1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

serious holley carb issue

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Old 06-28-11, 09:27 AM
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serious holley carb issue

I know carbs somewhat but I'm no master, and this carb is kicking my ***. I bought the car and it already has a Holley 390 on it. The 12a thats in it is street ported. Its running extremely sluggish, and if i just straight up stomp the gas it cuts out to the point it will shut off if i dont let up. Ive checked the float levels and re adjusted them to the bottom of the sight hole, and adjusted the idle to where its smooth (well smoother anyway). Its also running ridiculously rich. Like I said Im no carb master. I also wonder if this is even a god carb for that motor
Old 06-28-11, 10:05 AM
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the holley is known for running rich. i only know of 3 holleys that have been prepped to be used on a rotary: 465, 600, and 650cfm which can be gotten from RB and probably mazdatrix as well. urs being a 390 leads me to believe its just an off the shelf holley which could explain why ur having so much trouble. ur going to have to get some smaller jets to lean it out some before u get it to work half way decent. not sure why but RB does away with the power valve. maybe someone here can give u some jet numbers to start with.
Old 06-28-11, 10:16 AM
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ahhhhhh **** ! thats bad news lol
Old 06-28-11, 11:15 AM
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Give it an open hole spacer. Only 1/4" is needed. I have an off the shelf 390 and it worked decent on a stock manifold with channels and an open hole adapter/spacer. Is yours on an RB manifold? Don't chop it up! add a spacer or make one.
Old 06-28-11, 11:49 AM
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I honestly dont know if its RB or not it was already on there when i bought it and i havent looked the manifold over enough to see if its got any labels. well heres what we finally did. Im sure im not saying this right but we ended up taking the linkage out of the 4 barrel and Im just running the primary side right now till I can afford a RB holley streetport ready carb. Its running reallllllly smooth now and the cut is gone. Im changing plugs tonight and going to try to time it better for the streetport. Judging by the carb work Im sure the timing is off as well. Its still kinda slow for having a streetport but Im hoping its the old *** plugs and not the fact that we disabled the 4 barrel
Old 06-28-11, 11:51 AM
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Originally Posted by Jeff20B
Give it an open hole spacer. Only 1/4" is needed. I have an off the shelf 390 and it worked decent on a stock manifold with channels and an open hole adapter/spacer. Is yours on an RB manifold? Don't chop it up! add a spacer or make one.
Would the spacer stop that horrific cut it has in power when i accelerate too fast ?
Old 06-28-11, 12:38 PM
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You need to swap out the accelerator pump jet. When you stomp on the gas does it try to flood or just sputter?

Are you running an upgraded pump with a pressure regulator?
Old 06-28-11, 12:41 PM
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Yes it sputters like crazy. and ya i have a Holley red pump and its loud as hell. and I have a summit pressure regulator
Old 06-28-11, 12:45 PM
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Make sure the pressure is set to 6 psi.

I'm betting you are most likely leaning out unless the car smokes bad when you floor it. The accelerator pump jet is the one sits between the two primary bowls on the top. Check and see if fuel squirts out of it when you press the gas.
Old 06-28-11, 12:53 PM
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ya my pressure is sitting right on 6 psi. and it blows out blueish smoke when i floor it. The fuel is squirting nicely and consistently. but on the secondary side ( i guess thats what its called )
its kind of just blowing out. once we removed the linkage for the secondarys the sputtering quit. so the problem obviously lies with them.
Old 06-28-11, 01:06 PM
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Mecanical seconday 390 cfm carb? As far as I know the smallest one they make is a 600cfm. Has it been converted?

Can you take a pic?
Old 06-28-11, 01:07 PM
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sure can, Im pretty carb ignorant but I looked up the serial number on the side and it said it was a 390 online

gimme about 10 minutes, ill have some up
Old 06-28-11, 01:08 PM
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This should be what you have:


http://www.holley.com/0-8007.asp

This will help you a ton: http://www.holley.com/data/Products/...8108-2rev1.pdf
Old 06-28-11, 01:11 PM
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More to read:
http://www.holley.com/data/TechServi...ech%20Info.pdf
http://www.holley.com/data/TechServi...Carburetor.pdf
http://www.holley.com/data/TechServi...ded%20View.pdf
Old 06-28-11, 01:26 PM
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That looks like what I have. Electric choke, vacuum secondaries.
Old 06-28-11, 01:27 PM
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LOL def not what I have. wow am I confused now.
Attached Thumbnails serious holley carb issue-img_20110628_141504.jpg   serious holley carb issue-img_20110628_141519.jpg   serious holley carb issue-img_20110628_141532.jpg   serious holley carb issue-carb1.jpg  
Old 06-28-11, 01:42 PM
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Originally Posted by RX-7 Chris
Make sure the pressure is set to 6 psi.

I'm betting you are most likely leaning out unless the car smokes bad when you floor it. The accelerator pump jet is the one sits between the two primary bowls on the top. Check and see if fuel squirts out of it when you press the gas.
6psi? damm i remember my 1st gen was running higher than that.
Old 06-28-11, 02:04 PM
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Stock manifold. Carb adaptor/spacer. Someone removed the choke parts on the side. They added OMP hoses in the choke holes. Also added a screw so the secondaries are mechanical right now. Strange pulling the throttle from the opposite side with a throttle kit (I have one too, refering to the blue bracket thing, mine is chrome and I couldn't use it).

Your issues are beyond me as I barely know the holley myself. At least the venturis look smallish like a 390, like mine.
Old 06-28-11, 02:04 PM
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Are you premixing? it look like that clear plastic line is coming from the OMP and is supposed to go to the hose in the choke hole. I don't see any of the OMP linkage.

That copper bung by the adjustment screw should be hooked to the distributer, it's a vacuum port.

It does look like a vacuum secondary carb that has the vacuum diaphragm pulled. I can't see any linkage to the secondary at all. It looks like someone took an old vacuum secondary carb and tried to turn it into a race carb by pulling the choke and vacuum diaphragm.
Old 06-28-11, 02:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Jeff20B
Also added a screw so the secondaries are mechanical right now.
I didn't see that till you said something, lol.

I'm guessing that you probably have a vacuum leak where the secondary diaphragm was removed as well. If it was me, I'd remove that screw and install a new vacuum diaphragm.
Old 06-28-11, 02:15 PM
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no im not premixing I just disconnected them to get the lid off the carb for the pics. Good God Jeff you blew my mind with all that... Im thinking I should say the hell with that mess and get a sterling carb if I still can. But his website says theyve stopped until further notice...

Last edited by FCinWV; 06-28-11 at 02:24 PM.
Old 06-28-11, 02:20 PM
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also where is the vacuum hose on the carb so I know where to connect a new one to the bottom side of the distributor im assuming
Old 06-28-11, 02:22 PM
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nevermind it was infront of my face haha. Im just gonna run it with the secondarys disabled till I can get something better and connect that vacuum line just incase
Old 06-28-11, 02:27 PM
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I really liked my RB holey carb setup but that carb is just a mess. I would take some carb cleaner and spray the outside of the carb while the car is running. If the car bogs, you know you have a vacuum leak.
Old 06-28-11, 02:31 PM
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so that damn hose fitting sticking up is why its reving like a geo metro aye ! ill take care of that bastard.

Thanks for all the help guys.. I know its a mess. I just got her this past weekend starting to bring it back to life


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