Chevy 235 carb question...

[Deyomatic]

My buddy just bought a '59 Apache this week with the 235. It has the stock Carter 1Bbl carb on it still, which LEAKED really bad. It seemed that it was coming from the hole that the accelerator pump rod goes through, where it goes into the bowl.
This led us to believe that it had a stuck needle or a sunk float. I took it apart last night and the float was all set and it had the "solid" needle/seat setup in it. I cleaned it up really good and gave it a good once-over. It looked like everything was fairly fresh, so I didn't bother with the acclerator pump and such.

I put it back together and slapped it on today and fired it up. In about 30 or so seconds (just like before) we noticed that the leak was just as bad, if not worse than before. We almost admitted defeat and took it to a carb shop, but decided to try the other needle and seat in the kit. The sheet said to make sure you know which style of needle and seat the carb is supposed to have, the solid or spring type.
We took the top of the carb off, verified that the float was alright, put the spring type needle and seat in there, and put it all back on.
It fired right up and didn't leak, even after idling for about 10 mins or so.

I'm wondering if this really fixed the problem, or if it is just tricking me. The solid style of needle and seat looked so simple, it doesn't seem like it would have made a huge difference.

Anyone with this experience, or should we just hop in and drive the hell out of it?

[yorgatron]

that's funny,carters usually stick in the "up" position,and rochesters the other way http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif sounds to me like you fixed it,probably something you couldn't see was keeping the old one open.i'd say drive it and enjoy,but carry a screwdriver and flashlight just in case.usually smacking the side of the float bowl with the handle of the screwdriver will unstick it-george

[Deyomatic]

Well, like I said, that one sheet said to make sure you put the correct needle/seat assembly in. The solid type, (the first kind) has a nozzle that is 1/4" and the needle slides in and plugs the 1/16" hole.

The spring type has the same basic setup, but the assembly is 4 pieces, the seat, the needle, a tiny spring that slides into the needle, and a tiny spike that slides in over the spring.

I think the reason this one worked is that it seems like the spring setup would allow alot LESS fuel in, it seems like the fuel would be going through a much smaller inlet, which also seems to act like a simple fuel pressure regulator.

I think the solid type was allowing way too much fuel into the bowl.

Thanks for the help, yorg.

[arenareyes]

By the way, anyone has a picture or diagram on how the accelarator links to the carb. I´m new to keeping a classic classic, does anyone know where can I get an original numbers matching carb for a 59 apache, I´ve rebuild mine twice and the metal is too worn out for it to work properly. Thanks ahead.

[carbking]

A couple of items:

First, the only stock Carter 1 barrel used by Chevrolet in 1959 was the updraft used on the C.O.E. trucks; Rochesters were used as stock on all other 235's. The Carter YF was an excellent replacement.

The fuel valve in most of the YF's sold by Carter for Chevrolet used the spring-loaded fuel valve WITH A MUCH SMALLER ORIFICE THAN THE SOLID VALVES.

My guess would be your fueling issue was caused by too large an orifice in the fuel valve seat.

Jon.