VP 4.3GS Carb Tuning Vacuum Port?

dubs283

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Did you replace the power valve gasket and clean the mount surface on the metering block?
 
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What sized Holley? 4150 or 4160?

Did you verify the idle transfer slots when you had the carb off

If your fouling plugs, you are too rich

Start at 3/4 turn out at mix screws.

Make sure the float levels are set (external adjustment)

When you had the carb apart, did you make sure the air bleeds were clear
This is the 4160. Holley Carb R75007-1
I had not heard about transfer slots, and now I am not sure what I need to do to verify them. Do you know what they should be set to? The videos I am seeing is around .020". Do both the primary and secondary get set the same?
Floats are not externally adjustable. But they were set when I had the bowls off. When I flipped the bowls upside down the floats had to be level with the bottom of the bowl.
Yes sir. I let the carb body sit in parts cleaner and then sprayed out all of the passages both directions, then used wire, then carb cleaner again.
 

dubs283

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How long was the soak in parts cleaner? What type of cleaner/soak was used?
 
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Did you replace the power valve gasket and clean the mount surface on the metering block?
Yes. When I pulled the carb apart there were a number of cracks in the metering block, many that went all the way through. I got a new one from Holley and thoroughly cleaned the mating areas. All new gaskets on everything that had a gasket. I am pretty particular about cleaning. I spent quite a bit of time cleaning.
 

dubs283

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Metering blocks all appear to have cracks. It's witness marks from the casting

If the metering block did indeed have a crack it's possible there are other issues with the carburetor body

Chem dip should be used for 10-15 minutes, max

You possibly destroyed the casting by leaving it too long
 
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Rich running is common on Holley carbs, one of the causes is that the throttle blades at idle are too far open, exposing too much of the idle transfer slot. That slot should be a square shape, as seen from below the primary throttle valves. At idle you want it pulling fuel only from the idle system.
A blown power valve can also cause that, although I know that the 4160 Holley carb originally used by OMC & Volvo on the 4.3 does not have a power valve. Not sure if you have that same exact model #.
I don't think a V/P 4.3 should have 18* of advance at 600 rpm!
My old OMC gets set at 6*BTDC, full centrifugal advance at 3200 rpm is 12*, for a total timing advance of 18*. Yes much lower than the V8s, not sure why but that's how it is.

this is the carb used on the OMC and V/P 4.3s. No power valve.
I have not even fired the engine since I rebuilt the carb. I want to make sure I have all of the initial settings correct before I start the engine and tune it properly. I put a new power valve and gasket in it. It is a 2.5.
I will pull the carb and set the slots. I missed that when I had it off the first time. The manual is saying to use the shunt and set the idle at 1 degree. After I pull the shunt the timing should be:
4.3GL Models
Engine RPM Timing
Initial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1°
600 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18°
1000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21°
1500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23°
2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24°
2500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25°
3000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25°
3500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25°
4000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25°
4600 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25°
 
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Metering blocks all appear to have cracks. It's witness marks from the casting

If the metering block did indeed have a crack it's possible there are other issues with the carburetor body

Chem dip should be used for 10-15 minutes, max

You possibly destroyed the casting by leaving it too long
Now you got me wondering if I stated the wrong brand. I read the instructions on it. I'll need to run out to the shop and take a look.
 

Lou C

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The idle transition slots should look like a square when viewed from under the throttle plates.
 

Scott Danforth

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All Holley carbs have externally adjustable float.

Pull sight gauge, fuel should be at bottom of sight hole
 
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Messages
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All Holley carbs have externally adjustable float.

Pull sight gauge, fuel should be at bottom of sight hole
I will take a picture of it when I get back to the house. I'm 99% sure I figured out what my fouled plugs problem was. The primary float was adjusted so badly that I don't think it could ever shut off. I've had about 2 inches of gas and oil mixed in my oil pan above the full mark. Also, suspiciously, there is a Mr gasket adjustable fuel pressure regulator between the fuel pump and the carburetor. According to Mr gasket, that is adjustable between two PSI and 6 psi. And they had it way down at 2 psi. I'm wondering if they tried to use that to stop the flooding problem. I just bought this boat this spring, and it had sat for a couple of years, and previous to that, it had a brand new engine in it. I'm just trying to cover all of my bases before I fire it up and fine tune the carb and the timing.
 
Joined
May 2, 2023
Messages
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Metering blocks all appear to have cracks. It's witness marks from the casting

If the metering block did indeed have a crack it's possible there are other issues with the carburetor body

Chem dip should be used for 10-15 minutes, max

You possibly destroyed the casting by leaving it too long
It is Gunk 96 oz parts cleaner. It says 20 minutes on it, so I left it in for 20 minutes.
 

dubs283

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Still waiting on the engine to run

Plop her in the lake and give it a proper shakedown, have fun, post results
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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Messages
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Holley marine ought to have a welch plug in place of the sight gauge?

For safety reasons?
Nope, threaded brass plug unless someone installed that aftermarket clear plastic plugs ( not marine approved)
 

Lou C

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Messages
12,674
The marine Holley I bought a few years ago had no external float adjustment, you had to take the bowls off to adjust. The Quickfuel Marine carbs (a modified Holley design) do though.
 
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