jonny290
Registered Member
Ahh, my first CK5 support thread :P
Vehicle - 1977 K5 Blazer
Engine: 350 SBC, stock-ish (may not be original but it's not rodded or anything)
Carb: Holley 4-barrel, vacuum secondary, bimetallic choke
I just got this Blazer Thursday from my dad. He said that it ran perfect with no issues, and I trust him - he knows his cars. My brother drove it from 2000-2003, and he wouldn't have let him touch it with a fuel leak. The vehicle has been sitting in storage for two years, and my father has dutifully changed the oil every four months and started it up every month during this entire time period.
Today on my lunch break, I drove home and started the Blazer up to move it about 10 feet so my girl could park in front of the house. It's been sitting at an approximate 5-10 degree angle (tilting down towards passenger side) for the past 24 hours. I might have been a little heavy on the gas, I started it and almost immediately moved it, then cut it off. Running time like 10 seconds or so.
On the way out the door, about 45 minutes later, I decided to pop the hood to get the ID number for a squeaky belt. I noticed a gas smell, and noticed that the passenger side of the manifold was damp. I pulled the air filter, and sure as heck, it seems as though I was leaking a bit of fuel onto the manifold. There was no pooling, and most of the 'wetness' seemed confined to the carb itself, meaning that you wouldn't soak a rag when wiping the manifold but it was still kinda damp. I monitored it for five minutes, and counted about 45 to 60 seconds between drips (small drops).
My questions are:
1: Could this be a function of having it parked off-vertical for a significant period of time?
2: Could this be a function of starting it, moving it and immediately killing it a few seconds later?
3: Perhaps a combination of both?
I'm going to watch it all evening and see if it dries up some. If it does, that would lean towards me just over-gassing it when I moved it earlier today. I'm in kind of a bind, though, because I have to start it to move it on to flatter ground, and I don't want to burn my new truck to the ground.
Insight? Should I just plan on not driving it till I can rebuild the carb or buy a new one? If so, any recommendations for a mild performance 4-barrel that is still reasonable on the fuel economy? It's not a ridiculous offroad ride but I do want to get good benefit from the 350.
Somebody on another board suggested stuck floats, and recommended that I blast the tar outta the carb with carb cleaner to loosen them up. Should I hit the floats through a screw somewhere? What's the best angle on this idea?
Apologies for the noobish carb questions, I'm quite familiar with fuel injection rides, but this is my first carbureted ride since I was 16, and that one didn't count. I'd rather not burn it to the ground because I was stupid or ignorant.
Pics as soon as I find a camera!
Vehicle - 1977 K5 Blazer
Engine: 350 SBC, stock-ish (may not be original but it's not rodded or anything)
Carb: Holley 4-barrel, vacuum secondary, bimetallic choke
I just got this Blazer Thursday from my dad. He said that it ran perfect with no issues, and I trust him - he knows his cars. My brother drove it from 2000-2003, and he wouldn't have let him touch it with a fuel leak. The vehicle has been sitting in storage for two years, and my father has dutifully changed the oil every four months and started it up every month during this entire time period.
Today on my lunch break, I drove home and started the Blazer up to move it about 10 feet so my girl could park in front of the house. It's been sitting at an approximate 5-10 degree angle (tilting down towards passenger side) for the past 24 hours. I might have been a little heavy on the gas, I started it and almost immediately moved it, then cut it off. Running time like 10 seconds or so.
On the way out the door, about 45 minutes later, I decided to pop the hood to get the ID number for a squeaky belt. I noticed a gas smell, and noticed that the passenger side of the manifold was damp. I pulled the air filter, and sure as heck, it seems as though I was leaking a bit of fuel onto the manifold. There was no pooling, and most of the 'wetness' seemed confined to the carb itself, meaning that you wouldn't soak a rag when wiping the manifold but it was still kinda damp. I monitored it for five minutes, and counted about 45 to 60 seconds between drips (small drops).
My questions are:
1: Could this be a function of having it parked off-vertical for a significant period of time?
2: Could this be a function of starting it, moving it and immediately killing it a few seconds later?
3: Perhaps a combination of both?
I'm going to watch it all evening and see if it dries up some. If it does, that would lean towards me just over-gassing it when I moved it earlier today. I'm in kind of a bind, though, because I have to start it to move it on to flatter ground, and I don't want to burn my new truck to the ground.
Insight? Should I just plan on not driving it till I can rebuild the carb or buy a new one? If so, any recommendations for a mild performance 4-barrel that is still reasonable on the fuel economy? It's not a ridiculous offroad ride but I do want to get good benefit from the 350.
Somebody on another board suggested stuck floats, and recommended that I blast the tar outta the carb with carb cleaner to loosen them up. Should I hit the floats through a screw somewhere? What's the best angle on this idea?
Apologies for the noobish carb questions, I'm quite familiar with fuel injection rides, but this is my first carbureted ride since I was 16, and that one didn't count. I'd rather not burn it to the ground because I was stupid or ignorant.
Pics as soon as I find a camera!
