Time for a new Carb(advice needed)

[Mr. Land Yacht]

I'll have to look for that kit, Ivan. thanx
as it stands now, it looks like the secondaries dont start to open until the throttle is about 1/2 way down...at least, that's what it looks/feels like.

[turbo2256b]

so, what you're saying is that either works just fine...but Gerry will know how to tune a Vac. secondary better.
I see...
there is one small problem.
like I stated before, my uncle does not want anyone working on the car besides him..otherwise he will not work on it again.
but, I will send any dyno sheets or anything to Gerry...talk with him over the phone and still make sure I get good advice from him as well.
I just dont want to make things bad between my uncle and I...in the end, he is family....I'm sure you can understand.
it's not that I have anything against Gerry per say...it's not that at all.

Gerry knows as much about vacuum secondarys as the double pumpers. More its a better choice for your engine build / usage in your car due to its weight and wants of fuel economy etc. Yes there are spring kits to adjust vacuum secondary opening points .. kits to changing of the secondary spring with out party dissasebling the carb....there are different jet plates aval for the secondary jetting... there are also kits to add a metering block to the rear barrel instead of secondary plates.

As stated before you should get the distributor timing issues taken care of first or the jetting changes with the current timing would have to be gone into again whith the timing corrected.

Your uncle has done a great job with what he has done but I dont know how much knowlege he has of tuning a high performance engine in particular with the heads you have. If I had assembled the engine and instaled it jetting and timing changes would have been made pryor to starting the engine. Plug readings at idle would have been done before leaving the shop other tweeking would if needed been done maybe not totaly correct but enough so it would possibly not harm anything during break in. I also spoke of after dyno testing sending the carb to a specialist a guy named Nicerson possibly, he is for carb work like Gerry is for head work. As much as Gerry and I know about tuning stuff at times we must bow to those that are specilists in there fields. Your uncle should have no issues with that, but I could see issues with a guy that has piddled around with a few Holleys.
I have cut holleys up to make 2bbls out of 4 bbls made 2 bbls into 1 bbls. Poked a drill in just about every metering orfice in one, stuck wires in them, put different throttle plates, metering bodys, jets, hogged out the bores, filled in and redrilled stuff, changed booster venturies, cut off choke horns, pollished them inside and out, lots of this stuff and more before any of it became more common knowlege to hard core racers and builders. I must have 20 boxes filled with holley parts as well as 10 or so carbs in various states of build.
With out the proper help its easy to leave 60HP on the table.

[Archangel]

I'll have to look for that kit, Ivan. thanx
as it stands now, it looks like the secondaries dont start to open until the throttle is about 1/2 way down...at least, that's what it looks/feels like.

I think I managed to get mine all the way to 3/4 throttle, but I also have progressive ramp-roller linkage with a rod I can bend to my liking - stock mine would also hit the secondaries at 1/2 throttle, which was way too early for me.

[Mr. Land Yacht]

ok, Dave..I see...
yea, I'm certain that both you and Gerry have tons of knowledge in motor building. no question there

hmm..since I have to drive this car in the meantime, I cant really drop off the Carb at his place and let him work on it or have him send it off to get it worked on.
unless I keep the current Carb on until I get the DP back all set.
but, that means that we have to work on the Disty and get the car on the dyno before the Carb can worked on right?

well, I guess we can cross that bridge when we get there...hopefulyl I can get me another car as a DD for the winter...that way Gerry or anyone he sends the Carb to has months.

[1987cp]

well, I guess we can cross that bridge when we get there...hopefulyl I can get me another car as a DD for the winter...that way Gerry or anyone he sends the Carb to has months.

You can borrow my LTD if you put floorpans in it .....

[Mr. Land Yacht]

:lol:
sure..but I wont need floor pans...I'll just drive like Fred Flinstone.
I could get great fuel savings by doing that! :banana:

[Grand Marquis GT]

But seriously, why ask for advice if you're just going to "do what your uncle says"?

[Mr. Land Yacht]

I dunno...I worded it wrong I guess.

[turbo2256b]

ok, Dave..I see...
yea, I'm certain that both you and Gerry have tons of knowledge in motor building. no question there

hmm..since I have to drive this car in the meantime, I cant really drop off the Carb at his place and let him work on it or have him send it off to get it worked on.
unless I keep the current Carb on until I get the DP back all set.
but, that means that we have to work on the Disty and get the car on the dyno before the Carb can worked on right?

well, I guess we can cross that bridge when we get there...hopefulyl I can get me another car as a DD for the winter...that way Gerry or anyone he sends the Carb to has months.

You need to get the advance curve kit and key to modify your model distributor there should be a red tag on the distributor that tells the model and part number.
It will be needed before Gerry can work on the distributor. Gerry will need the car there to inspect the carb and spark plugs to determine what to do. He probably wont have any meetering plates or the vacuum secondary spring kit but most likely have front main jets. The carb may or rmay not have the reuseable gaskets on it the standard Holley ones are a pain to remove. Best to set up an appointment with him. He will most likely call me about it for more info. This should all be done pryer to dyno runs. You could end up with a dyno run that has to be haulted due to gioing to lean in the middle of the run.

[Mr. Land Yacht]

oh ok...do it BEFORE the dyno run...ok.
I did some searching and I couldnt find that red tag you were telling me about...the only one on it is the one that says "Unilite" but I'll see tonite if there's any part numbers or anything.

but for the time being, I can keep that Vacuum Secondary Carb on there right?
because all the work he will be doing will be with the Disty right?
but I can bring the New Carb with me so he can check it out.

[turbo2256b]

oh ok...do it BEFORE the dyno run...ok.
I did some searching and I couldnt find that red tag you were telling me about...the only one on it is the one that says "Unilite" but I'll see tonite if there's any part numbers or anything.

but for the time being, I can keep that Vacuum Secondary Carb on there right?
because all the work he will be doing will be with the Disty right?
but I can bring the New Carb with me so he can check it out.

To start out yes although spark plug readings may indicate other issues. Your current carb may need to be removed and checked for proper idle transfer slot positioning and adjusted properly. Since your carb was used most adjust the idle with the idle speed screw ssmall adjustments are ok maybe a half turn in or out from factory settings more than that needs to be aproached in a different manor. The 2 first steps in tunig is ball park the timing andd setting the idle speed up properly. Most of the time a modified engine has isssuess seting the idle up has a lot to due with the @.050 duration figures.

[turbo2256b]

Ok just looked at one of my Unilites the pat number should be on a tag that is attached to one of the clips that holds the cap on its a silver tag. Chances are all Unilites use the same advance kit. Best would be to call Mallory and tell them what you have and get the kit number from them. It should inclue some springs a "key" (think its the black one) and instructions with advance curve graphs.

[Mr. Land Yacht]

well, then I have a small problem...I had gotten their cap N rotor conversion kit so that I could run a male cap instead of female since there was more wire options for male/HEI caps.
and IIRC, yes the tab was attached and I prolly tossed it....I'll look around my room..it prolly isnt there, but I will look.

[phayzer5]

Which reminds me, don't all four-barrel Holleys have secondary power valves?

The power valve on my secondary metering plate is blocked off

[1987cp]

well, then I have a small problem...I had gotten their cap N rotor conversion kit so that I could run a male cap instead of female since there was more wire options for male/HEI caps.
and IIRC, yes the tab was attached and I prolly tossed it....I'll look around my room..it prolly isnt there, but I will look.

I thought you'd bought that thing new? Then you'd have a record of the part number on your sales receipt ..........