Hey guys looking for advice on this dang car. Camaro is carbuerated by a holley street avenger I got off Craigslist. With an HEI accel super coil. New plugs. New battery. New fuel pump. Holley return style adjustable fuel regulator.

Well I've been trying to start it but nothing. So far I got spark (test tool) and fuel.

I recently did timing and I'm 99 percent sure It's right. Triple checked.

Checked power at coil. It's 12v.

At first it briefly sounded like it wanted to start. But after a couple of minutes it just cranks n cranks.

Any tips what to check??
I'm thinking the carb bought it rebuilt supposedly. I can see new gaskets.

 

How did you time it if it isn't running? Quite possible your distributor isn't close enough to correct to fire it.

 

I agree with the statement above. I'm curious to know how you set the timing or why you think its correct. Also, I want to point out while you may have fuel pressure that doesn't mean you necessarily have fuel. Your carb may not have been rebuilt correctly or completely. Wouldn't be the first time a carb was sold because they couldn't get it running right or was gelled up from sitting on a shelf. I recommend spraying some starter fluid in the carb. That will more or less prove if its a carb or ignition issue.

 

Some one stole my carb out off it. And it sat for months before I got this current one. It was fine before it.

 

Some one stole the carb out of
it. And it sat for months before I got this current one. I even used a piston stop tool just to make sure the timing mark on crank pulley was correct. I set the mark at 0 degrees and distributor right before it hits #1 cylinder. I've also tried adjusting distributor as I crank to see what kind of reaction I get. But nothing.

 

Carb shoots fuel when I pump it. So that's why I'm confused as to why that would the problem. Jeeze.

 

What do your plugs look like? Are they wet/gassy?

 

I haven't pulled them. Flooding?? I can get to it tomorrow evening. If it had flooded with fuel would they stil be wet when I pull them tomorrow or in like 16hrs?

 

They may or may not still be wet but if it's dumping fuel in the plugs will still smell like gas. They may be fouled out by now and won't spark. Looking at them will give you the starting point of lean or rich. If you're positive the distributor is very close to where it should be and you're getting spark, that leaves this new carb as the problem. Whether it needs a proper rebuild or just a choke adjustment.

 

Danggg. Well should a spray with brake clean and wipe get them back in good shape? I really appreciate your help as this I'd my first carbureted car. I'm coming from the import fuel injected stuff

 

There is a tool called a spark plug cleaner, it's kinda like a mini sand blaster. They aren't very common anymore as injected systems don't foul plugs very often and it's fairly cheap to replace them. First things first, look at the plugs.

 

Just buy new plugs... They aren't even $2 each. Times 8 is less than $16

And if it was running fine before you replaced the carb why would you monkey with the timing until you 100% positively absolutely ruled out the carb.

 

Thank you. Well I tried earlier. And it's acting a whole lot better. I guess I did flood it yesterday. it wants to start but it don't. Then I've noticed fuel leaking out of the fuel level adjusting nut. Gaskets went out :|. So now I got to get them and I'll be good to try again.

 

Any tips to get it started. I've did the whole idle mixture screw reset where you screw until bottom out the unscrew 1 1/2 turns. Also the curb idle speed screw looks screwed all the way in. Would that effect it.?

 

Since the fuel bowl is leaking, FIX IT. The insides of this carb are unknown it may not be a bad idea to learn to rebuild or have someone do it.

My first tip is to still check those plugs. It's important to know whether it's rich or lean. If it's rich you may need to back the choke off a little. Lean, you may need to open up the throttle a bit. Engines normally aren't too picky to get started as long as timing is close enough and the plugs are clean. I can typically get away with the throttle a touch open and the choke closed to at least get it to pop. I hope I don't miss something that you should do, it's much easier for me to actually do it rather than troubleshoot it over a message board. .

Holley's are good carbs but adjustments are critical. Sofa has an excellent wirte up. https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/carb...ey-tuning.html I'm better versed in Qjets and old one barrel Carters so follow his advice. Personally I'd rip it off and put on a Qjet but that doesn't mean I think you should switch it.

 

Here is how to fix your issue.
1.) Find an older gentleman who can rebuild Holley's specifically. Carbs are a fine art, and if you want it to run right don't mess with it yourself. If you ask around enough you should be able to find someone.
2.) BUY NEW PLUGS! It's not worth trying to clean them, just spend the little bit and replace the damn things!
3.) Double check the timing to make sure you didn't booger it up too bad. It should be about 6-8 degrees before TDC.

 

I wanna thank you guys for your help I still haven't got it to run but Ian determined to post results of how I got it to run when I do get it to run. I see too many threads with no end results.

 

Yes do post the result, it is very frustrating not to know.