Let's go back to last year. In November I drove the bird back from getting the top installed. I added some Sta-Bil to the gas tank, let it run for five minutes and put the cover on for the winter.
Now this weekend, I changed the oil and tried to fire her up. She turned over right away for a split second and then a big puff of white smoke out of the carb. I waited a few minutes, thinking that I flooded it – and the same thing. I took off the air cleaner and got back fire flames from the carb and gas all over the engine compartment. I put the air cleaner back on and proceeded to adjust the initial timing forward and back and still the same thing.
The engine only has about 100 miles on the rebuild, but I don’t understand why it started in November and not now.
Stabill will stop the fuel oxydation inside the gas tank and lines but wont do nothing for the octane and it will go lower. Empty the fuel and put new high octane, empty carb to and try it.
Your float might be stuck, causing it to flood. If your HEI was working in the fall, should still be fine. Could only be 2 things, gas or spark. If it is back firing, then you are getting spark.
I pulled out the primary and secondary needle and seat, cleaned them off with carb cleaner, re-installed and got the same thing. Is there more to checking the float than that? It is a 670 Holley Street Avenger. This is my first carbureted car, so I don’t have much experience with carbs. I have also cleaned off all the linkages on the carb. What else should I attempt?
Ryan, I'd call the folks that rebuilt the engine and see what they say. They'll know more about your engine. Surely they will stand by 100 miles (or they should at least).
