for starters...i don't have very much knowledge under the hood...looking for some advice / assistance

I have a 1970 chevelle with a 489ci, holley carb, hei distributor (not sure what all info you need...)

anyways, today while driving, i felt a loss of power, had to push down on the gas and it would accelarate, then when i'd let off, it would feel like it was going to stall. i had to stop at a light, so as i was slowing down, it stalled out 100% and would not start back up.

when i got it home today, i replaced all the spark plugs (been needing to do that anyways). attempted to start, can see fuel getting to the carb, but no spark. i have fuel pressure in the lines...i just happened to see something leaking underneath so i jacked the car up to have a look. coming out of what i think is called the "collector" area of the exhaust (after the headers or something like that)...looks like there is a small leak in one of the welds. anyways, fuel is coming out, was a decent amount.

this leads me to believe it is certainly electrical related as the fuel isn't igniting - in fact it is just being passed right through (and now likely flooded the whole thing). i haven't taken apart the HEI distributor yet, but figured i'd do that next weekend. however, even when i do that, i'm not sure what i'm looking for...

so, that is my story, any help would be appreciated. thoughts? things to look for? check?

thanks in advance for helping!!

Could possibly be a bad module or pickup coil in the distributor. If you can get the module out, I think the parts places can test them.

Be careful trying to start it, when that fuel in the exhaust ignites it'll be a big bang...

Also check your oil to see if it smells like fuel. Don't run the engine if it does, change it... :yes:

Module in the distributor probably went bad.

can see fuel getting to the carb,
How? Looking at a transparent fuel filter? Have you done a fuel pressure and volume test?

but no spark.
How do you know? Did you pull the plug wires and check for spark?

coming out of what i think is called the "collector" area of the exhaust (after the headers or something like that)...looks like there is a small leak in one of the welds. anyways, fuel is coming out, was a decent amount.

this leads me to believe it is certainly electrical related as the fuel isn't igniting - in fact it is just being passed right through (and now likely flooded the whole thing).
That's a whole lot of fuel to not have a carb problem. Possible, I suppose.

i haven't taken apart the HEI distributor yet, but figured i'd do that next weekend. however, even when i do that, i'm not sure what i'm looking for...
http://www.chevelles.com/techref/ftecref5.html

That's a whole lot of fuel to not have a carb problem. Possible, I suppose.


I agree. Maybe a stuck float? That would correlate with being able to accelerate, but stalling out at idle.

I had a similar problem years ago and it was a stuck needle & seat that was dripping fuel into the secondary.

Good luck!!

I agree. Maybe a stuck float? That would correlate with being able to accelerate, but stalling out at idle.

Had the same problem with the 650DP on the Impala when I bought it. Rear needle would stick open. Ran good with the RPM's up but would flood its self out at Idle. I could rotate the float adjuster 1 turn out, then 1 turn in, then back to proper setting and it would work fine for a wile. I added a can of Seafoam to the tank and it cleaned it out and works fine now.

Remove the site plugs on the side of the bowls. IF a lot of fuel runs out, It's a stuck float.

thanks for all the suggestions, i'll be looking into it this weekend. my dad had mentioned "float stuck" as well...while i don't know much about it. maybe it is time to pull the carb off...

Be careful trying to start it, when that fuel in the exhaust ignites it'll be a big bang...

Also check your oil to see if it smells like fuel. Don't run the engine if it does, change it... :yes:


ok, so this begs the question, what can i do to ensure i don't get a BIG BANG. cause...well...i'm not into big bangs unless it is with some of my firearms.

thanks for the heads up!

check your fuel pressure!!

ok, so this begs the question, what can i do to ensure i don't get a BIG BANG. cause...well...i'm not into big bangs unless it is with some of my firearms.

thanks for the heads up!

Disconnect your headers at the collectors and drain the fuel out. But if you do that and still have a carb problem they will just fill back up. You could confirm no spark by pulling a spark plug out then hook your plug wire back up to it. Lay it on the header and have someone crank it for a few seconds while you watch the spark plug to see if you are getting spark. You will then know if it a distributor problem or a carb problem. If it does end up being an ignition module avoid buying a cheap module as it will burn up rather quickly. Might as well spend 40-60 dollars and get a good one. Trust me on this as I've been down that road.

Disconnect your headers at the collectors and drain the fuel out. But if you do that and still have a carb problem they will just fill back up. You could confirm no spark by pulling a spark plug out then hook your plug wire back up to it. Lay it on the header and have someone crank it for a few seconds while you watch the spark plug to see if you are getting spark. You will then know if it a distributor problem or a carb problem. If it does end up being an ignition module avoid buying a cheap module as it will burn up rather quickly. Might as well spend 40-60 dollars and get a good one. Trust me on this as I've been down that road.

thanks for the info - i'll be working on the car this weekend!

not entirely sure it is "stuck floats"

reason being...they move around just fine. unless i don't understand the definition of "stuck floats"
front float
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3556/3556291077_a3d8970a9b.jpg

rear float
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3310/3556291031_37626640c5.jpg

so i figured it out...stuck needle. there was crap inside the needle area getting it stuck. now i just need new gaskets.

friend of mine told me i can blow on the intake and lift the float and figure out which one was an issue. it worked like a charm.