Moparts
Eddy Carb Issue
Posted By: mopowers
Eddy Carb Issue - 05/03/11 07:43 PM
I'm a holley guy, so I'm hoping you guys can help me diagnose this problem.
I've got a 318 with a standard eddy 600cfm carb. After about 4 days of sitting, the carb doesn't have fuel coming out of the squirters when I pump it to start the motor. I have to spin it long enough for the fuel pump to fill the bowl- then it fires right up. Is there a common place for these carbs to be losing fuel this slowly? It doesn't seem to be a problem until about after 3-4 days.
Thanks fellas
Posted By: Mr.Yuck
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/03/11 07:47 PM
Welcome to the world of Eddybrock carbs and todays gas. Yes it is very common.
Posted By: mopowers
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/03/11 07:54 PM
Does it evaporate from some orifice or something? Should I rebuild the carb, buy an electric fuel pump, or deal with the hassle of cranking the motor for days until she fires?
Posted By: Mr.Yuck
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/03/11 07:56 PM
I'd just deal with it. An electric pump is overkill. It helps if you have the air cleaner assembly on.
Posted By: JohnRR
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/03/11 08:13 PM
It's not just not just a eddy/carter carb problem it's the current BLEND and all carbs. An electric pump would be a way around it , you turn on the pump and it fills the carb , should light right up .
Posted By: bb74swngr
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/03/11 09:17 PM
Quote:
It's not just not just a edby/carter carb problem it's the current BLEND and all carbs. An electric pump would be a way around it , you turn on the pump and it fills the carb , should light right up .
I did what johnrr suggested and works great!
Buy a part store elec fuel pump cheapie they will fill the fuel bowls and do not need a regulator. Advance used to have one fairly cheap
Posted By: Fury Fan
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/03/11 09:30 PM
You can also install a fuel filter with a return line fitting and run a 1/4" fuel line back to the tank. As the gas heats and expands when the car hotsoaks, it will allow some of it to push back to the tank.
Yes, an electric pump will solve the symptom, but a return line will save some of the fuel.
I saw a realy explanantory magazine article on this a few years ago, a netsearch might find it for you.
Posted By: JohnRR
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/03/11 09:57 PM
Quote:
Quote:
It's not just not just a edby/carter carb problem it's the current BLEND and all carbs. An electric pump would be a way around it , you turn on the pump and it fills the carb , should light right up .
I did what johnrr suggested and works great!
I'm considering doing this on any car I have now wit ha manual fuel pump , I don't trust the ethanol in the fuel and that it could eat thru the rubber diaphragm and fill the crank case with fuel. 
Posted By: Mr.Yuck
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/03/11 11:14 PM
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
It's not just not just a edby/carter carb problem it's the current BLEND and all carbs. An electric pump would be a way around it , you turn on the pump and it fills the carb , should light right up .
I did what johnrr suggested and works great!
I'm considering doing this on any car I have now wit ha manual fuel pump , I don't trust the ethanol in the fuel and that it could eat thru the rubber diaphragm and fill the crank case with fuel.
you'll be fine. you never drive your car anyway 
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
It's not just not just a edby/carter carb problem it's the current BLEND and all carbs. An electric pump would be a way around it , you turn on the pump and it fills the carb , should light right up .
I did what johnrr suggested and works great!
I'm considering doing this on any car I have now wit ha manual fuel pump , I don't trust the ethanol in the fuel and that it could eat thru the rubber diaphragm and fill the crank case with fuel.
thats the main reason i went with the elect fuel pump set up on my 440 truck,had this happen 2x already on BB engines.
i lost the first one with a spun rod bearing,then figured it out when I smelled gas in the oil on the second engine.
not going there on this 3rd 440 
Posted By: Challenger 1
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/03/11 11:27 PM
I use a stock style air filter which I think helps keep the bowl vents covered better than a open air filter. I've been running the same carb for 20+ years. It's a little tougher to start with todays blended gas. When I'm at home with the car I don't used blended gas. Makes a big difference for me. When I'm out of town with it I have to buy blened gas.
I just started my 74 with a 1405 600 eddie carb on it last week one day. The car has sat since around Nov last year. It fired up after about 8-10 seconds crank time, just like always. This is the same carb that sat all through the 90s and maybe getting started once a year, haven't even rebuilt it.
Posted By: RapidRobert
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/03/11 11:47 PM
Might try one of those thick Felpro square base gasket iirc ~3/8" for more insulation or a black phenolic 4 hole spacer of what ever thickness your hood w allow & reportedly those are a very good addition to an Eddy
Posted By: desomod
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/04/11 01:41 AM
The problem with an elecrtic fuel pump is that you need to get it lower than the level of the fuel tank so that it too doesnt go dry. They don't suck, they push (which really sucks!).
Has anyone solved this or has anyone come up with a "in tank" electric pump like with modern cars that doesn't require cutting the tank apart?
All modern fuels do this...as others have said.
You can get a small 'booster' electric fuel pump that mounts inline. Mount it on the fuel line, inside the frame rail midway between the engine and the tank and it will always be below the tank level.
To answer your question- the fuel is evaporating out of the float bowl vent- which is on the top of the carb.
And- use a think base gasket- the black rubberish ones work well, or a phenolic one is ideal. Eddy's don't like heat- it will evaporate the gas FASTER if you don't have one.
Yeah- modern gas is the worst! Thank You Mr. EPA....
If your a holley guy your going to be amazed how easy it is to work with the Eddys. Much much easier to tune/alter for your application.
Good Luck,
CC.
Posted By: joedust451
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/04/11 03:18 AM
Its funny alot of you say its the fuel, hmmm, i remember having the same problem with any eddy carb i ran as far back as the early 90s, after a good week the carb would damn near go dry, Whats ironic is i never had that problem like this with any holley i've ever used & i've used alot of them (unless the gaskets were leaking), my last 3 holleys were on my 360 magnum just last year, that car would sit a good 2 weeks at times (summer or winter) didn't matter on todays blends, the bowls would always hold plenty of fuel
.
I do agree todays blends have a lower boiling point, but i don't think by much.
Posted By: 70AARcuda
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/04/11 03:25 AM
the well for the accelerator pump sits up higher then the floor the bowl in the eddy carb...
they is still gas in the bowl..but the pump goes dry due to evaporation of our 4.00 a gallon gas.
holley feeds the accelerator pump from the bottom of the bowl...so the holley will not that the same problem as fast as the eddy carb does..
I park my duster facing down the drive way ...gravity helps the eddy carb...LOL
Posted By: RapidRobert
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/04/11 03:58 AM
Quote:
the well for the accelerator pump sits up higher then the floor the bowl in the eddy carb...
I park my duster facing down the drive way ...gravity helps the eddy carb...LOL
Have to try that 
Posted By: jjschm
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/04/11 04:56 AM
CC, what brand/model electric 'booster' pump do you recommend? I have the exact same issue with my set up (318, Eddy600, the regular fuel pump) but was afraid an electric would push too much pressure to the Eddy carb. To you keep the stock pump with the booster?
Thanks,
Jon
Posted By: Dcuda69
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/04/11 12:31 PM
Quote:
Its funny alot of you say its the fuel, hmmm, i remember having the same problem with any eddy carb i ran as far back as the early 90s, after a good week the carb would damn near go dry, Whats ironic is i never had that problem like this with any holley i've ever used & i've used alot of them (unless the gaskets were leaking), my last 3 holleys were on my 360 magnum just last year, that car would sit a good 2 weeks at times (summer or winter) didn't matter on todays blends, the bowls would always hold plenty of fuel .
I do agree todays blends have a lower boiling point, but i don't think by much.
I have limited experience with the Eddy carbs. I've had 2 different Holleys on my BB, a 750 vac sec and a 800 double pumper. The last 2 winters(one with each carb)I parked the car in Oct-Nov and didn't touch it till April. Both times I popped the air cleaner,looked down the carb throat and sure enough....squirt,squirt. Few cranks and it lit right up! 
Posted By: 63stabamatic
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/04/11 12:48 PM
I'm running an Eddy 1412 800CFM with a Carter P4070 electric pump on one car and it starts great. The stock 69 GTX with the Carter AVS and stock fuel pump you have to grind it a while to fill the carb after a day or two, been that way for years. I wish they'd reverse all the ethanol nonsense.
Posted By: Mr.Yuck
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/04/11 01:20 PM
Quote:
Its funny alot of you say its the fuel, hmmm, i remember having the same problem with any eddy carb i ran as far back as the early 90s, after a good week the carb would damn near go dry, Whats ironic is i never had that problem like this with any holley i've ever used & i've used alot of them (unless the gaskets were leaking), my last 3 holleys were on my 360 magnum just last year, that car would sit a good 2 weeks at times (summer or winter) didn't matter on todays blends, the bowls would always hold plenty of fuel .
I do agree todays blends have a lower boiling point, but i don't think by much.
holley's have much bigger fuel bowls and they are hung futher away from the intake.
Posted By: mopowers
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/04/11 02:33 PM
Thanks guys. My dad has a cheap parts-store electric fuel pump sitting on his shelf. Maybe I'll just mount it in line and use it to start the car. Maybe I'll try a thick carb gasket as well. I'm just glad to hear it's a common problem and that I don't need to rebuild the carb.
Thanks guys!
Posted By: JohnRR
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/04/11 03:24 PM
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
It's not just not just a edby/carter carb problem it's the current BLEND and all carbs. An electric pump would be a way around it , you turn on the pump and it fills the carb , should light right up .
I did what johnrr suggested and works great!
I'm considering doing this on any car I have now wit ha manual fuel pump , I don't trust the ethanol in the fuel and that it could eat thru the rubber diaphragm and fill the crank case with fuel.
you'll be fine. you never drive your car anyway
But when I do drive them my engines stay together ... 
Posted By: fury4speed
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/04/11 03:33 PM
I hace a Edelbrock 1413 800 CFM and if you let it sit for a week or two it is really hard ot start , no fuel in the float bowls.
Posted By: joedust451
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/04/11 04:50 PM
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Quote:
holley's have much bigger fuel bowls and they are hung futher away from the intake.
Thats why i like them & always will 
Posted By: Mr.Yuck
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/04/11 05:17 PM
you'll be fine. you never drive your car anyway
But when I do drive them my engines stay together ...
that's because you aren't trying hard enough.
Posted By: joedust451
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/04/11 11:25 PM
Quote:
you'll be fine. you never drive your car anyway
But when I do drive them my engines stay together ...
that's because you aren't trying hard enough.
Posted By: ahy
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/05/11 12:18 AM
Quote:
Thanks guys. My dad has a cheap parts-store electric fuel pump sitting on his shelf. Maybe I'll just mount it in line and use it to start the car. Maybe I'll try a thick carb gasket as well. I'm just glad to hear it's a common problem and that I don't need to rebuild the carb.
Thanks guys!
One thing to check/watch out for is fuel flow with the electric pump off. Some will let the regular fuel pump pull through when electric power is turned off and some won't. You may need a bypass line around the electric fuel pump with a check valve to prevent backflow.
Posted By: joedust451
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/05/11 01:10 AM
Quote:
Quote:
Thanks guys. My dad has a cheap parts-store electric fuel pump sitting on his shelf. Maybe I'll just mount it in line and use it to start the car. Maybe I'll try a thick carb gasket as well. I'm just glad to hear it's a common problem and that I don't need to rebuild the carb.
Thanks guys!
One thing to check/watch out for is fuel flow with the electric pump off. Some will let the regular fuel pump pull through when electric power is turned off and some won't. You may need a bypass line around the electric fuel pump with a check valve to prevent backflow.
True!
Posted By: Challenger 1
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/05/11 01:19 AM
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Thanks guys. My dad has a cheap parts-store electric fuel pump sitting on his shelf. Maybe I'll just mount it in line and use it to start the car. Maybe I'll try a thick carb gasket as well. I'm just glad to hear it's a common problem and that I don't need to rebuild the carb.
Thanks guys!
One thing to check/watch out for is fuel flow with the electric pump off. Some will let the regular fuel pump pull through when electric power is turned off and some won't. You may need a bypass line around the electric fuel pump with a check valve to prevent backflow.
True!
A small electric pump is not gonna flow enough on the suction side of a mechanical and when you turn it on it's still not gonna flow enough unless you have a large electric, then there's no reason to have mechancal.
A small electric pump to prime a carb is not worth the hassel. imo
Posted By: JohnRR
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/05/11 01:57 PM
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Thanks guys. My dad has a cheap parts-store electric fuel pump sitting on his shelf. Maybe I'll just mount it in line and use it to start the car. Maybe I'll try a thick carb gasket as well. I'm just glad to hear it's a common problem and that I don't need to rebuild the carb.
Thanks guys!
One thing to check/watch out for is fuel flow with the electric pump off. Some will let the regular fuel pump pull through when electric power is turned off and some won't. You may need a bypass line around the electric fuel pump with a check valve to prevent backflow.
True!
A small electric pump is not gonna flow enough on the suction side of a mechanical and when you turn it on it's still not gonna flow enough unless you have a large electric, then there's no reason to have mechancal.
A small electric pump to prime a carb is not worth the hassel. imo
I agree , I would ditch the mechanical pump all together .
Posted By: JohnRR
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/05/11 01:58 PM
Quote:
you'll be fine. you never drive your car anyway
But when I do drive them my engines stay together ...
that's because you aren't trying hard enough.
If I remember the scenarios correctly anything below 3000 rpm is all it would take?
Posted By: Mr.Yuck
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/05/11 02:05 PM
Quote:
Quote:
you'll be fine. you never drive your car anyway
But when I do drive them my engines stay together ...
that's because you aren't trying hard enough.
If I remember the scenarios correctly anything below 3000 rpm is all it would take?
could have been the 8-10 romps I took before that..... No idea why the valve came apart, could have been a cam failure, but I didn't hear any noise before hand...
anyway back to the topic.
Just leave it as is. Try a spacer or FAT gasket and roll.
Posted By: mopowers
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/05/11 02:10 PM
Thanks for the input guys. I guess it's not that bad of a problem. When it's dry, it takes about 8 sec. of cranking to fill the bowls.
Quote:
CC, what brand/model electric 'booster' pump do you recommend? I have the exact same issue with my set up (318, Eddy600, the regular fuel pump) but was afraid an electric would push too much pressure to the Eddy carb. To you keep the stock pump with the booster?
Thanks,
Jon
Hi Jon,
Currently I am running the full-on Carter Electic- the kind they have been making for generations! It provides between 5-8 psi constant, with good flow. BUT- it is NOISY. I did it because I wanted to be sure that I had good flow, and I plan on a BB conversion at some point in the future.
I also retained the factory mechanical pump- partly to act as a 'regulator' and partly so that if the electric ever fails, I'll still get pressure.
Now-
This is something to remember-
Back in the 80's Chrysler has a lot of issues with the M-bodies and vapor lock. This is due to a number of factors, but thier answer was a recall that included a small inline electric 'booster' pump. This was something they did when a customer complained.
Sooooo...to solve this issue, you can really use any small electric booster pump- like this or something similar:
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail...5&ppt=C0128
This would provide all the pressure you would need to fill the fuel bowls before start up. You could even put a switch on it- turn it on a few seconds before start and then shut if off after.
Up to you....
Hope this helps,
CC.
Posted By: JohnRR
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/05/11 02:31 PM
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
you'll be fine. you never drive your car anyway
But when I do drive them my engines stay together ...
that's because you aren't trying hard enough.
If I remember the scenarios correctly anything below 3000 rpm is all it would take?
could have been the 8-10 romps I took before that..... No idea why the valve came apart, could have been a cam failure, but I didn't hear any noise before hand...
anyway back to the topic.
Just leave it as is. Try a spacer or FAT gasket and roll.
I'm just having a little fun with you ...
Posted By: Mr.Yuck
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/05/11 02:52 PM
I'm just having a little fun with you ...
I know it's all good.
if this one breaks...I'm doing all the work myself.
Posted By: Challenger 1
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/05/11 03:08 PM
I'm gonna be in Sac sometime this summer almost sure with my challenger. Maybe I look you up if I get there?
Posted By: Fury Fan
Re: Eddy Carb Issue - 05/05/11 04:15 PM
Quote:
Thanks for the input guys. I guess it's not that bad of a problem. When it's dry, it takes about 8 sec. of cranking to fill the bowls.
It'll take a couple of hours it takes to install an electric pump in a professional manner, and big pumps are noisy.
The extra seconds it takes the mech pump to re-fill teh bowls is also time for teh oil pump to re-lube the engine.