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Classic/Antique Car Repair/Holley 885 Carburetor

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Expert: - 8/13/2009


Question
The car is a 1953 Mercury flathead with a Holley 885 carb. The engine was just tuned with new plugs and points. It still idled a little rough so I adjusted the two needles at the rear of the carb and got it to run smoother. It acted up again and I really messed those needle settings up. The engine now only runs at half throttle. Where do I start in order to get the two needle adjustments back to full RPM.  Thanks.

Answer
The base setting for the idle mixture needles is to lightly seat them and then back them out 1 1/2 turns. The engine should idle. Then turn the needles out one at a time until the engine looses speed. Now turn them in slowly until the engine reaches it's max idle and then just looses speed. The back them out till the engine reaches its max idle speed and runs smooth. Ear and touch is the key. A tachometer car help here as the change in speed is as low as 50 rpm.
Brad

Classic/Antique Car Repair

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Brad Sears

Expertise

All automotive including antique and collectible. However if the car has been modified I can only answer in general terms and maybe get you pointed in the right direction.

Experience

Automotive tech instructor. Syndicated auto columnist 1970's though the early 1990's. Syndicated auto radio talk show, Ask Brad About cars, CBS Radio 70's through 90's TV Show "Last Chance Garage" 1980's PBS-TV syndicated. Auto instructor for the following companies: Fram Autolyte Holly Carter AMF Ford Motor University Of Conn Blue Hills Technical School Sugar River Technical Center Grew up in a family garage in Needham Mass and turned wrenches from the age of 14.

Publications
Manchester Union Leader, Nashua Telegraph, Motor Service Magazine, Yankee Magazine, Popular Mechanics (Saturday Mechanic early 80's), Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and lots more.

Education/Credentials
More than I care to remember. Basically Franklin Technical Institute in Boston, Northeastern University, Fitchburg State Teachers College, Tufts University, and a lot of factory schools along the way.

Awards and Honors
Moto Award winner. And much more.

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