Thread: Running rich

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I have a small block Ford that has several issues. The first that is it runs rich, and I can smell the gas that it's wasting when it's running. The other is that it bogs down when you step on it. It's running a Holley 650 4-barrel on it. It seems to bog when it's warm out, but it's a little more noticeable when it's cool out (below 60 degrees)

Also, related to carburation, etc. - what will adding an Endelbrock manifold buy me? Is is more looks than performance? Also, I see several manifolds listed for the Ford 302 - which one is good for street use. Like the aluminum manifold to dress things up a bit - but also looking to see if I can get a little added performance.

Dave

Check the float levels, choke setting, jet sizes, idle screw settings. Holley's or an aftermarket carb for that matter, require calibration and tuning to work correctly on a particular vehicle.

Originally posted by djpritchard1
I have a small block Ford that has several issues. The first that is it runs rich, and I can smell the gas that it's wasting when it's running. The other is that it bogs down when you step on it. It's running a Holley 650 4-barrel on it. It seems to bog when it's warm out, but it's a little more noticeable when it's cool out (below 60 degrees)

Also, related to carburation, etc. - what will a Endelbrock manifold buy me? Is is more looks than performance?

Dave

sounds like that carb. may be to big. drop the jets a few points and see if that helps. is the choke working.
if you talk "Endelbrock manifold" into buying you anything id like to know about that. id like to get in on that. just joking djpritchard1. the manifold by itself want do you much good.

lt1s10 - yeah - I kind of mis-worded it - actually corrected it, once you pointed that out.

Hey, if I get Edelbrock to "buy" me a manifold, I'll give them some free advertisement on the side of my 1931 Model A

Dave

Originally posted by djpritchard1
lt1s10 - yeah - I kind of mis-worded it - actually corrected it, once you pointed that out.

Hey, if I get Edelbrock to "buy" me a manifold, I'll give them some free advertisement on the side of my 1931 Model A

Dave

good luck, i never understood why we pay big bucks for hats, t-shirts and other stuff with co. names on them thats suppose to be trying to sell us something. when i was in bus. no body paid me for one of my hats. something is wrong with that pic. i know you'll give them some free advertisement on your 1931 Model A with those 300.00 valve covers you just bought.
just like i do.

Here is some info I got when looking into fixing up my 302... I got my info from people on here, from Edelbrock, and from Summit racing in case your wanting to know where my info is comming from. Anyways, 650 is too big for a 302. 302 uses, what 480cfm I think it is, so 500cfm is the right carb. I was going to get a 650 from Edelbrock and them and Summit told me not to that it's too big and I don't need it.
Also, the best set up for street applications and to run from idle to 5500 rpms is the Edelbrock 500cfm performer series carb with the performer series manifold. Now what I would reccommend if you get a polished manifold is to spend a little tiny bit more money and get the endurashine I think it's called (it's their newest finish). What it is is it has a clear powder coat baked over it so you never have to polish it and it will never dull or yellow on you. I was going to get a polished one and do my own clear powder coating but saw that and thought that is easy and saves me time having to do it myself... To me that is worth it.
Everytime I get info on either Holley or Edelbrock then this is what I hear and what I get.... Edelbrock is more for a street application where power is needed through all ranges and then Holley, etc is better or more for racing applications to fine tune everything, etc and Edelbrock carbs are already set up, etc....

That is all I really know on this subject and if I went any further to answer your questions then I wont be 100% so I don't wanna give you false information. I have a friend with a 31 chevy that has a 350 in it and it's burning rich and smells like crazy and he is getting a new higher output I guess you can say, distributor and MSD ignition box to burn hotter.
Well hope this helped and good luck!
Good luck!

I'm running a 650 double pumper on the 289 in my Mustang with a 286 Comp cam and headers. Buy a Holley rebuild book and follow their advice on the primary squirters and drop the primary jets to 62 and the secondary jets no bigger than 66. Do the ignition upgrades as mentioned in earlier posts, get it timed properly and adjust the carb with a vacuum guage.

So - is my 850 CFM too big for my little old 302? I'm getting mixed signals. It would be a shame to have to invest in another carb - but if it's too big - then it's too big, and I wanna make it right. It does seem to be running unusually rich. I've been out of this "motor head" stuff for a bit - and was really surprised to find out that these Holley carbs go almost five bills!

Anyone else out there running an 850 CFM on a 302 - and I don't have any fancy cam or anything like that.

Thanks in advance,

Dave

Which carb do you have?? In your first post on this thread you said it was a 650 carb. An 850 is way too much carb for a 302.

850 is way to big and even a 650 is too big. A mild little 302 should be on 500 cfm.. 550 the most.

Dave - you're correct, and I thought I had the smaller carb, but after taking the winter off from tinkering, I started documenting things. It is truely an 850 CFM. What was stuck in my mind was what the fella had told me when I purchased it - I just never really verified it. I was "walkin' on air" that day - so a lot of things went in one ear and out the other.

Definitely finding out a lot of things with this new venture. I actually purchased it late last fall, and due to a busy work schedule (and the damaged garage door - long story there - didn't help matters) I didn't get to do much tinkering. I'll be a little smarter on my next purchase - but I pulled the trigger quickly - and I still think I bought it for a reasonable price. There is a solid base to work on - and I didn't really just want to get something that was all decked out. What's the fun in that?

Sound like the message is - get a smaller carb. Now that comes after I get a new raditor and dress up the engine comparment. I may try to do a swap or bartering with someone. I also may just run it rich for a month or so.

Thanks,

Dave

Sell it on ebay and use the money to buy a 500cfm and then you will most likely have money left over... heh 850 on a 302... that is HUGE!

I wouldn't go any bigger than a 600 Edlebrock or Holley and which one would depend on cam and intake manifold.

Any recommendations on names of good books for rebuilding Holley carbs. There is mention of a "Performance" book and then a general comment about a book on carb rebuilding.

THanks

Dave

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846