Holley 94 dry after sitting few days

R

Rustynutz52

Member
My 39's carb is giving me a fit. It seems to loose all the fuel in the bowl after a few days. I have changed power valve twice with the same outcome. Any thoughts as to why it might be going dry. It is a 94 carb. 91-99. Any other areas of potential leak down? Car could not run better then it does smooth as glass at idle and no flat spots. Its about to drive me crazy.
 
Some of the modern power valves have a problem seating in the carb.I believe that the carb restorers face the seating surface of the PV to achieve the seal.
 
Vic, I think you're right. Still, ethanol or not, i believe the formulation is more volatile than in the past. They make fuel these days for EFI, not carbs.
 
When you put the car away pour about a bowls worth of gas that you are using in a jar and set it somewhere in the garage (open). I tried it and with about a quart of non-eth gas over a month, interesting. See if it goes dry the next time you fire the car. Fuel does evaporate quickly. But I would lean to what the trainguy said, if it goes dry after a few days.
 
ford38v8 said:
Vic, I think you're right. Still, ethanol or not, i believe the formulation is more volatile than in the past. They make fuel these days for EFI, not carbs.
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Alan, you are 100% correct about the "corn" gas, it plays hell with carbs, fuel pumps, etc.:( I haven't had an opportunity to fill up any of our vintage vehicles with non-corn gas, so I can't make a comparison.
 
When you shut it off, pull the choke all the way out. That gets you some more time before it goes dry. If its leaking out that will not help........
 
Trainguy has the most likely issue. The gasket that is commonly provided with the modern PVs have a triangular shape ID. These do not seal well on early 94s. You need a gasket the same ID and OD of the carb seating surface.

To be sure do what flatjack9 says. Do the test also without the throttle body on. You will readily see if the PV is leaking.
 
flatjack9 said:
Remove the carb, fill it with gas and set it on the bench and see if it leaks out and where.
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Bingo!

'Tis not that the gas is formulated for EFI, it is formulated in accordance with the EPA.

And, back in the 80s when ethanol first became an option, many folks in the midwest used it with no problems. My father was one of them. First car he used it in had 30,000 miles or so on it when he switched. NO problems! One caveat, he put 100+ miles a day on his cars, so the gas didn't sit too long in them.
 
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Rusty,
Machining the gasket face on the carb and bowl helps, if you have leak a problem.
A few days is the new normal in my opinion if your situation is evaporation related.
You need a good fuel pump for sure....ever wonder why even concourse cars have
an elect fuel pump hidden up near the tank. I sent you a PM.
Charlie ny
 
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