The Stovebolt Site Forums The Side Lot BC Bolters Failed Aircare

I took the '47, 216, into Aircare today and it failed. The last time, a year ago, it failed as well. It failed on hydrocarbons on both tests. The driving hydrocarbon test went from 120(2012) to 2000. The idle test went from 479 (2010) to 1278 (2012) to 2000.It seems a bit rough on acceleration. The truck has been stored with an occasional start over the winter months. Fresh gas in the tank. I'm suspecting it might be running on 5 cylinders. Am going to check the plugs and wires once it cools down. Am I on the right track? Thanks for any advice.

Hy Rusty Shackleford, Choke open all the way, clean air filter, clean oil, good state of tune?????

The truck passed with no problems 2 years ago. Nothing has been adjusted or touched, but it hasn't been driven on the open road since then.

If the carb is the same bolt pattern as a 1958 you could borrow mine - my truck went through OK. 3B is right too, often it is tuning - wrong timing will cause high HCs.

I feel for you guys that have to get the old stuff inspected. We inspect 1987 and newer in Ont. When my '92 Chev. 305 cid failed, I put a can of STP engine treatment in the tank, ran it through again and it passed. Not disagreeing with Bobb though.

Hy Rusty Shackleford, I wonder if the carb power valve is stuck in the open position from sitting around?

3B, I'm not sure what the power valve is. It's a Carter W 1 rebuilt from Chevs of the 40's about 4 years ago. It is a carb from a 49. Thanks for the suggestions.

Hy Rusty Shackleford, I assumed you had a Rochester "B" on your engine, and we all know what happens when you assume things. I had to do some research on the Carter W1, in the book it talks about a sealing washer around the metering rod, and the small gasket between the air horn and the carburetor body located at the air passage between the air horn and the fuel bowl, and that the fuel bowl cover gasket is in good condition. The sealing washer which the metering rod passes through the top of the float bowl cover must always be in place. Both the conditions mentioned above will admit atmospheric pressure to the float bowl and cause excessive gasoline consumption, especially in the intermediate driving range and defeat the purpose of balanced carburetion. I have tried to find a carb kit number for that carb that you could purchase at Lordco, but so far all I can find reference to is the YF model, I will keep looking. As I said before, the state of tune, the quality of the fuel, the cleanliness of the oil all contribute to passing the Air Care test. Carb gaskets and seals can shrink when the carb is allowed to dry out, methanol in the fuel is actually corrosive when allowed to sit in place for long periods of time. If your vehicle is going to sit for extended periods of time, you should run the engine until it runs out of fuel, hope that helps.

Hi, 3B, Thanks for all of this information. Everything you say makes so much sense.