Hello folks,

I took the forum's advice and got a nice AFB and am very pleased with it. Still, I love carb switching and was given a Holley (I know!) 2280 (2bbl) from a '86 318, and a Rochester 4 jet 4GG from the '62 215 Buick. I rebuilt them both over the weekend and I want to pop 'em onto my '64 d100 /6 1/2ton truck. After reading the Haynes Holley book I see no great potential problem with not hooking up the idle control solenoidon the 2280, but what do you all think? With a '64 model vehicle my emission control is my gas pedal foot, so the solenoid is wasted on me. Since I don't even know what voltage it gets I am inclined to leave it unwired..anyone play with such an application of this 2bbl or any other with solenoids left unused? And as to the 4GC, it is a well built simple carb...anyone on the forum ever used it ?

Thanks,
rock'64 d100
46 powerwagon
'59 willys truck

Ooh, yarg. Don't use a carb that has a mixture control solenoid unless:

• You absolutely have to because your local law requires it, and
• The solenoid is actually hooked up.

Running with a disconnected solenoid or one fed just some constant voltage will net you considerably poorer driveability, power and economy than can be had from a non-feedback carburetor.

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Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

When you say idle control solenoid, are you talking just about something that acts as a stop for the throttle linkage, or something that actually controls mixture?

If it just stops the throttle (ie, keeps the throttle open a little bit when, for example, AC is running) then it doesn't matter if its hooked up or not.... otherwise if it is actually controlling fuel:air ratio then the carb won't work right w/o it hooked up properly.

/6 Dan and Pierre,

Thanks for the collective wisdom!! This is the most amazing forum I ever tried..I got just THE answer from you all. Putting you two together shows me both sides of a solenoid carb...if the solenoid contros mix....."yarg"!!!

And, if as with the 2280, the solenoid doesn't control mix, then it seems I can play with this carb and just not hook up the solenoid. I conclude this becasue the Holley book says that on this 318 2bbl (2800) the solenoid rod presses against the fast idle cam to hold the cold idle to a high rpm. This was because emissions requirements made manufacturers address an engine idling poorly at "regular" idle speed (while leaned out) by somehow making the engine idle "fast", so in this carb they used a solenoid to poke out and hold the fast idle cam open a bit more. I will report the results of the trial.

Thanks again,
rock
'64 d100
'59 willys pickup
('46 powerwagon sold)

OK guys and gals, did you read the original post clearly? He said Rochester 4 jet 4GG from a '62 215 Buick. Did a 1962 anything use a mixture control solenoid?

No, but an '86 Holley 2280 (which he also mentions in his post) does have a mixture control solenoid.

Pierre's right; a throttle kicker solenoid (which acts on some part of the throttle linkage) is fine.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.