Holley 885 Use

D

dicer2000

Junior Member
Hi Gents... I've got an 885 that I'd like to use. However, I don't know what a couple of holes are for. I assume they might have to do with an Auto Choke and/or governor(?)

Can you identify them (See red arrows) and could I just cover them up and use it? Thanks in advance.
 

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dicer2000 said:
Hi Gents... I've got an 885 that I'd like to use. However, I don't know what a couple of holes are for. I assume they might have to do with an Auto Choke and/or governor(?)

Can you identify them (See red arrows) and could I just cover them up and use it? Thanks in advance.
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That is a very cool looking carb. I;ve always thought thee of those lined up on any engine with there covers polished would look perfect. The second picture is the lodomatic distributor vacume if my memory bone serves me right. the other Idon't recall ever seeing or using. Tim
 
The 885 was used on Big trucks. Lincoln, and Mercury cars. The Big trucks had manual choke and governor applications so that one is a car application. The automatic choke had to have clean air to be heated in the intake manifold with the resulting hot air to be piped back up to the choke housing. The one boss next to the fuel inlet is the clean air connection. The smaller connection on the side is the vacuum spark control line to the distributor. Like the other Holley carbs in the 8BA family, the 885 controlled the advance for the Load-O-Matic distributor. They worked well for the higher cubic inch displacement 255 and 337 V8 engines but they were vulnerable to shade tree mechanics that tend to over torque the easily damaged castings.
 
rotorwrench said:
The 885 was used on Big trucks. Lincoln, and Mercury cars. The Big trucks had manual choke and governor applications so that one is a car application. The automatic choke had to have clean air to be heated in the intake manifold with the resulting hot air to be piped back up to the choke housing. The one boss next to the fuel inlet is the clean air connection. The smaller connection on the side is the vacuum spark control line to the distributor. Like the other Holley carbs in the 8BA family, the 885 controlled the advance for the Load-O-Matic distributor. They worked well for the higher cubic inch displacement 255 and 337 V8 engines but they were vulnerable to shade tree mechanics that tend to over torque the easily damaged castings.
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Thanks everyone. @rotorwrench - Can I just close off that clear air boss as I'll be manually choking it?
 
One of the users on here is a wizard with these carburetors. I believe his handle is "SCICALA".

Unless this is a stock restoration, a small base Rochester is a much better carburetor and bolts on with very little modification.
 
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What tubman said x 2. That series of Holly carbs can be a real test of your patience. I finally "fixed" the one I had with a hammer. ......
 
I fixed both of my 885 Mercury carbs by replacing any warped or damaged parts so I have a parts pile for them. The bowl has to fit perfectly on the base for good sealing. The other component that has to be perfect is the top cover shroud not only has to fit perfectly but the vacuum ports for the power valve have to be well sealed to get it to be reliable. When new, these carbs were very reliable and perform very well but they have to be in that kind of condition to do that. The Rochester 2G requires some modifications to fit the Mercury manifold but they are much more simple than the 885. The problem with any carb other than a Holley Load-O-Matic type is also the need for a distributor that can work for proper spark control.
 
I love my 885. It's ran flawlessly ever since Daytona parts in FL rebuilt many years ago.
 
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