Author Topic: dirt track carb problem  (Read 3964 times)

Offline glntom

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dirt track carb problem
« on: October 12, 2010, 04:29:21 PM »
First a little back ground:
My buddy and I each have a "purestock" car which we run on 1/4 mile dirt tracks. Both cars typically run in the top 3 on any given race night.
They both are on 6.80 rear gear, both are 355 cid SBC, both on .450 lift camshafts, I236/E240@ 0.050. Both of us have been running holley 4412's with no problem. Both cars timed at 34 degrees total timing.
Last weekend we ran at a track that allowed Qjets, so we put our identically prepared 750cfm carbs on .
Both cars were on VP113 fuel.
Both cars ran fine packing the track and hot lapping, but had the same problem in the heat races. About the flag stand they acted like the secondarys cut out, and lost power(around 6500rpm) , then coming out of the corner the secondarys didn't seem to come in and both cars went to the back.
My driver reported sputtering and missing, his driver said it was just like the air valve had been pulled shut by the vacuum dashpot.
 I know some holleys will shut the powervalves due to increasing vacuum under these conditions, could our Qjets be pulling the air valves shut or are we just running the float bowls dry?or something else?

His car has both a holley electric pump at the tank and a mechanical pump on the motor, mine has just a mechanical pump. Both have 1/2 fuel lines to the pumps(mechanical) and then feed though 3/8 line and 6AN fittings.

Hopefully I have explained the problem enough to be clear, if not I will try to provide any additional information needed.

Offline glntom

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Re: dirt track carb problem
« Reply #1 on: October 12, 2010, 08:11:35 PM »
Carbs are SMI stage III
Starts great, idles well, good low rpm(under 2500-3000rpm) performance
« Last Edit: October 12, 2010, 08:13:33 PM by glntom »

Offline Cliff Ruggles

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Re: dirt track carb problem
« Reply #2 on: October 19, 2010, 03:55:51 AM »
Most likely running out of fuel or venting issues, or both......Cliff

Offline glntom

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Re: dirt track carb problem
« Reply #3 on: October 19, 2010, 12:53:35 PM »
Venting issues? tank or carb?
What capacity pump do you recommend?

Offline Cliff Ruggles

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Re: dirt track carb problem
« Reply #4 on: October 20, 2010, 04:46:55 AM »
All racing applications require carburetor venting modifications to keep the fuel in the carb under all conditions.

They also need to have larger fuel inlet seat assemblies (and other specific modifications) installed with enough fuel delivery to the carburetor for the power level.

Since I don't know the carburetor numbers, or any specifics about how they were set-up, difficult if not impossible to make any recomendations, etc.

I will say that about 30 percent of my business is setting up carburetors that were prepped someplace else for some sort of "racing" or "high performance" application......Cliff

Offline Toronado

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Re: dirt track carb problem
« Reply #5 on: November 11, 2010, 06:20:18 PM »
I am no pro. But
had the same problem
secondaries would close
when at high RPM, it
was because the air flap spring
tension was to tight. If you have not tried
air flap spring tension adjustment, or second
idea is the choke pull off is not adjusted correctly
for your app. like the linkage, & how fast it opens.
I tuned mine up now they open after several
hard WOT through all gears they open nicely & stay open.
it not a transition problem but vacuum and tension related!