Edelbrock 1406 hard starting issues

[mattyq17]

So I have been doing a tune up on my 66 289. It has an edelbrock performer 289 intake an 1406 carb. I haven't taken it on the road yet just around the ranch working the bugs out. First thing it starts up fine, choke works well, and drives fine. But once I shut it down it is hard to start or most likely wont start at all. I do not have a fuel regulator or a carb/heat spacer on it at the moment. One thing I have noticed is at times after I shut it off fuel continues to drip into the bowls. Does this mean I need a fuel regulator, a good cleaning of the carb, spacer? I am not very skilled with carbs but willing to learn as it intrigues me. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

Matt

 

[tatersalad]

It could be from heat soak if its doing it after it gets warm. The 1406 is auto choke if I remember right. Is the choke adjustment right. I had the 1405 on mine so it was manual choke.

 

[B RON CO]

Hi, can you post a picture of where the fuel is dripping from?
Maybe the float level is wrong, or dirt on the needful and seat.
I have an Edlebrock carb with the stock fuel pump and I don't need a regulator.
If you are not use to driving carburetor engines, you may forget to hold the pedal down while starting a warmed up engine.
Good luck

 

[tatersalad]

Also, I would recommend getting Edelbrocks off road float bowl springs. Mine would die every time I went over a speed bump before I put them in.

 

[75MIKE]

Mine has done this since I have had it.

Like the others have said. shutting it off after being warmed up. 0 to 5 minutes , just touch the key and it fires. After that too much heat soak and the gas pedal has to go 3/4's of the way to floor and then it will fire up.

The joys of carbs.

 

[blubuckaroo]

Edelbrock/Carter carbs like less fuel pressure than some others. This is because the float arms are shorter, and don't have as much pressure on the needle valve. I like to keep the fuel pressure on the low side of 4 PSI.
Also, as already mentioned, heat soak is a problem for Edelbrock/Carter carbs. The fuel bowls are tucked in tight, and get heat transfer from the engine. Especially a problem if the exhaust heat riser under the carb is functional.
Neither of these problems should keep you from selecting an Edelbrock carb though. I use a phenolic heat spacer and an old Cagle fuel pressure regulator and mine runs fine.

You do need to fix this issue though. Just dealing with it by holding the throttle open on startup isn't the answer.
All that fuel trickling down washes the oil from the cylinder walls, and contaminates the motor oil.

 

[mattyq17]

Hi, can you post a picture of where the fuel is dripping from?
Maybe the float level is wrong, or dirt on the needful and seat.
I have an Edlebrock carb with the stock fuel pump and I don't need a regulator.
If you are not use to driving carburetor engines, you may forget to hold the pedal down while starting a warmed up engine.
Good luck

It leaks from the area I circled in red (not my carb I got the picture from the internet), on both primary sides. I have driven a carbed vehicle before, and have tried holding the pedal down but even that didn't work. When I manually work the throttle under the hood I don't even get any fuel movement. I am going to order a spacer and also check the floats while I am at it. Thanks.

 

[B RON CO]

Hi, the photo shows the main discharge nozzle inside of the booster Venturi.
I don't know why fuel would drip out. I would guess the float level is set wrong, the float is bad, or there is dirt in the carb.
If you call Edelbrock tech they will help you figure it out.
Good luck

 

[mattyq17]

Hi, the photo shows the main discharge nozzle inside of the booster Venturi.
I don't know why fuel would drip out. I would guess the float level is set wrong, the float is bad, or there is dirt in the carb.
If you call Edelbrock tech they will help you figure it out.
Good luck

I am thinking dirt or stuck float as well. I am gonna take it off check the floats and tear it down and give it a good cleaning this week. I will report back with pictures and what I find.

For those of you running a spacer, what size are you using? I have wild horses 1” body mounts so room isn’t an issue. Thanks

 

[gr8scott]

I use a 1/2" wood one on mine, works really well. This would work on your intake:
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/edl-8725

 

[jperry1290]

I had an edelbrock on my 66 Mustang. That carb was a PITA and hated heat. I added a spacer and it helped tremendously. I believe the carb was getting so hot that the fuel would evaporate when I parked after driving long distances. The engine had big fancy headers that got piping hot and heated the engine bay up. I would recommend an Holley

 

[mattyq17]

So I pulled the carb off last night and gave it a good cleaning, which by looking at the pictures your can tell it needed it!!! I am also going to install a spacer once I get it all back together, it has been soaking overnight. I wont be able to see if this helps yet as my alternator took a dump on me as well. %) I will report back when I get it all back together.

Another question my timing is at 14* BTDC, could that be contributing to my hard starts when the engine is hot? I have read that 10* is a good starting point. I don't know anything about this engine's internals, but does 14* seem high? I have driven it around the ranch and have a couple hills that I have gone up at a good clip and don't have any pinging so I figured it isn't too much. Thanks.

 

[B RON CO]

Hi, I hope you took it all apart except for the throttle plates and shafts before soaking.
As long as there is no pinging I would leave the timing alone.
Try a carb spacer and some new fuel filters.
Good luck

 

[mattyq17]

Got it all back together with a 1” spacer, and it fired right up. I have to readjust the idle but it is running well. I let it run for 20 minutes, shut it off came back 10 minutes later and it fired right up without touching the gas pedal. Gonna drive it around the ranch later this week as see how it does. Thanks for the help guys.

 

[Justafordguy]

Sounds good so far. I hope that did the trick.

 

[dholder]

Looks like you might need a fuel filter. That was a lot of stuff in the bowl.

 

[mattyq17]

Looks like you might need a fuel filter. That was a lot of stuff in the bowl.

Yes there was, and I have already added a new fuel filter. I don't know how long the carb had been sitting before I bought it.....

 

[needabronco]

Turn your electric choke waaaaaay down. They are set high from the factory. On mine it didn't ever completely shut off and was hard to start, after adjusting the choke almost completely out and going 2 sizes of rods larger it ran fantastic. I even averaged 15-17 mpgs out of that carburetor.

 

[mattyq17]

Turn your electric choke waaaaaay down. They are set high from the factory. On mine it didn't ever completely shut off and was hard to start, after adjusting the choke almost completely out and going 2 sizes of rods larger it ran fantastic. I even averaged 15-17 mpgs out of that carburetor.

I will give this a try, which way is waaaaaay down? With or against the lean arrow?

 

[needabronco]

Against if I recall