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Keeping holley carburetor in shape
- Hot rodding thrives on making and maintaining power. Whether the added power is supplied from a full-flowing exhaust system, better cylinder heads, or adding a better carb, the search for more performance never stops.
- To add that extra power, many performance enthusiasts choose proven Holley carburetors.
They work great, are easy to install, and look cool when the hood is up.
- But as with any component, proper installation and maintenance are key to optimal performance. To help with that, we spent an afternoon with carburetor guru Ted Granger from Ted's Carburetor Service in Lancaster, California. Granger showed us the best, time-tested ways to get the most performance from your carburetor.
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Ensuring that your carburetor operates properly requires routine inspections. After several thousand miles of use, check that the carburetor mounting nuts are tight. But be certain to never over-tighten anything. Warped baseplates from over-tightening can create vacuum leaks or cracks.
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Vacuum hoses should also be periodically inspected. The most common cause of poor driveability can be attributed to vacuum leaks.
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Working on fuel lines requires special tools. Remember to use a tubing cutter--never cut a metal fuel line with a hacksaw. Ream out the cut, and add a flare appropriate for the application.
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Because a flare fitting seals under compression, there is no need to apply thread sealer or Teflon tape to the tube's nut. Teflon tape can work lose and enter the carburetor's fuel system and clog passages.
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When reinstalling the secondary diaphragm, be certain that the sealing-cork gasket is still in place. If it's not, the vacuum leak will not allow the secondary diaphragm to operate.
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To prevent the screws from grabbing the rubber secondary diaphragm during assembly, add a few shots of WD-40 to each screw.
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