Carb issues

[Wreckless_71]

Well here it is fellas... I just put a new edelbrock (maybe a mistake) carb in my truck and ran it for a day. I'm having issues with it staying at idle when I'm at a stop light or just parked for that matter. I look and on top of my manifold lays a puddle of gasoline. It was acting like it's flooding out, which to all appearances would make sense so I checked the psi on the fuel pump and its putting out 9psi..? Holy crap that's way to much right? It should only be putting out 4.5-5psi, its just a stock mechanical SBC delco fuel pump. So i changed the pump and today I'm still having issues. Floats to High? Carb need to be adjusted? I'm pulling my hair out cuz i've been working on the whole engine setup for about a month and I'm leaving for college in 2 days... HELP ME PLEASE!!!

[WorkinLonghorn]

I don't know crap about Edelbrock but it sure sounds like some spec of crud in the float valve,or just way too high adjustment. Are your plugs getting fouled with soot? Black smoke out the tail pipes?

[Wreckless_71]

Well I haven't pulled the plugs yet but i deffinitely get some smokage and its running like S!@#. Real laggy of idle, and just bogging down.

[RoadRacer]

If you're getting pools of gas on the manifold and have no obvious leaks, then the float is either stuck open or set too high. Edelbrock has some pretty good info available on their website for setting everything up properly, so the first thing would be to verify the settings.

[70rs/ss]

Edel calls for 5-5.5 psi, get a regulator, there is no "issue" other than you are running too much fuel PSI and pushing fuel past the needle. I don't want to sound rough, but the instructions for the carb are very clear about the operating PSI.

Get a good regulator and you'll be super happy with the way the carb works once it isn't being drowned in fuel!! Good Luck!




EDIT: I am going to add this as well a good tap tap with the plastic handle of a screwdriver will usually unstick a needle and seat, but I am 100% sure the fuel pressure is the issue, get it to 5-5.5 lbs and change the fouled plugs and you'll be very happy, get the timing set-up and the idle circut (two screws on the front, turn all the way in and back out 1.5-2.5 turns [it'll run better and better, then start to miss, turn the screw 1/2 turn back and the idle is set]) Good luck again!

[jbarron]

Been down this same path. Thought I would replace the tired Q-jet for a 1406. It flooded out the same way. It would run, but when you shut it down it would flood. Tried a fuel regulator and it didn't help. Gave up on it and found a replacement q-jet.

Will say the edelbrock help line is nice, but their carb just did not like my truck. They sent me new needles and seats, but I never tried them since the originals were not dirty. Mucked with float hieght, but that didn't matter.

This was on a stock 350 no real upgrades besides manifold(edelbrock also).

[matthufham]

edelbrock reccomends checking the float level on all new carbs because what could happen in the box to the store and so on to your house. it's super easy. there's 3 rods you'll need to take the pins off (choke/accelerator/injection/accelerator pump) and then take all the torx screws off the top of the carb. lift up the top of the carb which is called an airfoil, turn it upside down and make sure the floats sit 7/16" drop and 15/16-1" rise. done, then when bolting that back on you'll need to get it on, but it won't sit all the way down because the step up springs/rods, so there's 2 torx to unscrew, but don't unscrew them all the way, just a little and pop up the cover and swivel it out of the way, sit the airfoil down, tighten it up, push the rods back in tighten that, connect the linkages, the accelerator pump goes in the middle hole. should be good, then play regulators if the problem isn't fixed because this is the first and cheapest thing on the list to check.


video help: http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_...ech_vids.shtml

install guide:http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_.../1000/1406.pdf

owner manual:http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_...406_manual.pdf

[ChevLoRay]

Which Edelbrock carb are you running? I have had both styles, a 1406 and now a 1901. I prefer the 1901 Q-Jet style. I ran the same fuel pump for both but the Q-Jet far exceeds what I had with the other one.

But the references to Edelbrock's website are there, so use them for the tech help.

[matthufham]

i got the manuals for 1406 posted. thats what i have. i actually got it running good after a year of studying and messing with it. stock step up rods/springs but i got the offroad spring loaded needle and seats. i've opened it 10 times by now. stock manual fuel pump, no regulator.

[Chevyholic]

I am honestly blown away at the wide variance in how the current market of carbs vary on our trucks. I initially went with a holley street avenger 670 and tried for a year to get it to run right. Even took it to a performance house to no avail.

Finally, I sold it and bolted on a new Edelbrock 1406 and it has run like a charm ever since. Great idle, better mileage, and better power. Go figure, who'da thunk that carbs were as temperamental as women.

[ChevLoRay]

Originally Posted by Chevyholic

.....Go figure, who'da thunk that carbs were as temperamental as women.

There you go....feed 'em something, which continues to get more and more expensive, only to have 'em make us take them places that cost money to get back home.

[matthufham]

Originally Posted by Chevyholic

I am honestly blown away at the wide variance in how the current market of carbs vary on our trucks. I initially went with a holley street avenger 670 and tried for a year to get it to run right. Even took it to a performance house to no avail.

Finally, I sold it and bolted on a new Edelbrock 1406 and it has run like a charm ever since. Great idle, better mileage, and better power. Go figure, who'da thunk that carbs were as temperamental as women.

wow usually people do the opposite because the street avenger makes so many happy. i was actually thinking of going to a street avenger from my edelbrock.

[haysonj]

I put the 1406 on my truck and it ran fine right out of the box stock fuel pump with a in line filter, been over a year now.

[68Stepbed]

The best running carb I've ever had on an engine is a 500cfm Edelbrock. I personally don't like Edelbrock carbs. I've had experience with about 5 different 1406's. I've had nothing but trouble with them. They wouldn't idle right, wouldn't run right, would stall on me, etc., etc. The final straw for me to switch to a Holley was when my Edelburp stalled my engine out when pulling out into heavy traffic and almost got my truck rearended. I did try another Eddy about 2 yrs. ago on my 86 GMC. It did all the same crap as my others. I sold the truck before changing the carb back to something else though.

I actually won't be running anything other than 500 cfm carbs on 350's from now on. I would switch to one on my 68 if I didn't already have everything setup the way I want it. From my experiences, 600 cfm is just way too much for a 350. I know you guys are gonna call me crazy, but most of you just haven't had my experiences.

[Wreckless_71]

hey guys thanks a lot for all the replies and helpful information. I tinkered with it and got it running a lot better, but I am no longer driving it because I am in pullman for college. So it's parked for now.