from the tank going to the fuel pump.

Planned on taking it to the shop Sat morning and had trouble getting it to start, so after almost giving in and calling a tow I found this. Really doesn't make sense? I was right beside it a few months back when I ran the fuel line for the carb and didn't notice it. I don't see where anything could have rubbed it. Will varmints chew hoses? What do you guys think?


That wouldn't give you a lean run condition. It would give you a run out of gas condition.
Rats / mice will chew on rubber and plastic parts.
 
So, I picked up the truck from the shop today.
Mechanic said it had an intake manifold leak and needed a tune up. He put new plugs and wires, new intake manifold gasket and did an oil change.
I took it for a test drive and it still had a hesitation when I got in the gas and would pop as well.
After a few adjustments to the timing, he got it dialed in and got rid of the hesitation. He said the timing marks were backwards....? He thought it was 4 degrees advanced but it was 4 degrees retarded.
Anyhow it's running smooth and I'm satisfied....
Although, I think the Quadrajet made more power, I dunno, maybe it just made more noise....

Thanks for all the help guys! You too @BloodRunsThicker ;)
 
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