Expert: Brad Sears - 4/13/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hello Brad, thanks for other answers. I thought about what you said and removed the Holly carb and had the old one rebuilt. Its been running fine with some exceptions of some exhaust smells,we dont run it much but today I started it and it was running a little rough.Pulled the air cleaner and noticed it is dumping fuel out of the fuel bowl vent front and rear.More so the front. Enough to spill over and puddle up on the manifold.I have noticed the puddle before but never realized where it was coming from. Any ideas?

ANSWER: It sounds like the float levels are a bit high and need to be adjusted. Another possible cause could be that the floats are heavy, gotten gasoline into them and are sinking. The other check is the fuel pressure. Some times that can get a bit high and cause the needle valves not to close tight. This happens when some one might have installed an electric booster pump or the wrong spring has been installed beneath the fuel pump diaphram.  What is the make of the carburetor on the car now?
Brad

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QUESTION: Thanks for the quick response.Although I cant see any numbers on the air horn,it appears to be the Ford 4 barrel C4SF-9510-B.I have the Thunderbird shop manual and it looks identical.Is a small repair or should I take it back to the shop.I am pretty mechanical,(diesel mechanic years ago) but there are some things that I am not comfortable trying to attempt.I don't think I could get it to the shop,it filled the neighborhood with exhaust yesterday. I really do appreciate what you do   Larry

Answer
The other problem that you have is fire. Don't run the engine. I would haul the carburetor off and take it back to the shop. It sure sounds like improper float adjustment, sinking float or a bad needle valve.
Brad
Oh, it is a Ford carburetor and the C4 tells me that it was designed and built in 1964 and probably the original carburetor that came on the car new.