Fuel problems please help

[RO boater]

I have put a new motor in this boat. A 351 Windsor. With a 750 CFM carburetor. I cannot get gas in the carburetor or it’s too much gas. It will run perfectly for about 30 seconds and then dies. I can’t figure out what is going on. I’ve tried several pumps and finally got one but it sometimes floods the carb. Carb has been profetionaly rebuilt.Tried all different kinds of ways from getting the gas from the carburetor. Should there be an adaptor plate between carb and intake? Tank has plenty of ventilation. Has anyone else had this Problem?

 

[southkogs]

Welcome aboard. Is the drive on the boat? (Maybe that's jamming up the motor?)

 

[RO boater]

Yes. The drive is assembled and in fair working order

 

[RO boater]

It is either a fuel or an ignition problem in this particular case most likely fuel

 

[ab59]

ROboater---welcome to the forum ! you carburetor needs a certain amount of fuel pressure , too much and it floods out , too little and it starves it for fuel. Test the fuel pressure with a gauge , look up what pressure is right for your carb. and then go from there.
I installed a Professionally rebuilt Holly on my engine and after seeing black stuff in the exhaust opened up the carb to find one of the floats completely loose from the adjuster so don't think just because you carb was pro rebuilt that it is right.
Start with the fuel pump pressure and go from there.
there are many experienced engine guys here on this site but I am not one of them so after this I will defer to them.
Good luck and use your head, if it's a fuel problem there is only so many components to that system , check them all.
A.B.

 

[ab59]

Do you have a small filter at the base of the carburetor that may have some crap in it ? Think about it. There is only so many pieces to your fuel system. I don't understand the statement that you either get too much gas or not enough , were you talking about different fuel pumps or float adjustments ? What brand carburetor are you running ? The gauges to test fuel pressure will tell you if the problem is before or at the carburetor. IE If you have the correct pressure at the pump then you know that the problem is after the pump and between the pump and the carburetor so that narrows it down A LOT.
Don't get discouraged , the problem can be fixed you just have to find it by a process of elimination and at least the fuel system is fairly small.
I myself have had many problems figuring out the quirks in my own restoration but eventually figured things out with the help of the mentors here , ( Lou C and All Dodge thank you very much ) and many times I felt like throwing in the towel but I'm glad I didn't. You are not alone in your frustrations in you project so don't feel like the lone Ranger there.
I probably drove half of the mentors here to drink that were trying to help me ( I think I confounded AllDodge to the point that he gave up on me ) but I learned a lot here and stayed with it until the job was done.
Stay with it until you get er dun .
A.B.

 

[Lou C]

What carb do you have first of all? The Ford V8s came with Holleys 99% of the time. So you probably got a Holley problem. Even though it was professionally rebuilt a sticking float or a piece of debris in the fuel inlet will keep the needle valve from seating and cause flooding. I agree with AB, start with measuring fuel pressure. Anything more than 5-7 lbs you can have trouble. IF you have a Holley go over to the Holley site and start reading they have a ton of tech infor there. Personally I tried a Holley when I thought my Q-Jet was too old to rebuild but I had no end of trouble with it. I pulled out the Q-jet about a year ago and went through it and it ran 100% better than the Holley ever did.

 

[Lou C]

https://www.holley.com/products/fuel_systems/carburetors/marine_carburetors/parts/0-80319-1

This is what your engine SHOULD have...600 cfm Holley 4160.

 

[RO boater]

Thank you for your responses. Nothing original on this boat. It is an Edelbrock carb and intake. And the carb is probably too big. I also should probably have stainless fuel lines on as well.

 

[Lou C]

Well not saying that you can't make it work but it will require some experimentation. Ask in the Merc I/O section, there are guys there who have made these carbs work, the one usually used on the small block V8s is the model 1409.

 

[RO boater]

Thank you for your efforts. I’ll be puting stainless fuel line in place of the rubber hose and a Holly 600 in place of the Edelbrock 750 this weekend. I’ll be back after that. Thanks again