66 Holley idle/hardtop storage

[Gary Schisler]

I took my 66 w/ small block out of storage today. Isn't is amazing how things can go wrong when a car has sat for 3-4 months! Here's the rub. It runs well, but as I approach a stop sign and push in the clutch, the rpm drops from its steady cruising rpm to almost dying. About half the time it does die. It starts right back up and idles nicely at the stop sign. Any ideas what can cause this problem? Bad float, bad idle mixture, too low idle rpm? This is an original carb rebuilt by Jerry Luck. Looks great, runs great, but this new problem has me bugged.

Next question. Does anyone have ideas for a simple/cheap method of storing a hardtop for the summer? I want mine off of the floor and preferably hanging from the wall or ceiling. I have seen the various floor stands offerd for sale at Mid-America and the expensive ones that hang from straps from the ceiling. I am looking at easy/simple/cheap and I didn't want to re-invent the wheel. What do all of you hardtop owners do?

Thanks, Gary

[Lou Lapham]

Re: 66 Holley idle/hardtop storage

Gary-In the "Restorer" an article was written about hardtop storage which had a method i use for my hardtop.You take a metal bar and cut it to fit between the lower mounting tabs and then drill and tap the ends for bolts.You hang it from hooks on the wall.If you want email me and i'll get you the exact specs it's real basic.Regards,Lou

[mike hom]

Re: 66 Holley idle/hardtop storage

Gary: If I were you I'd call Jerry back and ask for his advice on the carb problem. I bet he would be happy to talk you through it - especially since he rebuilt it. P.S. - He has the carb off my L-78 right now.

[Jack H.]

Re: 66 Holley idle/hardtop storage

I agree with calling Jerry and asking. Slight possibility the problem might be vacuum related. When you're cruising, the distributor vac advance is active. When you take foot off gas and brake, dist vac advance should collapse neat and orderly. If there are vac leaks this could become a step function advance retard....

On hardtop storage. Racks and stands are nice. I don't like the stuff that 'hangs' the hardtop because attaching straps always seem to press against HT weatherstrip and form 'depressions' that prevent 'em from sealing nice and tight....

Ready for the the 'poor boy' approach? Tack a strip of 1 x 2 to the floor of your garage near a wall. Lay down a strip of foam between the tack strip and the wall. Invert the HT so the header sits on the foam and is backstopped against moving by the wooden tack strip. Now cover the HT with a discard blanket to protect against dirt/dust and 'oops' contacts. You've just built a very functional HT 'storage stand' for next to nothing....

[Gary Schisler]

Re: 66 Holley idle/hardtop storage

Jack, thanks for the reply about the Holley idle. I plan on calling Jerry but first I will try to see if the vacuum is correct. Also, I had been doing almost the exact storage technique that you had described. I am just trying to free up some floor space. I found the article that suggested an alternative storage method. I am modifying it a bit and it should hang freely without compressing the weatherstrip. Gary