1961 Carb Drips Fuel

[Joel T.]

Hi;

I'm having a problem with a 2X4 set up on a 1961.. The car is a 283/245 set up. Recently installed a set of "correct" carbs for the car. The rear carb runs fine but the front constantly drips fuel into the manifold. It (the car)will run for a few seconds and then begin to flood the engine out. When I shut the engine off, there is a steady fuel drip from all 4 venturi on the front carb and the gasket between the top and middle carb castings is soaked. The car will not idle, period, and runs like crap on the road. I've had the front carb back to the rebuilder twice already. He replaced the float the first time (which was defective) and the lower butterflies the second time (this is a very well respected guy, in the business 30 years). I installed the carb again last night after the last "fix" and have exactly the same problem. Before picking up, the carb guy ran it on his "bench" for me under simulated "live" conditions and I saw it preform flawlessly. The carb vacuum was 21" of Hg with 4 PSI of fuel pressure when tested.

Does anyone have any ideas?? Anyone know what fuel pressure should be/is on a 1961 dual carb set up??

Thanks in advance, Joel

[John O.]

Re: 1961 Carb Drips Fuel

Hi Joel

Usually it has to do with the float or the needle valve & seat. If they are installed correctly and the float is set to the proper position, you should not have a problem. BUT you must make sure that you don't turn the carb. upside down when handling it cause you can make the float get stuck open by the needle valve coming out and not seating when you go to install the carb. If you bring it back to the carb. guy. Keep it upright when going back home and installing it. Don't forget to adjust the fuel air mixtures with the screws at the front base of the carbs.

Hope this helps you.............John

[Wayne P.]

Re: 1961 Carb Drips Fuel

I don't know the fuel pressure spec, but this is a classic example of too much pressure. These carbs are very sensitive to over pressurization.

[Roy B.]

Re: 1961 Carb Drips Fuel

First I would remove the side Carb screws while running and if gas poor's out the floats are sticking or the floats are rubbing the inside Carb wall ( not moving up and down freely) If ether is the case readjust them. Also could be a strong metering rod spring ( wrong) not allowing the metering rods to be pulled and held down, or to little vacuum to hold them down at idle.
That's what I would check first!!

[Jimmy J.]

Re: 1961 Carb Drips Fuel

Joe,

I recently had this same problem with my 2 X 4 245 on my 59. I was fouling plugs and had a lot of black smoke. I finally sent mine to Bob Kunz in St. Louis. I was not a piece of cake for him to find but when he did it was a hole in the casting letting fuel flow continually into the manifold. He repaired the casting and the carbs work like they should now. Hope this helps. Jimmy

[Nicholas L.]

Re: 1961 Carb Drips Fuel

I had the same problem several years ago with my 60 2X4 270 HP. The float had to be adjusted and the problem went away. I found the float adjustment information on this board. Check archives from several years ago.