Any carburetor guys still around?

CigarStone

CigarStone

For once, knowledge is making me poor!
Joined
Mar 7, 2007
Messages
12,256
Location
Northeast, Ohio
First Name
Jeff
I recently put my 79 F-150 (351 Modified) back into regular service and plan to continue fixing her up. I have a question which is probably dumb but WTF?

The rear gas tank was out of service for a while and when I removed the old bed I took the time to clean it pretty well. I then added new fuel lines and a series of filters between each tank and the carb to capture any gunk. Now that I have run the truck a while, I will replace the filters but before I do, I'd like to clean the entire system really well, mainly the carb.

So here is my plan.....tell me if it makes sense. I ran the rear tank empty on my way home Tuesday and I want to dump an entire can of the best cleaner I can find in it and add a few gallons of gas to make a high concentration of cleaner. As I drive down the highway, I can switch to the rear tank for a few miles and let that high concentration run through the system; then switch back to the front tank. If I do this a couple times, my hope is to clean the system real good and then replace the filters.

Good idea?
Bad idea?
Waste of time?
 
If you're worried about gunk in the carb, pull it and soak it in a 100% concentration of your "best cleaner" for a couple hours/days.
I'd be concerned that an overly high concentration of cleaner to fuel might run like crap and foul your plugs.
 
I would say waste of time. If you didn't pull the tank and really clean it and seal it, I would say a new tank would be your best bet. If there is rust in that old tank the gas we use now with all the ethanol will only make it worse.
 
My inexpert advice would be, if you are worried about your tank, replace it. I don’t think any amount of cleaner would fix it. Speaking from a kid who’s family had fuel tank, filter, line issues in a 77 ford econoline van growing up.
 
Thanks!

I didn't pull the tank but I was able to remove the large plug for the sending unit and using various cleaners and rags and a mirror, I got it pretty damn clean. Replacing the tank is a major project but one I plan to do it the future. As well as replacing the carb.

I am trying to avoid any more major stuff until I replace the tank and carb. I've been told that my 351 Modified doesn't like the Edelbrock hi-rise intake manifold and 600 CFM carb I put on a long time ago. I've been told to get a Holly and I trust the guy telling me this.

This is a short term fix in the event I got any gunk at all from either tank in the process of all the work I did building the new bed and replacing all the lines, switch, and pump.

Fouling the plugs is my main concern which is why I plan to drive just a couple miles at a time on the high concentration of cleaner.
 
I always found it was best to just pull the carb ,break it down and clean it. Just my opinion

There are some people that swear by seafoam, however , I attempted to use it in an old Yamaha ended up costing me more for being lazy.

Lucas is another product out there , I dont have any experience with this.

You say you put filters between the tanks , you cleaned the back tank but not the front , according to you post , how much gunk will the filters catch and how much they let by is hard to say.

I don't remember the name of the place but you could send your tank in and they would clean and line it. I don't know the cost vs new tanks.
 
Nate1977 said:
I always found it was best to just pull the carb ,break it down and clean it. Just my opinion

There are some people that swear by seafoam, however , I attempted to use it in an old Yamaha ended up costing me more for being lazy.

Lucas is another product out there , I dont have any experience with this.

You say you put filters between the tanks , you cleaned the back tank but not the front , according to you post , how much gunk will the filters catch and how much they let by is hard to say.

I don't remember the name of the place but you could send your tank in and they would clean and line it. I don't know the cost vs new tanks.
Click to expand...
Keep in mind this is a utility vehicle, no longer a beautiful classic. I won't be pulling the carb or the tank until I am ready to replace them.

I have used Seafoam and Lucas and I like them both, I just don't know how effective they might be for what I am hoping to do.....just a good purge of the system temporarily.
 
I have three carbureted vehicles (including the '79 F-150), and have had many over the years. I replaced the tanks on the MG and Jeep YJ. On the truck, it's a southern truck, no rust. I just keep inline filters in place and keep an eye on them. It's easy to just clean out a filter. And if a filter keeps getting dirty, well... replace the tank.
 
He's right about the Edlebrock and that setup.

Get a Holly.

Than see how it goes.

You can also add some Marvel Mystery Oil to the fuel.
;)

Or run 110 and see how it goes. :)
 
Get a Holley carburetor..... If it’s a rebuilt one, take it out of the box at the parts store to examine it. Check the linkage for the butterfly flaps where it goes through the throttle body. I don’t know if things have changed in the last several years since I quit turning wrenches, but that was the most commonly overlooked thing. The brass would wear the aluminum out and you’d suck air through it. Made it damn impossible to get the air/fuel mixture adjusted correctly. If it has a lot of up/down or side/side play, put it back in the box and ask for another.
 
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