I'm hoping that a new carb base gasket will solve this, but tell me what you think:

I hav a 1bbl stock carb (engine is from 72 dart) and when I'm cranking the engine over, gas leaks out of the area around the carb mounting stud (the one toward the intake runners - near the gas inlet). It leaks until I get the engine running, and then it stops.

Wha tha fa?

Any ideas?

I should add that it is hard to start.

After reading a couple other posts, I'm worried that the carb needs a rebuild.

Is it a holley 1920? Are you sure that its leaking out of the stud and not from above it ... I had a carb that the measuring block inside the carb was not sealing properly against the accelerator diaphram. There is a small hole on the engine side of the carb, at the back of the fuel bowl where fuel was leaking out. That might be a possibility?

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65 Dart GT Convertible
http://www.displacedkiwi.com (click on /other then the dart icon, then whatever you want!)

Its leaking out of the weep hole the accelorator pump shaft goes through, above the stud. Like ricki said, it could be a bad metering body gasket, or your float could be set to high. Throw a rebuild kit at it, adjust the float properly, and I'll bet it goes away. Nothing to worry about rebuilding the carb, one barrel carbs are mind numbingly easy to rebuild! But if you need some help, we are here for you and will help you out.

I'd add: Put in a new float. The float used in the #1920 will tend to absorb gasoline after a few decades of swimming in it.

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

One thing: There are little check balls that are very easy to lose when you are draining the gas out. They aren't easy to find replacements for. DAMHIK

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Used to own:
'82 Dodge D150
Erson 270 Cam, O/S valves, mild port work, ~9.5:1 compression

Currently fighting with an '85 VW Cabriolet

My other passion

Yeah, that's what I was afraid of, a carb rebuild. I'll try that out.

That's why I save the old ones after rebuilding a carb

(glad they give you new ones in a rebuild kit, even though I've never seen a ball wear out division................)

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Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

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The kits have new ones?!?!? What brand do you buy? I thought Walker was one of the better ones and none of my kits have come w/ the accel. pump check ball...

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Used to own:
'82 Dodge D150
Erson 270 Cam, O/S valves, mild port work, ~9.5:1 compression

Currently fighting with an '85 VW Cabriolet

My other passion

The kit for my BBS had the little balls................

Maybe holleys are different.


It was a GP Sorensen from AutoZone


(and I've had to dip into the backup ball supply......)

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Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

Holleys don't have loose checkballs in them; the checkballs in a 1920 are all captive in the metering block.

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

Check your timing and give it a tuneup while you are at it. Also suggest doing Dan's fuel line mod.

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82 D150-225/727
02 Dakota-3.9/5 speed
87 GMC C7000-8.2 Detroit Diesel/5+2

I've done a new cap, rotor, and wires and converted to HEI. It's timed to 8deg. initial advance (BTDC). I have the fuel line running over the valve cover. All of which help. Thanks for all the great info guys! Sounds like I'm looking at a carb rebuild. *sigh*

The only thing I don't get is why it stops leaking so much when it's running.

When it's running, there's vacuum pulling fuel into the carb throat. When it's cranking, there's much less vacuum, but still the same amount of
fuel pump pressure supplying the carb!

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

Hm... 1945's do. Trust me, I lost one of them. I have to plead igorance on the 1920's; I didn't realize that they had a seperate metering plate. Do they also have the standard power valve that screws in as a unit?

_________________
Used to own:
'82 Dodge D150
Erson 270 Cam, O/S valves, mild port work, ~9.5:1 compression

Currently fighting with an '85 VW Cabriolet

My other passion