hey im almost done restoring an 86 camaro and the other day i took the car out to drive it and the car stalled on my *** dirty style in the middle of road. Everything was fine with the car no problems. I kept trying to start it up again and it wouldnt. I was so frustrated and finally 5 minutes later it randomly started and started running fine. Also i noticed i have a lot of dark smog pouring out of my pipes(its actually making the bumper black). So i played with the carb and noticed my car kept running richer than what i was setting it to and i was able take away all air and fuel and the car was still running.....I think my carb is done and i need one, bec i already tried rebuilding it once and it helped but now im at square one again(been to square one three times since i got this car.lol) Any ways i was wondering if u guys have any ideas, thoughts or suggestions as to the problems happenening here, bec im not quite sure. Its a 350 engine with a holley 600 cfm carb on it.

 

has the ngine backfired at some point? and if it has, could the power valve be bad?
Also check out www.fl-thirdgen.org those guys are in your backyard and maybe someone is local.

 

yes it has backfired

 

Well, if it has a "lopey" idle, like you have the biggest camshaft in the world, I would check the power valve, I used to have a block for checking those, but if in doubt, just get a new one. don't forget some new gaskets because you'll probably destroy the ones you have getting the bowl off. Recheck your timing and mixture., make sure you have a good pump shot. (activate the pump by itself with your finger).
To be honest with you, I'm not a fan of Holleys, for most folks, the Carter (now edelbrock) carbs work great. They are a little shy in the performance area, but you can leave them out in the rain and they'll still work fine. I only recomend buying a new Holley, or you can end up with someone else's junk, But, if that's what you've got, let's work on it.

 

Sounds like the infamous Holley float level is stuck open.

 

would tgat explain the adjustment being messed up?

 

which "adjustment"?

 

for fuel and air it can be completely closed off and the engine will still run...im always running way to rich

 

Ok, while you have the bowl off make sure there's no crap stuck in the float/ needle. The other way to do this is to remove the screw (the big one, at either end of the carb) and turn the nut until it (needle and seat assy) comes out of the bowl. Blow it out with some MILD air pressure and make sure there's no crud in there. Then replace same (count the number of turns to remove it and put it back the same way). The way to check this is while the car is running at idle, unscrew the float bowl sight screw on the side of the carb. Carefully loosen the screw on the jet assembly and turn the nut (in or out) until the fuel is just at the level of the hole. This sets the float level.
Now. a word of caution, you have an engine running, you have an ignition doing it's thing along with the alternator, and you have fuel in the float bowl. All you need for a really big fire is for someone to do something stupid, (like, removing the sight screw). So be careful when you do this and keep an extinguisher handy.