67 Fuel inlet leak.

[Jesse Orsini]

Have a chronic fuel leak problem on a 67 427/435. Have replaced the fuel bowls on the three Holley Model 2300 carburetors, due to stripped threads, added a new fuel line and new fuel inlet nuts. Over a short period of time, the first carb begins to leak fuel from the inlet nut going into the fuel bowl. After more time, the main (middle) carb begins to leak fuel at the inlet nut. I continue to tighten, but that is how I stripped the original fuel bowls, plus having a fuel leak is not very comforting.

My thought is that there is too much vibration/stress coming from the engine onto the solid main fuel line under hard driving conditions, thus causing the weakest point to vibrate loose and eventually wear out the fuel bowl threads.

Still looking to fix the problem, instead of replacing fuels bowls constantly.

[G B.]

thread sealer

Most auto parts stores carry a non-hardening, teflon-based paste for sealing threaded connections. Used properly, this white paste will not come apart like teflon tape and foul your fuel system. I've found that this paste has excellent resistance to gasoline.

When I first started using it in the mid-seventies, it was only sold for industrial use in large quantities. The salesman had a demonstration that made me a believer. He hand tightened a threaded connection that had a hacksaw cut across the threads. With the paste in place the connection held 50 psi.

I also suggest that you hold the fuel bowl nut with a large wrench while you tighten the inlet line. Otherwise you'll transfer some of your tightening force to the bowl threads rather than the fitting threads.

[Bill Braun #33186]

Wrenches

Jerry is correct, of course, but it is important to have those special wrenches made for tightening fittings. Nothing else works as well.

B