E-Bodies.org Cuda Challenger Forum

Technical Shop => Engine, Transmission & Rear End => Topic started by: cuda hunter on July 24, 2019, 08:46:17 PM

Title: carb issue
Post by: cuda hunter on July 24, 2019, 08:46:17 PM
Someone have an idea?

400 w/727.  Holley 3310 Vacuum secondary

When I push the gas pedal hard I get a sputter and the engine falls on itself.  I let off and feather it a little and she runs along.
When I get up to higher end on each gear I get sputtering. 
It was doing this worse when I first got her back on the road but I have tuned up the carb a bit. 

Is this an accelerator pump adjustment or a power valve? 

I know, "go get a vacuum reading on the intake". 
Title: Re: carb issue
Post by: Cuda Cody on July 24, 2019, 10:31:14 PM
What color cam are you using?
Title: Re: carb issue
Post by: Chryco Psycho on July 25, 2019, 12:36:00 AM
Could be play in the linkage , could be wrong cam or squirter size , could be the check ball is stuck from sitting , coul dbe a bad accel pump diaphragm , float level could be too low
Title: Re: carb issue
Post by: cuda hunter on July 25, 2019, 06:16:09 AM
stock cam

float levels should be perfect
cam and squirter have been switched a few times.  Don't think it's either of those.
don't think it's check ball as I have had this problem for a while now.  However my memory doesn't even bring up a check ball.....

I have not changed the accelerator pump. 

I did switch to one size larger power valve. 

Do I need to  put down the cam specs and squirter sizes and power valve size to figure the answer out?

I don't mind throwing a little money at the carb so changing the accelerator pump is acceptable. 
Title: Re: carb issue
Post by: Arctoad on July 25, 2019, 06:50:15 AM
I just finished rebuilding my 2300 carbs and I started from stock everything, jets, squirters, outboard diagram springs. I would definitely replace the accelerator diaphragm and be sure to clean the check ball.. If it boggs then likely to lean. There is a set-up in the manual to adjust your gap for the accelerator circuit, for Holleys.
Hold the throttle wide open and make sure a 1/16' drill shank can slide on the bottom of the linkage arm and adjuster screw, but you can't have excessive play.That'll get you started, give it a real good cleaning first if not already.
Good Luck  :fingerscrossed:
Title: Re: carb issue
Post by: Chryco Psycho on July 25, 2019, 08:06:32 AM
the power valve needs to 6.5 unless you have low vacuum where you need a lower rated power valve , not surre what you switched it to
Title: Re: carb issue
Post by: Cuda Cody on July 25, 2019, 08:52:52 AM
What color cams have you tried?  Make sure your accelerator pump is working correctly too.
Title: Re: carb issue
Post by: Arctoad on July 25, 2019, 10:57:51 AM
This is a great piece of information. Wondering if there is a chart for cfm vs lift? It has me thinking of the relationship between the inboard and outboard for a tri-carb set-up.. How much is needed for the Centre?
Sorry didn't mean to re-direct, maybe good for a separate topic.
Cheers :cheers:
Title: Re: carb issue
Post by: Cudajason on July 25, 2019, 11:06:41 AM
Quote from: cuda hunter on July 24, 2019, 08:46:17 PM
Someone have an idea?

400 w/727.  Holley 3310 Vacuum secondary

When I push the gas pedal hard I get a sputter and the engine falls on itself.  I let off and feather it a little and she runs along.
When I get up to higher end on each gear I get sputtering. 
It was doing this worse when I first got her back on the road but I have tuned up the carb a bit. 

Is this an accelerator pump adjustment or a power valve? 

I know, "go get a vacuum reading on the intake".

Starting point is to make sure everything is working properly!

Sounds like its going lean to me...not enough gas when you smash the go pedal!!

Using the chart Cody shared, I would pic a cam that adds more fuel lower in the curve them the one you are using and see what difference that makes...that should get you started in the right direction!



Jason
Title: Re: carb issue
Post by: Shane Kelley on July 25, 2019, 12:09:43 PM
From the description it almost sounds like you have a fuel issue with the secondaries. If you drive it easy and just pull away from a stop sign does it do fine or does it it try to cough and sputter?
Title: Re: carb issue
Post by: Cuda Cody on July 25, 2019, 12:37:01 PM
IMO, it's sounds like 2 different issues to me.  The first issues is when you try to "mash the gas hard" it stumbles going from the idle circuit to the run circuit.  That is almost always an issue with the air / fuel mix going lean or rich from the accelerate pump either from the wrong cam profile or an out of adjustment (or failing) pump.  An air leak will also mess up that transfer from the idle to the run circuit.

Once you make the jump from idle to run it works fine, right?
Title: Re: carb issue
Post by: 70 Challenger Lover on July 25, 2019, 01:47:46 PM
Not sure where the carb came from, whether it's new or used and been sitting on a shelf. If used and you aren't sure what changes have been made by others, you might consider breaking it down and checking a few things. I'd also put it back to original configuration first and then start dialing it's in. Before you remove it, I'd move the throttle by hand and make sure the accelerator pump arm is not binding or hitting something. I'd also look for a stream of fuel to show you the diaphragm is good and the cam is lined up right. From there, I'd consider a quick breakdown and inspection if you aren't sure what's inside. Easy enough to do and worth the effort.

By the way, I had a 3310 that did that exact thing and it turned out to be a metal burr on the accelerator pump arm. Most of the time it worked fine but then the arm would just stick until I pulled the carb off and tinkered with it. Annoying as hell. I've also seen the cam out of position so that it doesn't start shooting fuel immediately as it should. They have 2-3 holes so easy to make a mistake there.

The 3310 comes with a pink cam if I remember right and 72 primary jets. If the spring in the secondary diaphragm was changed to a much lighter spring, the secondaries open too quickly when you mash it and it will fall or at least bog significantly. If the spring is too heavy, the performance suffers but it shouldn't fall on its face or bog. I think the squirter sizes are 32. Obviously checking the accelerator pump diaphragm would be good also while it's apart.

Once you have done all that, test and change only one thing at a time testing each time in between. If it's worse or no help, change it back and try something different. As Chryco said, lot of things can cause something like that so you have to troubleshoot it. Eventually you start to see improvement and then you know you are onto something.

For example, if you have a big engine with heavy fuel needs, you might find that bigger shooters aren't enough because you run out of pump shot. So you Upgrade to the 50cc accelerator pump kit. Doing so means you need a little more clearance off the manifold so you get a bigger spacer. Then from there, you can play with bigger cams and bigger shooters. If things seem to be getting a little better each change, it tells you you are on the right track.

I know I'm gonna catch hell for saying it but I hate Holley carbs. I've had so many and they all seem very temperamental. I've had stuck floats, stuck accelerator pump arms, leaks, etc. I've gotten good at playing with them simply out of necessity. And when I switch to an edelbrock carb, I find it's a pleasure to dial in and I never have to mess with it again. I agree I will lose power by ditching the Holley but it's a trade off I'm okay with every time.
Title: Re: carb issue
Post by: Shane Kelley on July 25, 2019, 01:58:42 PM
I'm no fan of "Holley" carbs either. They tend to be finicky and hit and miss on a good one. With that said I absolutely hate Edlebrocks! I really like the Quick Fuel carbs that are basically a massively improved Holley. Same design with all the needed corrections. They perform excellent right out of the box. Lots of ability to really micro tune if you are obsessed and looking for perfection. You don't have to but it's designed so you can.  :alan2cents:
Title: Re: carb issue
Post by: 70 Challenger Lover on July 25, 2019, 02:08:29 PM
Good point. To be fair to the Holley design, I've never played around with other brands using the Holley design. Maybe if I did, my opinion would change. Edelbrocks always work for me but I also use them primarily in stock motors so it could be that using them in a higher performance motor would cause me to dislike them as well.
Title: Re: carb issue
Post by: JS29 on July 25, 2019, 02:09:04 PM
 :iagree: I love my quick fuel!  :perfect10:
Title: Re: carb issue
Post by: RUNCHARGER on July 25, 2019, 07:18:14 PM
I have about the same luck with Holleys as I do Edelbrocks. For your application I think a totally stock 3310 should work quite well. If it was mine I would get some gaskets, pull it down and dip it. Blow air through everything and assemble it with all the parts and settings that Holley calls for out of the box.
I did that with one on my nephews stockish 400 and he bolted it on and never looked at it again.
Title: Re: carb issue
Post by: Arctoad on July 25, 2019, 07:49:13 PM
If I member correctly Quickfuel does most of the design work for Holley.. Holley has bought up most of there paten engineering..
But for some of us Older guys who can't break away from the OEM that may or may not be "Numbers matching" I get why you'd want to rebuild your original.
Love it!
Title: Re: carb issue
Post by: cuda hunter on July 26, 2019, 06:35:17 AM
Sorry guys.  I'm working 15's right now.  Only get a chance to drive the car to work and home.  But I will go through the help from y'all and work through it.  And comment a little more.  I appreciate the help leads to follow up on.  I will let you know what I come up with.

Off to work.

Title: Re: carb issue
Post by: Shane Kelley on July 26, 2019, 06:37:54 AM
Holley bought them out. I worry about the quality suffering since the buy out. When Quick Fuel was up and running you could call them and they were really knowledgeable about every aspect on how to correct certain issues. Would take the time and help you out. Now that Holley owns it you get the vanilla answers from somebody siting at a desk with better things to do. If you get my drift.
Title: Re: carb issue
Post by: Arctoad on July 26, 2019, 07:17:11 AM
Just looking over the 70' Challenger Shop Manual, there's a really good section on the Holley 4160, how to set-up everything. If you can read at work or on your down time it'll all come to you.
:perfect10:
Title: Re: carb issue
Post by: Oldschool on July 26, 2019, 07:50:47 AM
Do you know anyone that you could borrow a similar carb to yours and just bolt it on and see if anything changes before you try making multiple changes to yours. If it's the same with the other carb, then it's not the carb at all. Just an idea?....
Title: Re: carb issue
Post by: Cuda Cody on July 26, 2019, 10:51:39 AM
 :iagree:  That's a great idea.