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Carb Spacer Leak

Mosesatm

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 18, 2005
Messages
9,011
Rob was diagnosing a carb problem for me and he told me to check the gasket between the intake and the spacer because gasket manufacturers are making the gaskets too small these days.

Talk about knowing his stuff! Check out the photo of the gasket I was using. The engine was sucking a lot of air through that gap, and it is the correct gasket!
 

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robert campbell

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Joined
Apr 10, 2007
Messages
4,321
Scott,
I also get the same Felpro gasket by ordering specifically for a 1968 Mustang with a 4 barrel. This gasket is also correct for most all Ford applications that run this one inch spacer with the PCV port on the back. If not all of them!

I have a good local parts store that has some savvy people behind the counter that I have dealt with since the late 1960's. Some of the fast food part stores are not so savvy on this stuff.

That Mr. Gasket #54 gasket hangs on the wall and is given out all the time. Works great in almost all applications. Except ours!!

Rob
 

68 special

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 17, 2004
Messages
524
Very good info. Is there a way to check it with the carb installed? Some sort of leak check.


Bret
 

robert campbell

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Joined
Apr 10, 2007
Messages
4,321
Bret,
You would be experiencing poor or fast idling characteristics when hot. Flat spots, and if you have vacuum gauge, a low reading that fluctuates at say 10 or 12 inches of vacuum. An engine that dies if you try to slow it down to normal idle. Now this assumes a stock motor with good initial timing at around 10 to 12 degrees BTDC.

A big cam can do some of the above.

I have heard of people spraying WD 40 or propane near the gasket area. If idle increases, when you do this, you may have an air leak there. Crap, you are near to me. Come on over on a sunny day!

Rob
 
OP
OP
Mosesatm

Mosesatm

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 18, 2005
Messages
9,011
Rob,
Do you know that purpose of the notches at the bottom of the primary cylinders in the spacer?
Is it a problem if the gasket covers those notches?
 

robert campbell

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 10, 2007
Messages
4,321
Arlie,
The notches are to feed vacuum to the openings/chambers in the spacer for the PCV port. Covering them by the gasket has no effect.

Rob
 

franklinair

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 1, 2007
Messages
4,741
The WD40 trick works. Spray it around the base of the carb and spacer.If you hit a vacuum leak spot, RPM's will rise, and you've found your leak.

Neil
 
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