Friend of mine has a problem with his 4160. He has never started the car, he says he has spark, but the fuel is puking from the vents on both sides. I haven't personally touched the adjustment, but it sounds like his floats are sticking or just not adjusted correctly. Been a while since my hands have worked on a Holley but I am more mechanically inclined than he is...What should I mess with first?

What's his fuel pressure? Trash in the carb, Yes check the floats.

he doesnt have a gauge hooked up for his pressure but if it gushes out then thats a plus right?...plus as meaning the pump is still doing its job.

He said he has rebuilt it once himself...and once to a goober who swore he knew what he was doing.

It is important that his pressure is not above 7, 6.5 would be better. Chances are is floats are way high. Lower them to a point where fuel is just below the the port holes on the side.

he has a stock fuel pump...I told him way back when to get the clear sights for the bowls so he can get a better view of where he has to adjust the float to...

They might just be hung up, or the spring or seat is bad. He might want to take it apart to check.

careful with holley clear plastic sights,finger tight only,and at least for me,i don't leave in,they seem to almost dissolve

Those clear plastic plugs are a joke, they crack,break apart & fog up so they become impossible to see through.

you dont have to take the site plugs allthe way out just loosen them up till their wobbly if gas comes out screw them back in and adjust the float down then do it again till no gas seeps out.now you can remove it and make your adj. without a big mess.but as was said i would check needle and seat first if its been sittin.and remember clockwize lowers counter raises your fuel level.(thats the one i always forget).

And when you get the carb sorted out change the oil....

I set the fuel level with the engine running and plugs out. When I find the point where fuel just dribbles out, I know I'm there. Sometimes I adjust the float down or up to make small A/F ratio changes. That is especially helpful on a 4160 with its secondary metering plate that doesn't have jets.

R.

Sounds good guys...I'll pop by this weekend and see what I can do for him.

I'd check the floats first

The easiest way is get a rag & stuff it on the side of the site plugs, then take them out & adjust, on a 4160 with the metering plate it helps if you adj. the rear a bit higher then the front.

Sunk float too. If you pull the needle and seat assemblies, take something to push down lightly on the float tab to see if it has some resistance, meaning it's buoyant. If it's not resisting it may have been saturated or full of fuel and not working properly. Pretty common with brass floats that are old.