65S/C 427 side oiler.... am I wrong@$#%!

[dcdoug]

I have seen the 3255s also referred to as 3155s on this page (http://www.nvsaac.com/shelbyparts/carburetors.htm). I assume that is just a misprint and the right number is 3255?

I have a 4160 on my car now, which is about as easy as it gets to tune. How much harder to tune would the correct 3255 be? Any real difference between the BE and BV variants on the 3255?

Doug

[elmariachi]

For "fun" I bought a restored 3255 in March "just to play with." After messing with it for a couple of weeks with my Innovate O2 setup, regardless of PVs, mixture settings etc I was unable to get the idle mixture right. It was loading up, idling rough, fouling plugs etc. So I sent it to Keith Craft to be dyno tuned. It should be back in my hands tomorrow and I'll post up the outcome. I can't see what would make it quirky, but it seems quirky. Looks cool though, so I got that goin' for me.

[dcdoug]

Originally Posted by elmariachi

For "fun" I bought a restored 3255 in March "just to play with." After messing with it for a couple of weeks with my Innovate O2 setup, regardless of PVs, mixture settings etc I was unable to get the idle mixture right. It was loading up, idling rough, fouling plugs etc. So I sent it to Keith Craft to be dyno tuned. It should be back in my hands tomorrow and I'll post up the outcome. I can't see what would make it quirky, but it seems quirky. Looks cool though, so I got that goin' for me.

Definitely interested to hear how it works after you get it back. Holley still makes them in small batch runs from time to time (available through Carls Ford). Exact in every way including part numbers, etc, just without a date code. I may be interested in playing around with one as well. Easy to put the 4160 back on if i can't get it to run right.

[Dan Case]

Originally Posted by elmariachi

For "fun" I bought a restored 3255 in March "just to play with." After messing with it for a couple of weeks with my Innovate O2 setup, regardless of PVs, mixture settings etc I was unable to get the idle mixture right. It was loading up, idling rough, fouling plugs etc. So I sent it to Keith Craft to be dyno tuned. It should be back in my hands tomorrow and I'll post up the outcome. I can't see what would make it quirky, but it seems quirky. Looks cool though, so I got that goin' for me.

If your carburetor doesn’t perform as you hoped when you get it back your problem could be at least in part fuel level issues. Some issues with the “LeMans” fuel bowl assemblies include:

1) Unless you have one of the special external fuel level test gauges Holley® use to sell, you cannot get a reading of fuel levels inside the bowls on a running engine.

2) The level of the carburetor installed in your car might not be the same as what Ford/Holley used during design and development. If you tip the carburetor much the fuel level at the entry to the booster venturi ports changes quickly. Change the mounting angle of the carburetor and you can leave the level too low at one end of the carburetor and equally too high on the other end. The frequent results of installing at an angle different than Ford/Holley used include:


a. Difficult to extremely difficult restarting of a hot engine because the too high level dribbles out and down into the engine as soon as it is shut down, the engine “floods”.


b. Fuel running out a throttle shaft and dripping on the intake manifold after shut down or while parked.

i. Worse if the car is parked on an angle side to side.
ii. Worse if the car is parked on a slope front to back or visa versa.


c. Poor idle quality.


d. Poor low speed performance and high fuel consumption.


e. Rich stumble during hard cornering (black sooty smoke from exhaust).


f. Rich stumble, perhaps even killing the engine because of flooding, upon hard braking.


3) Steel needle and seats. All steel needles and seats use to be a favorite of racers. They are not a problem in all out racing but can at times cause fuel level control problems on the street.


The issue of fuel levels is a big deal for original cars, with Cobras having more trouble than 427 Cobras. Running GT350 float settings with an R-3259 / R-3259-1 in a Cobra is awful.

Dan

[elmariachi]

Originally Posted by Dan Case

If your carburetor doesn’t perform as you hoped when you get it back your problem could be at least in part fuel level issues. Some issues with the “LeMans” fuel bowl assemblies includean

Hi Dan,

Thanks for this info, I do believe in part that the bowl levels on this carb were (possibly still are) a factor. The carb is back from KC and I am still tuning and tweaking so we'll see how it ends up.

Jim

[Dan Case]

Originally Posted by elmariachi

Hi Dan,

Thanks for this info, I do believe in part that the bowl levels on this carb were (possibly still are) a factor. The carb is back from KC and I am still tuning and tweaking so we'll see how it ends up.

Jim

Your welcome. On fellow labored with his for a long time and finally ended up in my driveway. Once I removed the small piece of rubber fuel line liner from the front needle and seat everything was fine. On a regular Holley® you can take the side plugs out a check for things like run away fuel level but with the LeMans bowls you run blind so to speak.

[elmariachi]

Doug, you have a PM. Also, in reference to your prior question, while messing with this carb tonight I noticed "3155-1" stamped on the base plate. Buts its a List 3255-1 on the front of the carb.

[Rick Parker]

Those AFB Holleys are difficult to find.
They're worth a lot, the manifold even more.

[dcdoug]

Originally Posted by Rick Parker

Those AFB Holleys are difficult to find.
They're worth a lot, the manifold even more.

Holley makes manufacturing continuation runs from time to time for Carl's Ford so you effectively get a new 3255. Everything is exactly the same as the originals, except there is no date code.

[Dumpling]

Originally Posted by dlotz

Ok
........
So my initial reaction was how does a low rise intake fit on MR heads?
......

Low rise intake will work with MR heads, if that's all you're worried about. And it doesn't look like anyone has tried to assuage your fears about that so far in this thread. You just need to pay attention to your manifold/head gasket sealing areas, especially below the intakes ports.

While many people will fanatically attempt to port-match intakes to head, a slight mismatch can actually be beneficial, shearing the air-fuel mixture just before the valve. Creating a balloon in the air-fuel route from carb to valve in the name of "port-matching" can do more harm than good.

As for the "correct" parts? An earlier poster said it all...Shelby would put any part or combination of parts you wanted on the car, as long as you paid him.