Houston member needs help with carbureter

qmaster · #1 (**permalink**) 07-19-2016, 09:55 AM

I have an early Backdraft and am located in Houston near the Galleria area. I had not driven her for a few months, and when i recently tried to start it, it sounds as though it isnt getting enough gas to be able to fire up. I have checked all of the obvious stuff (battery, fuel pump, ignitio n, etc) as i am now pretty sure that the carb (a holley 4150 4 barrel) is clogged up in the float bowls due to aitting so long.

If there is anyone located near me, I would GREATLY appreciate some help in dissassembling the carb in an effort to clean it out and get the car up and running again.

Thanks. Jason (832-452-3132)

joey4420 · #2 (**permalink**) 07-19-2016, 11:01 AM

A few months should cause the carb to clog up. You say it isn't starting, did you try using starting fluid? Spray a little into the carb and see if it starts, if yes you have a fuel issue, if no then you have an electrical issue.

Antny · #3 (**permalink**) 07-19-2016, 11:27 AM

Assuming a mechanical fuel pump, did you give the engine enough revolutions to pump the bowls full? Did you try pumping the pedal a lot? Today's gasoline tends to evaporate rather quickly, so it may take a lot of cranking/pumping for a car that's been in hibernation.

qmaster · #4 (**permalink**) 07-19-2016, 01:08 PM

Thanks for the replies so far. I have an electric fuel pump and it comes on fine. I did not know about starting fluid, so i will look up where I can get some.

Truthfully i am just not super comfortable taking my carb apart to find where it is gummed up. I was hoping to find aomeone local who could help me disassemble it enough to find and solve the problem. Fyi i am located near the galleria area. Jason

flipper35 · #5 (**permalink**) 07-19-2016, 01:33 PM

Those are a pretty simple carb and as long as you take care with the gaskets you will do fine. Of course it always helps to have someone that know them around to help.

qmaster · #6 (**permalink**) 07-19-2016, 01:38 PM

Agreed, i am just looking for another set of eyes/hands to help me not make it worse than it already is. If anyone knws of a handy cobra guy inside the loop please let me know.

Seagull81 · #7 (**permalink**) 07-19-2016, 02:01 PM

Post up on Yahoo Groups under Houston Cobras. A lot of the guys hang out there.
When you look down the carb and pull the throttle open do you see fuel?

Phill Pollard · #8 (**permalink**) 07-19-2016, 02:35 PM

Depending on your definition of "a few months", a few months really shouldn't gum up a carb.

Do you have a choke (cold enrichment) system on the carb? Electric or manual? Is it closing?

YES = You could easily be flooding it.
NO = You could be starving it.

If it's not closing or if you don't have a choke, you'll need to manually introduce gas into the manifold by pumping the gas pedal a few times and that's provided your accell. pump nozzle/s aren't restricted or plugged. If it's flooded, you can "clear flood" by holding the throttle wide open while cranking then as she starts to run faster and faster you MUST reduce the pedal more and more or chance a run-away engine.

Electrical issues can vary depending on what type of ignition system you have. More info would help.

Phill

patrickt · #9 (**permalink**) 07-19-2016, 03:45 PM

Jason, you can get a pretty good carb cleaning, without disassembly, by blowing carb cleaner in to the bowls (through the vents at the top) and especially in to the air bleeds -- all eight of them. I've written about cleaning the air bleeds a hundred times on here, but it's a perennial problem with today's gas and Holley type carbs. I think you can probably get by without having to pull the float bowls off doing it this way and there's pretty much no way to screw it up, other than blowing the little red straw down in to your manifold (which I have actually seen done before

).

fordracing65 · #10 (**permalink**) 07-19-2016, 05:43 PM

Why do you use a electric fuel pump vs mechanical with a carb???

qmaster · #11 (**permalink**) 07-20-2016, 03:05 PM

I notice that almost no one replying to my post is actually from Texas, which is very odd.

To answer a few questions:
1) The car came with an electric fuel pump, not sure if that is standard on Backdrafts
2) No idea if it has a choke, and if so what kind, as you can tell I am a white belt in this stuff
3) I have requested to join the local Yahoo group but havent heard anything back yet

Thanks.

Jason

patrickt · #12 (**permalink**) 07-20-2016, 03:09 PM

Jason, before you even think about doing anything drastic with your carb, first follow the instructions here that I wrote for a fellow local Cobra club member. This very well might fix your problems: Holley Carb Woes - DCDoug Pay Attention (Long Post)

qmaster · #13 (**permalink**) 07-20-2016, 03:12 PM

That is SUPER helpful, especially with the pics. I will print it out now and try it out ASAP and let you know how it goes.

Thanks again.

Jason

jhv48 · #14 (**permalink**) 07-20-2016, 04:21 PM

Assuming the carb is getting fuel and the bowls are full, pull the distributor cap and check it and the distributor itself for corrosion. You guys in Texas have had loads of humidity the last few months.

Late Apex · #15 (**permalink**) 07-20-2016, 09:23 PM

Hey Jason, if any problems still exist make sure and call James at Radical Roadsters of Texas in Tomball. He is a Backdraft dealer and is an expert at mechanical system problems. Probably the best there is in fact. Glad you posted this here rather than the Yahoo groups for more owners to see and possible feedback. Hope this helps.