<<Fixed>>> 50’s Dual Quad Owners, a quick question.

[76eldo]

I’m working on a 55 with dual quads.
It starts and idles nicely but dies when you give it some throttle just sitting in park.

The air cleaners are off. Does this make a big difference?

Thanks

Brian

[Ralph Messina CLC 4937]

Brian,

From the symptom you described I'd start by looking for malfunction/particulates in the fuel pump or filter. Dual quads operate simultaneously (both primaries open all the time ) so if it was a problem in one carb it would at least run poorly as the throttle is opened. I'd also check for a vacuum leak. Can you provide any other issues or symptoms like hard starting, carbon in exhaust etc.?

[Bob Schuman]

Brian,
For starters, I would see if your problem is any better with the air cleaner installed. On my 51 Cadillac, stock 2 barrel Carter carb, it runs fine with the air cleaner installed, but very poorly, roughly and with poor throttle response if the air cleaner is left off. The entire engine, ignition system, and fuel system are all stock and in proper working order. In almost 70 years of owning and driving a variety of cars, this is the only car I have ever seen so much effect of leaving the air cleaner off. Before anyone asks, I have verified that all of the working parts in my carb are correct for the 51 at low altitudes, such as where I live.
Bob Schuman

[V63]

Failing Accelerator pump will have this symptom

[76eldo]

The first thing I’ll try is putting the air cleaners back on after making sure that the chokes are functioning properly.

Thanks.

Brian

[Mike Josephic CLC #3877]

I have a '55 Eldorado with the dual Rochester
carbs.  My car runs the same (perfectly) with the
air cleaner on or off.

You must have another issue that's causing your
car to stall.  As another poster already stated, the
accelerator pump comes to mind as a possibility
based on your description.

Mike

[76eldo]

I have two cars here that are bound for Norway.  One is a 53 convertible and the other is a 55 Coupe. They came to me from the Mecum Vegas auction.  My broker/importer friend want me to check a few thongs on the cars and make sure that they have fresh antifreeze as it's quite cold where these cars are going.  I had trouble getting the 55 started and pulled the air cleaners to make sure the carbs were getting fuel.  I added 5 gallons to the tank to be sure.  Not knowing the car I didn't trust the gauge which barely moved when I turned the key to run.  It's working and shows a higher reading with the 5 gallons added.  A little starting spray fluid and it started right up and ran at idle.

So it starts and idles but wants to die when you give it some throttle.  The car ran great coming off of the truck and into my garage.  The only thing different is that right now the air cleaners are off.  It's going to be a bit warmer on Sunday so I will work on it then.  I will start it up, make sure that the chokes start to open up, put the air cleaner assembly back on and see how it acts.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Brian

[marty55cdv]

Brian, if the cars came from the Vegas Auction they belonged to the late Ardell Brown here in SLC, the red 55 has been in his collection for a very long time it. I always wondered if it was ever started from time to time , he had over 200 cars at his estate all kept indoors on display but pretty tightly packed in , I doubt this car has had any miles put on it and was rarely ran in a number of years. The 53 convertible was a more recent addition. This doesn't help you at all, but I thought I would chime in to give you a little history.   

[fishnjim]

I think the guy whose car w/ or w/o the air cleaners is testament that it's probably not the cause.   If these were sitting, anything is possible.
When things work good, then suddenly stop, I look for contamination/plugging/loose.   
It's an easy check to look in the carb and pump the accelerator lever and see if it's squirting in each carb.   Fuel has to be in the ratio to burn, so check for too little or too much.

[76eldo]

Apparently this car sat in a collection for a while.
The carbs are just gummed up from sitting I think.
I got the car running but it’s obvious that there’s a carb issue here so I pulled them both off and I’m taking them to my local guy that rebuilds carbs.

That will fix this issue.

Thanks
Brian

[76eldo]

Marty

The 53 needed a new battery bit fired right up and runs great.
The 55 seems like it did indeed sit around for a while.
The carbs are off and will be treated to a full rebuild and cosmetic refurbishment by a trusted local shop.

Next chapter...

[cadman56]

Don't know if you have Rochester or Carter carbw?
My 56 Eldorado w/Carter carbs acted just you mentioned.  My  rebuilder discovered some kind of a jet w/a spring loaded ball in the acceleration circuits.  I called Daytona Carrbs and was informed these  were checks to keep from flooding the engine when hot and shut down.
I was advised to solder these pieces shut.  This was done and no more stalling or spitting back when trying to accelerate.
Just my experiencd.

[76eldo]

The carbs are Rochester 4 jets.

They are fully rebuilt and will be reinstalled shortly.

I’m hoping that this solves the problems.

[76eldo]

Today we installed the two rebuilt carbs from Bowen Carburetor in Levittown, PA and the car fired up and runs great.  Perfect choke settings and idle right out of the box.

Problem solved and heading to Norway tomorrow.

Brian