1952 8Ba flathead wot stay running

[benbuilder]

I just bought a 52 4 door for the engine. It ran ok enough to get it on the trailer. Not great though. I had an 8BA carb that i decided to rebuild and install. Existing carb is an EAB. I am fairly certain i did it all correct. I even watched a very good on line tutorial as i went along.

In the kit, there were two different power valves. One taller and one shorter. The power valve i removed from my carb was taller so i installed the taller one.

I just installed the carb on the engine and i got maybe 15 seconds of running and thats after i poured gas in the carb. I believe the fuel pump is working as gas was coming out of the gas line where i had not tightened it enough.

I did not adjust the float as the kit did not tell me where it should be in terms of height, so i left it alone.

Should i go back to the original power valve? This carb was sitting for a log time. I soaked it for three days in carb cleaner before taking it apart.

Thanks for the help.

[benbuilder]

Note.
new fuel off a bottle and new fuel filter before glass bowl

[Frank Miller]

Can you see fuel squirting in the barrels when you crank the throttle?

[benbuilder]

Good question. NO. I should have checked that. So now what do i check?

[Ken Henry]

Is the bowl filling with gas? Try removing the top.

[alanwoodieman]

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wrap the float bowl with a wooden hammer handle, sounds like the float/inlet needle valve is stuck

[benbuilder]

I took the top off. there is fuel in the bowl. when i crank the throttle fuel squirts. When i put the cover on and crank the throttle, no fuel squirts.
Thanks for the help guys

[19Fordy]

I recall reading on the Fordbarn that some power valves now being manufactured do not have the proper machined seating surface and will leak. Is your power valve the correct one?

[51 MERC-CT]

Originally Posted by benbuilder

I took the top off. there is fuel in the bowl. when i crank the throttle fuel squirts. When i put the cover on and crank the throttle, no fuel squirts.
Thanks for the help guys

Make sure the accelerator pump is connected and in the position to give most fuel.

[Art Newland]

Probably one power valve and one spark control valve in the rebuild kit, they aren't interchangeable.
https://www.carburetor-parts.com/Spa...Valve_b_2.html

[benbuilder]

I did not use the "Spark Control valve" Although that answers my question if i installed the correct "Power Valve". I used the power valve that came in the package.

Should i try the old power valve?

I will go remove the carburetor and adjust the Accelerator Pump to full volume.

[tubman]

I would try the old power valve. While you're at it, compare the seating surfaces on both to see if they're the same. That should tell you if you have the correct style power valve.

[benbuilder]

Well, i tried the old power valve. No luck.

I have spent so much time on this one item I thought was simple for me to do. I finally decided to check for spark. I have spark.

I put the old carb back on and it fired for a few seconds, i tried to adjust the idle screws and it stalled. But that was it.

I did adjust for full fuel also.

I am very frustrated. I bought the kit and have over 10 hours into this carb with no good results. And to top it off, I feel i have learned nothing. I may need to send it out to be rebuilt. I cant believe i need to do that. this is a simple carb. Thanks for the help

[flatford8]

If it sat for a long time your problem could be before the pump. Fuel line clogged, crap in the tank, air leaks in the line. As soon as it stalls, check if the fuel squirts in the carb then..... and check your spark as soon as it stalls. Have you checked or filed and cleaned the points?..... lots of stuff to check when it has sat not running for awhile..... Mark

[19Fordy]

Can you by pass the fuel tank and use a can of gas to see if it starts and runs better.

[tubman]

See post #2.

[flatjack9]

The power valve is not your problem. Hard saying what it might be, but something is wrong with your rebuild. You should get fuel squirting from the accel discharge nozzles when you move the throttle lever. Maybe Charlie or Sal will chime in.

[benbuilder]

I adjusted the throttle linkage to the strongest squirt. I now have fuel squiring out when i accelerate.

I went out there a little while ago and noticed I have no spark.

So I’m going to back up to the beginning. I bought this car last Sunday. When I arrived at the gentleman’s home there was no battery in the car. He took the 12 v battery out of his truck and connected it as a negative ground. And we started the 52 it ran very very raggedy we got it on the trailer and then it died. He had to apply sandpaper to the points to get spark because there was no spark and it was first connected to the battery.

I rolled it off the trailer when i got home. On the way home I was thinking that this might be a 6 V system car. I called him up and asked him if the car have been converted, he told me it had not. But he had disconnected a few wires from the generator that would allow it to run on 12 V. After doing some research I began to wonder about negative ground, Positive ground system.

I have the battery hooked up as a negative ground system. What are my next steps? Did I do something bad?
I wanted to go out right now and check for spark, but felt i should ask you guys where i am.

Can i install a 12 v battery? do i do negative or pos ground?
How do i install a jump pack to try to start the car?

Then the next step is to check for spark at the points, right? Open and close them with a screwdriver and see if i get spark?

If I fried the coil, any ford 12v coil do? I have about 10 from a 73-77 truck, ford.

Thanks

[benbuilder]

I am sorry if i sound like an idiot. I try hard with the mechanics, I read a lot on line but just cant get it.

[JSeery]

Well, now you need to back up and figure out what is going on. What coil and resistor combo are you using? If it is a 6v coil it is not going to like running on 12v for very long. What is polarity on the coil? It reverses between positive and negative ground, if the polarity is incorrect it reduces the output of the coil. I would start by deciding how you want to run it, 6v or 12v, and then correct things for that arrangement.